Permit
Expect a building permit
The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Russell’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Roof Replacement in Russell, MA
The median home in Russell was built in 1963; there are 664 of them. What the code requires when that roof is replaced, and who signs off, is below.
New Roofing Costs connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
Call (833) 781-1806 Replacement and new roofs only · homeowners
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.
The rules for a reroof in Russell
Layers
Two layers means a tear-off
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 70% of Russell’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Source: IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes); 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 9 amendments
Ice barrier
Required statewide
Massachusetts answers “yes” to the ice barrier for every town. It runs from the eave to 24 inches inside the exterior wall, more on steep roofs (IRC R905.1.2); check that the quote lists it.
Source: 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 3 amendments (Tables R301.2(1) and R301.2(2)); IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes)
Wind and snow
114 mph design wind, 40 psf ground snow
Russell’s code design values are a 114 mph ultimate design wind speed and a 40 psf ground snow load (40 psf minimum flat-roof snow load). At that wind speed the code calls for asphalt shingles labeled ASTM D7158 Class D, G or H (Table R905.2.4.1).
Source: 780 CMR 51.00, Chapter 3 amendments (Tables R301.2(1) and R301.2(2)); IRC 2021, Chapter 9 (Pennsylvania edition, UpCodes) (780 CMR 51.00, Table R301.2(2))
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Massachusetts.
Homes and roofs in Russell
Owners live in 471 of Russell’s occupied homes, or 85%. By year built, 34% before 1940, 47% before 1960, 70% before 1980; 10% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 75% detached houses, 16% buildings of two to four units.
On a house built before 1940, ask what the deck is (boards or plywood) and whether slate sits under the later layers: slate can’t be roofed over.
Of the 21 Hampden County municipalities on this site, Russell has the 11th largest share of homes built before 1980: 70%, against a county range of 37% to 86%.
ZIP codes: 01071 · 01097
Russell and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell | 1963 | 70% | 85% | 1% | 16 |
| Westfield | 1964 | 72% | 69% | 3% | 21 |
| Blandford | 1966 | 69% | 97% | 1% | 16 |
| Granville | 1966 | 64% | 93% | 3% | 16 |
| Southampton | 1983 | 46% | 91% | 5% | 15 |
| Huntington | 1963 | 68% | 85% | 0% | 10 |
Median built: median year the homes were built. Before 1980: share of homes built then. Owners: share of homes that are owner-occupied. Row, twin: share of homes that are rowhouses, twins or townhouses. Census ACS 2020–2024. Hail days: days with hail of 1 inch or larger within 10 miles, 2006–2025, NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Storm record around Russell
Within 10 miles of Russell, hail of an inch or more was reported on 16 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 2 in on August 26, 2024. The most recent was June 6, 2025.
That is more hail days than 90% of the places in the state on this site.
Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (DR-4110, April 2013) is the latest of 7 federal storm declarations covering Hampden County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Russell, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
Useful life is HUD’s planning figure, not a warranty. More in the guides to shingles, metal, slate and flat roofs.
| Material | HUD useful life | Fits a house like | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | 20 years | Most pitched roofs; 75% of homes here are detached | Class D, G or H at 114 mph design wind (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Simple roofs with long, unbroken slopes | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 34% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Massachusetts
Two numbers to ask for in Russell: the HIC registration (M.G.L. c. 142A, for owner-occupied homes of one to four units) and the construction supervisor license (CSL) with the roof covering specialty.
The price side is in what a new roof costs in Massachusetts; the paperwork side in checking a roofing contractor.
Questions about a new roof in Russell
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Russell?
Expect a building permit. The residential code’s permit-exempt list (R105.2) has no roofing line. The application to Russell’s building department carries the contractor’s HIC number (R105.3).
Do the old shingles have to come off in Russell?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 70% of Russell’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in Russell?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Russell was built in 1963, 70% of homes were built before 1980, 85% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Russell?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 16 days within 10 miles of Russell from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
How do I check a roofing contractor in Russell?
Two numbers to ask for in Russell: the HIC registration (M.G.L. c. 142A, for owner-occupied homes of one to four units) and the construction supervisor license (CSL) with the roof covering specialty.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Russell, or at least the ZIP code
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Russell
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.