Permit
Ask London Britain 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 London Britain is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in London Britain, PA
The median home in London Britain was built in 1985; there are 1,101 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 London Britain
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 36% of London Britain’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
London Britain’s climate table decides
The code requires an ice barrier where the local climate table (Table R301.2) says so, and each Pennsylvania municipality fills that table in. Ask the township code office or the contractor what London Britain’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 London Britain
96% of the occupied homes in London Britain are lived in by their owners: 1,012 households, the people this line is for. By year built, 9% before 1940, 13% before 1960, 36% before 1980; 21% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 98% detached houses.
Of the 71 Chester County municipalities on this site, London Britain has the 47th largest share of homes built before 1980: 36%, against a county range of 12% to 80%.
ZIP codes: 19350
London Britain and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Britain | 1985 | 36% | 96% | 1% | 11 |
| Franklin Township, Chester County | 1994 | 28% | 94% | 3% | 12 |
| New Garden | 1994 | 26% | 77% | 7% | 12 |
| New London | 1995 | 16% | 94% | 0% | 12 |
| West Grove | 1971 | 59% | 77% | 21% | 10 |
| Avondale | 1938 | 69% | 62% | 25% | 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 London Britain
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 11 separate days within 10 miles of London Britain; the largest was 1.75 in on June 29, 2012. The most recent was May 3, 2025.
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4618, September 2021) is the latest of 5 federal storm declarations covering Chester County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near London Britain, 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 London Britain’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; 98% 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; 9% here predate 1940 | Sound slate can be reused (R908.5); broken slate cannot |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Coating is not a replacement |
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 London Britain, 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 London Britain
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in London Britain?
Ask London Britain 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 London Britain is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in London Britain?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 36% of London Britain’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in London Britain?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in London Britain was built in 1985, 36% of homes were built before 1980, 96% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit London Britain?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 11 days within 10 miles of London Britain 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 London Britain?
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 London Britain, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- Your address or ZIP code in London Britain
- 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
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in London Britain
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.