What defines a Craftsman bungalow roof
- Steeper pitches than ranches: usually 5/12–9/12
- Deep eaves with exposed rafter tails (decorative element of the style)
- Gable-front design with one or two primary gables visible from the street
- Original deck: 1x6 or 1x8 boards (predates plywood)
- Original venting: minimal — soffit vents only, no ridge vents
- Often re-roofed 2–3 times in the home’s life
Where these homes are
- Wittmer District (Turlock): Strong concentration of older 1920s–1930s bungalows
- Downtown Modesto and Eastside: Scattered Craftsman blocks from 1900s–1920s
- Older parts of Riverbank, Oakdale: Some older Craftsman survives
The deck challenge on 100-year-old roofs
By 2026, the older 1920s board sheathing on these homes has seen:
- 100+ years of thermal cycling
- 3–4 generations of re-roofs (each adding nail holes)
- Multiple chimney rebuilds (each opening fresh leak points)
- Occasional storm damage and repair patches
Expect 15–30% deck replacement during a Craftsman re-roof. Sometimes more. The Wittmer District averages closer to 20–25%.
Materials that fit Craftsman style
Architectural shingles in Craftsman colors
The right material for most bungalows. Architectural shingles in earth-tone colors that complement the older wood trim:
- Driftwood (light gray-brown)
- Weathered Wood (medium gray-brown)
- Pewter (gray)
- Hickory (darker brown)
- Slate Black
Cost: $9,500–$16,500 installed for a 1,400–1,800 sq ft bungalow.
Composite shake (cedar-look)
Best for historic-accuracy preservation. Original Craftsman roofs were cedar shake. Composite shake (DaVinci, GAF Camelot II) gives the look without the fire risk or upkeep.
Cost: $18,000–$28,000 installed.
Standing seam metal
Less common but works on some Craftsman homes. Darker metal colors (Slate, Anthracite, Bronze) can complement Craftsman architecture if you want the energy efficiency. Most owners prefer to stay with shingles or shake for visual authenticity.
Tile
Almost always wrong for Craftsman. Tile is not period-correct. Tile weight requires structural reinforcement on 100-year-old framing. Skip.
Wittmer District specifics
The Wittmer District in Turlock has a high concentration of older Craftsman homes from the 1920s and 1930s. Our experience there:
- Average deck repair: 20–25% (vs 5–15% elsewhere)
- Original chimneys often need flashing rebuild during re-roof
- HOA-style informal standards from established neighbors — staying period-appropriate matters for resale
- Turlock Building Division has handled many Wittmer permits and knows the historic district context
Ventilation upgrades for Craftsman homes
Most older Craftsman venting was inadequate by modern standards. During re-roof we usually add:
- Ridge vent (carefully placed to preserve gable lines)
- Improved soffit vents (often hidden behind older soffit boards)
- Gable-end vents if architecture allows
For homes preserving the older soffit detail, ridge venting is usually the only feasible upgrade. We design the ridge cap to look intentional.
What our flat-rate Craftsman quotes include
- Tear-off of existing roof (usually 2–4 layers on Wittmer homes)
- Deck inspection and substantial repair allowance (assume 20%)
- Synthetic underlayment
- Ice-and-water shield in valleys, around penetrations, and at chimney
- Ridge ventilation
- Chimney flashing rebuild (almost always needed)
- New shingle or composite shake install in chosen color
- Exposed rafter tail finishing (preserve or refinish as needed)
- Turlock or Modesto permit
- Cleanup
Common Craftsman-specific issues we find
- Chimney flashing failures: 80%+ of Craftsman re-roofs in the Wittmer District need chimney flashing rebuild
- Built-up tar-and-gravel on flat additions: common on side or back additions. Replace with TPO.
- Asbestos in old underlayment: some pre-1980 underlayments contain asbestos. We test if there’s any uncertainty.
- Original cedar shake hidden under shingles: sometimes a previous re-roof was an overlay on cedar shake. Full tear-off reveals it.
Why DeHart for Craftsman roofs
We have re-roofed dozens of Wittmer District Craftsman homes. We know:
- Period-correct color matching for shingles
- Deck repair patterns specific to 100-year-old board sheathing
- Chimney flashing rebuild on older brick
- How to preserve exposed rafter tails during install
- Turlock permit specifics for historic district context
Ready for a Craftsman bungalow roof quote? Schedule a free inspection or call (209) 667-7737.