Permit
Ask Lansdowne first
The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The borough code office can say what Lansdowne requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Lansdowne, PA
Lansdowne has 5,048 homes, and half of them were standing by 1943. What the code requires when that roof is replaced, and who signs off, is below.
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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 Lansdowne
Layers
Two layers means 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). With 89% of Lansdowne’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
Set by the local climate table
Whether an eave membrane is a code item depends on the climate table the municipality filled in when it adopted the code (IRC R905.1.2, Table R301.2). Ask the borough code office or the contractor what Lansdowne’s says.
Checked against the code text on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Lansdowne
Of 4,856 occupied homes in Lansdowne, 3,263 (67%) are owner-occupied. Counting by decade, 48% before 1940, 73% before 1960, 89% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 2% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 23% detached houses, 40% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 10% buildings of two to four units.
With about two in five of homes attached, many roofs here meet a neighbor’s roof at a party wall. Say so on the call, and ask the contractor how the new roof will be tied in where it meets the house next door.
Older houses hide their history: ask the contractor to confirm the deck (board or sheet) and every layer above it before pricing, because slate or two layers mean a full tear-off.
Of the 48 Delaware County municipalities on this site, Lansdowne has the 16th largest share of homes built before 1980: 89%, against a county range of 20% to 98%.
ZIP codes: 19050
Lansdowne and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansdowne | 1943 | 89% | 67% | 40% | 13 |
| East Lansdowne | 1938 | 96% | 64% | 28% | 15 |
| Upper Darby | 1948 | 92% | 58% | 48% | 12 |
| Clifton Heights | 1951 | 93% | 74% | 71% | 14 |
| Yeadon | 1951 | 88% | 45% | 43% | 16 |
| Aldan | 1954 | 84% | 74% | 25% | 15 |
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 Lansdowne
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 13 separate days within 10 miles of Lansdowne; the largest was 1.75 in on June 24, 2010. The most recent was April 4, 2025.
Delaware County has had 3 federal major-disaster declarations for storms since 2006; the latest was DR-4618, Remnants of Hurricane Ida (September 2021). (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
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Lansdowne’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; 23% 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 | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 48% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Low-slope roofs and rear sections (40% of homes here are attached) | 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 Lansdowne, 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 Lansdowne
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Lansdowne?
Ask Lansdowne first. The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The borough code office can say what Lansdowne requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Lansdowne, 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). With 89% of Lansdowne’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
When were most homes in Lansdowne built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Lansdowne was built in 1943, 89% of homes were built before 1980, 67% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Lansdowne?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 13 days within 10 miles of Lansdowne 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 Lansdowne 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 Lansdowne, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Lansdowne, or at least the ZIP code
- Whether the house is detached, a twin or a rowhouse, and how many stories
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- 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 own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.