Kern Place is a historic neighborhood on El Paso's west side, just east of UTEP and north of downtown, bordered by Mesa Street, Boston/Robinson, Piedmont and Mesita. Peter E. Kern began building it on November 21, 1914, after a paved road was built on Mesa Avenue in 1913, and by 1917 about 40 homes stood on Cincinnati Street. The neighborhood climbs a hillside from roughly 3,850 to 4,080 feet.
Kern Place houses range from the bungalows of the 1910s to the ranch houses of the 1950s, and many were built by their owners, which gives a wide variety of architecture and roof construction on a single street. The best-known homes include the 1923 Spanish-style Trost house on East Baltimore Drive and the 1917 Mediterranean-style Dudley house on Cincinnati Avenue. A century-old house has had its roof replaced several times, with layers and repairs a roofer has to read.
We are a referral service, not the contractor. We connect Kern Place homeowners with a vetted local roofer for a free inspection and a written price.
Roofing on a hillside street
The roughly 230-foot climb across Kern Place matters in practical ways. Steep streets and tight driveways limit where a dumpster and a delivery truck can park, which affects tear-off and material handling, and a sloped lot means a ladder or a lift has to be set carefully. Ask the roofer how the material will reach the roof and where debris will be staged, and get the answer in the written estimate.
Hillside lots also shed water in a hurry. Monsoon runoff runs down the streets and across lots, so gutters, scuppers and flashing at walls need to be clear and sound before June 15.
- Roofs on 1910s to 1950s houses that have been re-covered more than once
- Flat or low-slope sections behind parapets on Spanish and Mediterranean-style homes
- Clay tile and the underlayment beneath it on 1920s-era houses
- Additions and owner-built rooflines where flashing joints have aged
Old roofs in Kern Place: layers, decking and tile
Older homes often have more than one layer of roofing, and decking that was installed a century ago may need repair. Both appear in the written scope only if the roofer inspects the roof closely, so ask for photos. If the house has clay tile, the tile can outlive its underlayment by decades; see our guides to tile roof underlayment cost and tile roofing. For flat roofs behind a parapet, parapet leak repair explains where water gets in.
Permits and cost in Kern Place
Kern Place is inside the City of El Paso, so a full reroof needs a city permit and a registered contractor. Some historic neighborhoods carry additional review for exterior changes, so ask the roofer to confirm whether your address does. Estimates follow the El Paso ranges: architectural shingle about $8,000 to $15,000, TPO flat $11,000 to $22,500, tile $20,000 to $45,000, metal $16,000 to $35,000. Older homes can cost more where layers, decking or access add to the scope. See the cost guide.
Services available in Kern Place
Roof Replacement
Flat, tile, shingle or metal, torn off to the deck and built for desert sun, priced in writing.
Learn more →Roof Repair
Monsoon leaks, ponding, split seams, cracked tile and flashing, found at the source and fixed.
Learn more →Flat Roofs & Coatings
TPO, modified bitumen, foam and reflective coatings for El Paso's flat and low-slope roofs.
Learn more →Roof Inspections
A straight, no-obligation look at your roof, for a leak, a sale, or after a monsoon or windstorm.
Learn more →Tile Roof Repair & Replacement
Cracked or slipped tile, worn underlayment and full tile re-roofs on El Paso's Spanish-style homes.
Learn more →Metal Roofing
Standing-seam and panel metal roofs for desert sun, plus fastener, seam and flashing repairs.
Learn more →Parapet & Flat Roof Leak Repair
Leaks at parapet walls, coping, scuppers and stucco on El Paso's flat roofs, traced and fixed.
Learn more →See typical roof replacement costs in El Paso & Kern Place →
Roofing questions from Kern Place homeowners
Who are the roofers for Kern Place homes?
We refer Kern Place owners to a vetted local roofer. The inspection and written estimate are free, and the estimate should cover layers, decking and access.
Does a hillside lot make a roof cost more?
It can, when access limits where the dumpster and materials go. Ask the roofer how the job will be staged and get it in writing.
My Kern Place house has a flat roof. Can it be repaired?
Often. Repair is typically cheaper if the membrane is sound and the insulation is dry. The inspection includes moisture readings where needed.
Do I need a permit for a reroof in Kern Place?
Yes. Kern Place is inside the City of El Paso, which requires a reroof permit and a registered contractor. Ask the roofer to confirm whether any additional review applies to your address.
How old are Kern Place roofs?
The neighborhood dates from 1914, so the houses are 70 to 110 years old, but the roofs are whatever was last installed. Ask for the roof's age in the inspection.