Roofing in Buffalo means a pitched roof asked to carry lake-effect snow, then to survive the thaw that follows. Ice builds at the eaves when the attic is warm and the edge is cold. Water backs under the shingles and shows up in the rooms below while the street still looks frozen. Valleys, chimneys, and pipe boots take the extra load. A flat parapet roof is the wrong picture for most of these houses.
Snow is a structural question as well as a leak question. A roof that already sags, a porch roof that was never meant to hold a drift, and a lower roof that catches what slides off the upper one all deserve a plain description. Say if you hear dripping only while the snow is melting. Say if icicles are a wall along the gutter. Granules in the downspout and curled shingles tell an age story. Daylight in the attic tells a deck story.
Do not climb a frozen slope to be thorough. Look from the ground and from a window. Note the slope that faces the lake wind, missing tabs, a chimney flashing that has lifted, and gutters torn by ice. If a previous layer was left in place, say so if you know it. Ventilation matters here because a hot attic makes the ice dam. Frost on the nails in the attic is a clue worth mentioning.
Say leak, age, or storm damage from snow and wind. Say whether you need a dry-in while the rest of the winter is still coming, or a full replacement once the deck can be seen. Ask about underlayment at the eaves, flashing, and how the ridge is vented. A patch in the field will not stop water that is backing up from an ice dam. Describe the attic if you can do it safely from the hatch.
This roof lives under a snow machine, not behind a city parapet. Roofing in Buffalo starts with the load, the eave, and the stain under it. Call the number on this page.