Roof replacement guides
One question per page, for homeowners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Florida. The town pages link here instead of repeating them.
New Roofing Costs connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.
Cost
- Roof replacement cost
The lines that make two quotes for the same house come out far apart, and the figures public records give.
Deciding
- When to replace a roof
Useful life by material, the age of the houses, and the code rules that decide for you. - What a replacement includes
Tear-off, deck, underlayment, ice barrier, flashing, permit: what the code requires and what the quote should list. - How long a replacement takes
The steps from permit to inspection, what adds days, and the winter questions. - Roof replacement and solar
The 15-year rule of thumb, roof life against panel life, and what to ask if panels are already up. - Wind and hail damage
Age, layers, the share of the roof affected and the code rules that turn storm damage into a replacement. - Keep it or replace it?
Age, layers, share of the roof and the code rules. This page has no phone number.
Materials
- Roofing materials compared
One table: useful life, recover rules, slope and wind, and where each material fits. - Asphalt shingles
Lifespan, the wind class the code sets for your town, slope and underlayment, and the layer limit. - Metal roofing
Lifespan, going over the old roof, ice barrier, snow loads and Florida product approval. - Slate roofs
Lifespan, why slate is never a base for a new layer, reuse of sound slate, historic districts. - Tile roofs in Florida
Lifespan, tear-off rules, product approval, Broward's HVHZ and what a pre-2002 house adds. - Flat roof replacement
The membrane systems, their useful life, when a recover is allowed, and coatings. - Rowhouse and twin roofs
Membranes, the party wall, Philadelphia's EZ permit and permit counts by ZIP, New Jersey's rule for attached houses.
Code and permits
- Tear-off or roof over
The two-layer limit, slate and tile, metal systems, and how New Jersey and Florida differ. - Permits by state
The rule in each state, the 25 percent line in Connecticut, New Jersey's exemption, and city fees. - Ice barrier by state
Where it is required, what the code means by it, Connecticut's joint tape, and snow loads by town.
Hiring
- Checking a contractor
Registration or license in each state, where to look it up, and the contract rules that protect you. - The estimate and the contract
The lines a roofing quote should list, comparing two quotes, and what each state requires in the contract. - Roof warranties
Two warranties on every roof, what each covers, and why the number on the bundle is not a lifespan.
Florida
- Florida reroof rules
The 25 percent rule, what a pre-2002 house adds, roof-to-wall connections, Broward's HVHZ and product approval. - Florida roofing licenses
CCC against RC, looking a license up, deposits, the recovery fund notice and the right to cancel.
Insurance and a new roof
- Insurance and a new roof
Who answers the coverage question, roof age and your policy in the Northeast, and replacing a roof yourself. - Florida roof age and your policy
Fla. Stat. § 627.7011(5) in plain words, how roof age is counted, and what a full replacement changes on the forms.
The call
- Before you call
The questions on the line, and what to add for a rowhouse, solar panels, a manufactured home or a Florida house.
Before you call, have these at hand
- Your address or ZIP code
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- What is on the roof now and roughly how old it is
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list, with what to do about a rowhouse, solar panels or a manufactured home: before you call.
This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.