Permit
Ask Coolbaugh first
Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. The township code office can say what Coolbaugh requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Coolbaugh, PA
Coolbaugh has 10,990 homes, and half of them were standing by 1987. Below: what the code asks of a replacement here, the permit, and the town’s own records.
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 Coolbaugh
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 28% of Coolbaugh’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Coolbaugh’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. Coolbaugh’s answer is with the township code office.
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 Coolbaugh
Of 7,063 occupied homes in Coolbaugh, 5,717 (81%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 8% before 1960, 28% before 1980; 18% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 91% detached houses, 5% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses).
31% of the homes in Coolbaugh are seasonal or occasional-use homes (ACS 2020–2024). If yours is one of them and you live elsewhere, the call still has to come from you as the owner.
Of the 19 Monroe County municipalities on this site, Coolbaugh has the 17th largest share of homes built before 1980: 28%, against a county range of 22% to 78%.
ZIP codes: 18346 · 18347 · 18466
Coolbaugh and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coolbaugh | 1987 | 28% | 81% | 5% | 4 |
| Lehigh Township, Wayne County | 1983 | 43% | 91% | 0% | 5 |
| Clifton | 1984 | 44% | 85% | 0% | 2 |
| Tobyhanna | 1982 | 45% | 80% | 1% | 3 |
| Mount Pocono | 1984 | 43% | 56% | 10% | 4 |
| Covington | 1979 | 53% | 91% | 1% | 5 |
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 Coolbaugh
NOAA’s storm reports show 4 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Coolbaugh, topping out at 1.75 in on August 19, 2011.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 12 days).
Hurricane Sandy (DR-4099, January 2013) is the latest of 3 federal storm declarations covering Monroe County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Coolbaugh, not that it damaged a roof. When wind or hail damage means a new roof.
What goes on the roof next
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Coolbaugh’s houses: 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; 91% 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 and historic houses | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
A contractor who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and the number has to be on every contract and estimate (HICPA § 3, § 6). Ask for it before anyone starts on a roof in Coolbaugh, and search it.
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 Coolbaugh
Is a permit required for a new roof in Coolbaugh, PA?
Ask Coolbaugh first. Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. The township code office can say what Coolbaugh requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Coolbaugh, or is it a tear-off?
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). 28% of Coolbaugh’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Coolbaugh?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Coolbaugh was built in 1987, 28% of homes were built before 1980, 81% are owner-occupied.
Does Coolbaugh get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 4 days within 10 miles of Coolbaugh 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 Coolbaugh?
A contractor who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and the number has to be on every contract and estimate (HICPA § 3, § 6). Ask for it before anyone starts on a roof in Coolbaugh, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- Where the house is: the Coolbaugh address or ZIP
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- What is on the roof now (asphalt shingles, metal, slate, tile, or a flat membrane) and roughly how old it is
- How many layers are on it, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Coolbaugh
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.