Permit
Ask Blakely first
Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. So the borough code office in Blakely is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Blakely, PA
Half of the 3,337 homes in Blakely were built before 1945. 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 Blakely
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
A new roof may go over one existing layer; with two or more, or over slate, clay or cement tile, everything comes off to the deck (IRC R908.3.1.1). With 83% of Blakely’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
Blakely’s climate table decides
IRC R905.1.2 calls for an ice barrier where Table R301.2 says so; in Pennsylvania the municipality completes that table. Ask the borough code office or the contractor what Blakely’s says.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Blakely
Owners live in 2,032 of Blakely’s occupied homes, or 68%. By year built, 44% before 1940, 60% before 1960, 83% before 1980; 7% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 68% detached houses, 3% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 24% 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 34 Lackawanna County municipalities on this site, Blakely has the 4th largest share of homes built before 1980: 83%, against a county range of 42% to 88%.
ZIP codes: 18452
Blakely and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blakely | 1945 | 83% | 68% | 3% | 15 |
| Dickson City | 1946 | 83% | 67% | 8% | 16 |
| Olyphant | 1958 | 68% | 69% | 5% | 16 |
| Archbald | 1970 | 59% | 76% | 7% | 16 |
| Throop | 1948 | 84% | 79% | 5% | 17 |
| Jessup | 1958 | 72% | 69% | 7% | 17 |
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 Blakely
Within 10 miles of Blakely, hail of an inch or more was reported on 15 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on June 9, 2011. The most recent was April 30, 2024.
Federal major-disaster declarations for storms in Lackawanna County since 2006: 3, most recently DR-4408, Severe Storms and Flooding, declared November 2018. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Blakely, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
Lifespans come from HUD’s capital-needs table, not from a brochure. 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; 68% of homes here are detached | Wind class set by the design wind speed (IRC Table R905.2.4.1) |
| Metal (standing seam, panels) | 50 years | Roofs that will carry solar later | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 44% here predate 1940 | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Blakely, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
The price side is in what a new roof costs in Pennsylvania; the paperwork side in checking a roofing contractor.
Questions about a new roof in Blakely
Does a roof replacement in Blakely need a permit?
Ask Blakely first. Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. So the borough code office in Blakely is the one to ask before work starts.
Is a roof-over allowed in Blakely, or is it a tear-off?
A new roof may go over one existing layer; with two or more, or over slate, clay or cement tile, everything comes off to the deck (IRC R908.3.1.1). With 83% of Blakely’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in Blakely?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Blakely was built in 1945, 83% of homes were built before 1980, 68% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Blakely had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 15 days within 10 miles of Blakely 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 Blakely?
Before signing for a roof in Blakely, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
What they will ask on the phone
- Where the house is: the Blakely address or ZIP
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- 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 Blakely
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.