The Exterior Crew Kent Homes Rely On
Alt & Alt isn’t a company that services Kent from somewhere else. We’re based right here in Portage County, we know the streets around Main Street, and we maintain the same kind of homes you live in.
As an exterior contractor in Kent, OH, we handle roofing, siding, gutters, fencing, decks, brickwork, and home additions under one roof. That means one trusted crew for the whole home — not five different numbers to call.
By Johnny, Founder & Owner of Alt & Alt, LLC · 20+ Years Serving Northeast Ohio
Licensed & Insured · A+ BBB Rated · Owens Corning · GAF · CertainTeed Certified
Kent Homeowners Deserve a Contractor Who Lives Here
There’s a real difference between a contractor who just drives through your city and one who’s part of it. We’re the second kind.
We’ve worked on Victorian-era homes in the historic districts near downtown and mid-century ranches in established subdivisions. That range matters, because a roof or a foundation detail on an older home isn’t handled the same way as on a new one. Two decades in Portage County means we already know what each Kent home needs.
Being local also means we answer fast. When a storm rolls through near downtown Kent and the Kent State University area, we’re already close by — not routing a crew in from another county.
Ohio Seasons and Your Kent Home
Kent weather is tougher on homes than people expect, and it adds up year after year.
Lake-effect snow loads the roof for weeks. Freeze-thaw cycles work moisture into every crack, joint, and shingle seam. Summer brings hail and hard storms, and the mature tree canopy near downtown Kent and the Kent State University area drops debris into gutters all fall.
We build and repair with all of that in mind — deeper footings, better flashing, and materials rated for exactly these conditions. Our storm damage repair Kent service also steps in fast after severe weather, documenting damage and handling the insurance claim for you.
From Roof to Foundation: Our Kent Services
Most Kent homeowners would rather have one team they trust than a list of separate specialists. We cover the whole home, inside and out.
Roofing
Kent roofs take a beating that has less to do with the city being cold and more to do with what grows over it. This is the Tree City, and decades of mature canopy mean shade, trapped moisture, and moss on north-facing slopes long before a shingle’s rated life is up. We handle the full range as your roofing contractor in Kent — tear-offs, overlays where they make sense, storm repairs, and complete replacements — and we spec for the damp as much as the cold, with proper attic ventilation and algae-resistant shingles so the next roof doesn’t green over the way the last one did. Everything’s backed by manufacturer and workmanship warranties.
Siding
A lot of Kent’s housing near campus has been chopped into rentals over the years, and it shows in the siding — patched panels, mismatched runs, water sneaking in behind trim nobody re-flashed. We fix that. Our siding crews re-side and repair in vinyl, insulated, and fiber-cement, and the part that actually keeps water out is the flashing at every window and door, done right the first time. On owner-occupied homes in Kent’s established neighborhoods we’ll color-match a repair so it disappears; on a full re-side, insulated board knocks down the drafts these older houses are famous for.
Fencing
One thing to know up front: Kent runs its own building department out of 930 Overholt Road, so your fence permit goes through the city, not Portage County — and near campus there are rental-property rules that catch people off guard. We pull the permit for you. Then we build the fence to last, setting posts a full 32 inches down past the frost line and packing them in concrete so a Kent winter can’t heave them crooked. Wood, vinyl, aluminum, chain-link — whatever fits the property — and wood gets sealed and stained before we call it done.
Gutters
Tree City is a lovely nickname until October, when every one of those trees decides your gutters are the place to shed. Clogged runs overflow, freeze, and pry at your fascia all winter. Our gutter work is seamless, formed on your driveway to fit the house exactly, pitched to actually move water, and — this matters in Kent — fitted with guards on the heavily shaded runs so you’re not up a ladder every fall. Downspouts get sized and aimed to carry spring melt well clear of the foundation.
Decks
The lots that slope down toward the Cuyahoga near downtown, and the wooded parcels out toward the campus edge, are where Kent decks get interesting — and where a lot of them were built wrong. A deck on a grade lives or dies on its footings and its ledger connection. We dig footings to frost depth, flash the ledger so the band joist stays dry, and design multi-level or elevated builds that suit the slope instead of fighting it. Composite, pressure-treated, or a rebuild of the tired deck you already have.
Brickwork
Older Kent homes, especially the ones near the university that have stood through a century of these freeze-thaw winters, tend to fail at the mortar first. Water gets into a cracked joint, freezes, widens it, and the wall starts shedding pointing. We tuckpoint before it gets structural, and we build fresh too — patios, walkways, chimneys, steps, columns. Clean joints, sealed against the cycle, so the brick outlasts whatever’s around it.
Additions & Remodels
Start to Finish: Our Kent Workflow
We keep every Kent project simple, honest, and on your schedule. Here’s what to expect from start to finish.
Step 1 — Free inspection and straight estimate. We come out at no charge, look at the whole project in person, and give you clear, itemized pricing with no pressure.
Step 2 — Materials and scheduling. We help you choose options that fit your home, budget, and the local climate, then confirm the timeline in writing.
Step 3 — Work and cleanup. Our licensed, insured crews do the job right, protect your property, and haul away every scrap before we leave.
Kent and the Communities Around It
We work throughout Kent, including the neighborhoods and corridors around Main Street, the downtown district, and the neighborhoods around Kent State University.
We also serve the nearby communities of Stow, Brimfield, Ravenna, Tallmadge, and Streetsboro. Not sure you’re in our range? Call (330) 999-2669 — there’s a strong chance we’re already working close by.
What Kent Homeowners Get With Alt & Alt
- A local Portage County team that knows Kent — quick response and familiar with area homes and permits.
- 20+ years across Portage County — every home style, every Ohio weather extreme.
- Licensed, fully insured, and A+ BBB rated — full coverage on every project.
- Certified with Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed — manufacturer-backed roofing warranties.
- One crew for the whole home — roofing, siding, gutters, fencing, decks, brick, and additions.
- Free, no-pressure estimates — a straight answer, never an upsell.
- Flexible financing through Hearth — begin now and pay on a schedule that works.
Top Questions From Kent Residents
Do you offer free estimates in Kent?
Yes. Every inspection and estimate is completely free, done on-site, and carries no obligation. We assess the full project in person — roof, siding, gutters, or anything else — and give you clear, itemized pricing before you decide anything. There’s never a fee to have us take a look, and never any pressure to move forward afterward.
How fast can you respond after a storm in Kent?
Because we’re based nearby in Portage County, we don’t dispatch crews from hours away when weather hits Kent. Most storm inspections are booked within one to two business days, and when there’s active water coming in, we move faster to tarp and stabilize before the damage grows. We also document everything for your insurance claim.
Do you work on both older and newer Kent homes?
Absolutely. We’ve handled Victorian-era homes in the historic districts near downtown and mid-century ranches in established subdivisions. Older homes come with their own quirks — aged flashing, original framing, non-standard rooflines — and after 20-plus years working across Portage County, we’ve seen and solved all of them.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes, fully. We carry general liability and workers’ compensation on every single job, protecting you and your property from the moment we arrive. We’re also A+ rated with the BBB and hold manufacturer certifications from Owens Corning, GAF, and CertainTeed.
Do you handle insurance claims for storm damage?
We do, from beginning to end. We inspect the roof and exterior, photograph every bit of damage, and prepare the documentation your insurer requires. Then we deal with your adjuster directly, so you’re not left decoding claims language or chasing approvals yourself.
What does an exterior project cost in Kent?
It depends entirely on scope — a targeted repair is a very different figure from a full replacement or a home addition. Instead of guessing, we provide free, itemized, on-site estimates so you know exactly what you’re paying for before work begins. Flexible financing through Hearth is available if you’d rather spread the cost over time.