How did Northampton become part of Cuyahoga Falls?
Northampton was one of Summit County's original townships. Its first settler, Simeon Prior, arrived in 1802 and named it for the Massachusetts town he had left. For most of its history it was farms, a few crossroads hamlets such as Northampton Center, Steels Corners and Botzum, and the Cuyahoga River running through its west side.
Then the federal government bought a large share of the township for what is now Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and the tax base shrank. Voters approved a merger with Cuyahoga Falls in 1985. It took effect on January 1, 1986, the first merger of a city and a township in Ohio, and it nearly tripled the city's area to about 27 square miles. The old township became Ward 8.
That history explains the housing. Subdivisions came late, mostly after the merger, and they filled in around land that will never be built on.
What kinds of roofs are on the north end?
Census tract figures put the median house in the northeast part of this area at 1995, in the valley section at 1978, and in the stretch toward Portage Trail Extension at 1985. Three roof types follow from that.
1990s and 2000s two-story homes
The streets off State Road, Wyoga Lake Road and East Steels Corners Road are mostly two-story colonials and their cousins. Expect a main roof of 7/12 to 9/12, a front gable or two, a garage roof tied into the house with a valley, and often a skylight over a bath or stairwell. These are large roofs, commonly 26 to 34 squares. Decks are sheet goods, not planks, and nearly all have a single layer of shingles.
Many still wear what the builder installed. A basic architectural or 3-tab shingle put on in 1995 is now past thirty years old. That makes this the part of the Falls where a first replacement, not a third, is the usual job.
1970s and 1980s houses toward the valley
Along Northampton Road, Akron Peninsula Road and West Bath Road the houses are a little older and more varied: ranches, bi-levels and contemporaries with long low slopes. Their second roofs are aging out now. Cathedral ceilings show up in the contemporaries, and a roof with no attic above the room needs its ventilation thought through carefully.
Houses that predate the merger
Some farmhouses and mid-century homes still stand along the old township roads, between the newer streets. These can have anything on them, including multiple layers and plank decking. They get the same treatment as the older homes downtown: count the layers first, then plan a full tear-off.
What do the trees do to roofs up here?
The north end backs onto the national park and holds Blossom Music Center, which sits on about 800 acres of that parkland. Wooded lots are common. A roof under tall hardwoods has three predictable problems.
- Moss and algae on the north slope. Shade keeps shingles damp for days after rain.
- Valleys that fill with leaves. Debris dams the valley, and water backs up sideways under the shingles.
- Limbs. A branch that rubs the roof in the wind scrubs the granules off in a season.
None of that requires cutting the trees down. It does mean the valleys deserve ice and water shield, which every replacement here includes, and it makes gutter guards worth a thought when the roof is done. See roof and gutters together.
Where do skylights and big chimneys fit in?
Skylights are far more common on houses of this age than on a 1950s ranch, and a skylight from the 1990s is reaching the end of its seal life just as the roof is. Replacing it while the shingles are off costs far less than coming back later. Wide masonry or framed chimneys also need a cricket behind them. Both topics are covered on the skylight and chimney flashing page.
Who issues roofing permits for the north end?
The same office as the rest of the city. Ward 8 kept special zoning meant to protect its rural feel, and zoning questions go to City Hall on Second Street. Building permits, including the re-roof line on the county's residential application, are handled by the Summit County Division of Building Standards at 1030 East Tallmadge Avenue in Akron.
How do you find out if your north end roof is due?
Age is the first clue. If the house was built between 1988 and 2000 and the roof has never been replaced, have it looked at. The free roof inspection in Cuyahoga Falls ends with a photo report and a grade. If the grade is Replace Soon, you get one written figure for a complete roof replacement. For a sense of how a 30 square two-story compares with a small ranch, read the Falls roof cost guide.
Is your builder roof past thirty?
Then it is time for someone to walk it. The visit is free and the report is yours.