Permit
Ask Covington first
The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the township code office in Covington is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Covington, PA
The median home in Covington was built in 1979; there are 1,000 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 Covington
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 53% of Covington’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
Set by the local climate table
IRC R905.1.2 calls for an ice barrier where Table R301.2 says so; in Pennsylvania the municipality completes that table. Covington’s answer is with the township code office.
Checked against the code text on October 24, 2026. The state’s code edition and the rest of its rules: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Covington
Of 843 occupied homes in Covington, 767 (91%) are owner-occupied. Counting by decade, 14% before 1940, 21% before 1960, 53% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 25% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 92% detached houses, 6% manufactured homes.
Of the 34 Lackawanna County municipalities on this site, Covington has the 27th largest share of homes built before 1980: 53%, against a county range of 42% to 88%.
Covington and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covington | 1979 | 53% | 91% | 1% | 5 |
| Moscow | 1981 | 48% | 79% | 2% | 10 |
| Clifton | 1984 | 44% | 85% | 0% | 2 |
| Madison Township, Lackawanna County | 1985 | 42% | 92% | 1% | 9 |
| Sterling | 1991 | 29% | 90% | 0% | 7 |
| Lehigh Township, Wayne County | 1983 | 43% | 91% | 0% | 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.
Hail and storms near Covington
Within 10 miles of Covington, hail of an inch or more was reported on 5 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on August 19, 2011. The most recent was June 3, 2023.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 12 days).
At the county level, Covington shares Lackawanna County’s record of 3 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest DR-4408 (Severe Storms and Flooding, November 2018). (OpenFEMA.)
Storm reports are what observers logged, not a measure of damage to any 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; 92% 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 | Simple roofs with long, unbroken slopes | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 14% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Additions and porch roofs | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
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 Covington, and search it.
Contracts, deposits and the right to cancel: checking a roofing contractor. What moves the price: new roof cost in Pennsylvania.
Questions about a new roof in Covington
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Covington?
Ask Covington first. The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the township code office in Covington is the one to ask before work starts.
Can a new roof go over the old one in Covington?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 53% of Covington’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
When were most homes in Covington built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Covington was built in 1979, 53% of homes were built before 1980, 91% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Covington?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 5 days within 10 miles of Covington from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
What license or registration should a roofer in Covington have?
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 Covington, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Covington, or at least the ZIP code
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- 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
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Whether the house is in a historic district or an HOA
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.