Sunset Heights is a historic district of about 170 acres north of downtown, roughly bounded by Heisig Avenue, River Avenue, North El Paso Street and I-10. Hillside development began in the 1880s, when John Fisher Satterthwaite built 90 houses by 1885, the district was platted in 1884, and the name "Sunset Heights" was chosen in a 1901 newspaper contest. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1988.
Most of its homes are brick, two to three stories, in styles such as Classical Revival, Tudor Revival and Mission or Spanish Revival, many designed by the architect Henry C. Trost. Smaller homes are prairie-style bungalows, and the district has one remaining adobe house. Roofs on houses like these are not generic: they include complicated rooflines, parapets, tile and decorative details that a roofer has to treat carefully.
We are a referral service, not the contractor. We connect Sunset Heights homeowners with a vetted local roofer for a free inspection and a written price.
Historic district rules and roofing permits
Work in a City of El Paso historic district generally needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Landmark Commission before a building permit is issued, and the city's application asks you to describe the building materials and colors for elements such as the roof. Do not assume a change of roof material or color is automatically approved. Ask the city's Historic Preservation staff at Planning and Inspections whether your address is in a local district and what applies to your roof before you sign anything.
A full reroof also needs a City of El Paso permit and a registered contractor. Our El Paso area roofing permit guide covers the permit side.
What fails on a Sunset Heights roof
Matching an existing roof's look and the original roof's drainage matters more here than on a 2005 subdivision house. A good estimate describes the removal of old layers, the repair of decking, the materials proposed and how they will look from the street. For tile, see tile roofing; for flat sections, flat roof coatings and parapet leak repair.
- Flashing and masonry joints where a roof meets a brick parapet or chimney
- Clay or concrete tile roofs with aged underlayment beneath tile in good shape
- Flat and low-slope sections behind parapets with old coating layers
- Gutters, downspouts and drains that were sized for a different era
Roofing cost in Sunset Heights
Historic homes cost more to roof than tract homes because of complexity, access and matching materials. As a starting point, El Paso market ranges are architectural shingle about $8,000 to $15,000, TPO flat $11,000 to $22,500, tile $20,000 to $45,000 and metal $16,000 to $35,000 for an average home, with historic homes often landing above the average. These are estimates, not quotes. See the cost guide.
Services available in Sunset Heights
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 & Sunset Heights →
Roofing questions from Sunset Heights homeowners
Do I need approval to replace a roof in Sunset Heights?
Possibly. Work in a City of El Paso historic district generally needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit. Ask the city's Historic Preservation staff at Planning and Inspections about your address.
Can I put a metal roof on a Sunset Heights house?
It depends on the review. The Historic Landmark Commission reviews roof materials and colors in historic districts, so confirm what applies to your address before ordering.
Are the homes in Sunset Heights tile or flat roofs?
Both appear, alongside pitched roofs, depending on the house. The district includes Mission and Spanish Revival homes as well as brick houses in other styles.
Is the inspection free for a historic home?
Yes. The inspection and written estimate are free and carry no obligation.
Who handles the permit?
The roofer pulls the City of El Paso reroof permit and, where it applies, the historic review.