In May 2026, Stanley Roof and Solar replaced the roof on Robert’s 1900s investment property in Willamette Heights, Northwest Portland. The 33-year-old 3-tab roof had leaks over the living areas that no other roofer would take on, so we installed a complete Malarkey roofing system, including shingles on the low-slope dormers and new chimney counterflashing.
Project at a glance
- Location: Willamette Heights, Northwest Portland, OR
- Completed: May 2026
- Service: roof replacement
- Shingles: Malarkey Vista AR, Midnight Black
- Low-slope dormers: doubled ice and water shield under the shingles
- Chimney: new counterflashing cut in
About Willamette Heights, Portland
Willamette Heights is a hillside neighborhood in Northwest Portland next to Forest Park. Like many of Portland’s older neighborhoods, its streets still have iron horse rings set in the curbs from the horse-and-buggy era, and Portland has required them to be put back after curb work since the late 1970s.
The challenge and how we solved it
The challenge: the 3-tab shingles were 33 years old and leaking over the living areas, and no roofer had been able or willing to fix the leaks. The water was starting to affect the roof framing. The dormers are low slope, and the owner wanted shingles there, not rolled roofing. The old mortared-in chimney flashing had also failed. The early-1900s streets are narrow, and heavy trucks had to avoid the historic horse rings at the curb.
The solution: Malarkey shingles can go on slopes down to 2/12 with the right underlayments, so the crew sealed the low-slope dormers with doubled ice and water shield, sealing every nail hole, before shingling them. They replaced 3 sheets of rotted plywood, cut new counterflashing into the chimney and installed a complete Malarkey roof.
What we did
- Removed the old 3-tab roof and inspected the deck.
- Replaced 3 sheets of rotted plywood.
- Installed a doubled layer of Malarkey 401 Arctic Seal on the low-slope dormers so every nail hole is sealed.
- Installed Malarkey 1031 Secure Start Plus underlayment with plastic cap nails and Smart Start starter shingles on the rest of the roof.
- Cut new counterflashing into the chimney to replace the failed mortared-in flashing.
- Installed Malarkey Vista AR shingles in Midnight Black with EZ-Ridge hip and ridge caps, Lifetime Tool pipe flashings and a new bath vent.
The finished project
What the homeowner said
Robert D.
I talked to 4 companies. Joe was knowledgeable. Answered my questions. There was no super sell nor any ambiguities in his bid. The bid was not the lowest nor the highest but I wanted Stanley to do the work. It went great.
Why these materials
Malarkey Vista AR shingles in Midnight Black. Vista AR has the same Class 4 hail impact rating and NEX rubberized asphalt as Vista, plus 3M copper granules that Malarkey says help prevent the black streaks caused by blue-green algae, backed by a 25-year algae warranty. Malarkey lists twice the rain seals of standard shingles and up to 130 mph enhanced wind warranty.
Malarkey 1031 Secure Start Plus underlayment. A five-layer synthetic underlayment with an anti-skid surface that holds it in place. Malarkey says its polypropylene layer helps resist water penetration and that it is up to 3 times lighter than conventional felt paper.
Malarkey 401 Arctic Seal, doubled on the dormers. A waterproof, self-adhering underlayment that seals around nails. Two layers under the shingles on the low-slope dormers seal every nail hole so the shallow sections still shed water.
Malarkey Smart Start starter shingles. Made with NEX rubberized asphalt, with rubberized adhesive bonds that Malarkey says give extra seal-down and wind protection at the eave and rake edges, where wind usually gets under a roof first.
Malarkey EZ-Ridge hip and ridge shingles. High-profile hip and ridge caps color matched to the field shingles. Malarkey rates them UL Class 4 for impact resistance and adds Scotchgard Protector for algae resistance.
Lifetime Tool pipe flashings and bath vents. Pipe penetrations are one of the most common leak points on a roof, so every plumbing vent got a new pipe flashing and the bathroom fan got a new roof vent.
Plastic cap nails for the underlayment. The underlayment is fastened with Stinger plastic cap nails instead of plain staples. The wide plastic cap holds the sheet flat and seals around the nail, so the deck stays dry if rain arrives before the shingles go on.
New chimney counterflashing. The old flashing was mortared into the chimney and had deteriorated. New counterflashing cut into the masonry laps over the step flashing to keep water out where the roof meets the chimney.
Keeping your roof in good shape
- Have low-slope sections like dormers checked more often. Shallow roofs drain slower, so failed underlayment shows up as leaks sooner than on steep sections.
- Watch for moss. Damp, shaded roofs in the Pacific Northwest grow it fast, and moss holds water against the shingles. A roof maintenance visit can treat it before it lifts the shingle edges.
- Clear fir needles and leaves out of the valleys and off the roof after fall windstorms, so rain can run off instead of pooling behind the debris.
- Clean the gutters at least twice a year, in spring and fall, and every 3 to 4 months under heavy tree cover. Clogged gutters overflow onto the fascia and eaves, which is how eave boards rot.
- Look the roof over from the ground after big wind or rain events. The National Weather Service Portland office issues wind and storm warnings for Clark County and the Portland metro, and missing or lifted shingles should be checked before the next storm.
- Keep the attic vents clear. Insulation or stored items blocking the intake vents cuts off the airflow that keeps the attic dry.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, with the right underlayment. Malarkey shingles can go down to a 2/12 slope, and these Willamette Heights dormers got doubled ice and water shield under the shingles.
Older chimneys often have flashing mortared into the brick, and that mortar breaks down. This NW Portland chimney got new counterflashing cut into the masonry.
Yes. Stanley Roof and Solar is licensed in Oregon and replaced this Willamette Heights roof in May 2026.
Some won’t. No other roofer would repair this 33-year-old roof, so the owner had Stanley replace it before the leaks damaged more of the framing.
Planning a roof project in Portland?
Stanley Roof and Solar inspects roofs across Clark County and the Portland metro and tells you honestly whether you need a repair or a replacement. See our Portland, OR roofing services, learn about our roof replacement process, browse more Stanley Roof and Solar projects, or get a free estimate.