Permit
Ask Lower Moreland 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 Lower Moreland is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Lower Moreland, PA
Half of the 4,838 homes in Lower Moreland were built before 1967. 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 Lower Moreland
Layers
Two layers means 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). 73% of Lower Moreland’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
Ice barrier
Lower Moreland’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 Lower Moreland’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 Lower Moreland
Of 4,623 occupied homes in Lower Moreland, 4,040 (87%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 8% before 1940, 34% before 1960, 73% before 1980; 17% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 85% detached houses.
Of the 61 Montgomery County municipalities on this site, Lower Moreland has the 22nd largest share of homes built before 1980: 73%, against a county range of 17% to 98%.
ZIP codes: 19006
Lower Moreland and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Moreland | 1967 | 73% | 87% | 2% | 11 |
| Bryn Athyn | 1971 | 67% | 67% | 3% | 10 |
| Abington | 1956 | 87% | 77% | 8% | 10 |
| Rockledge | 1951 | 93% | 71% | 20% | 13 |
| Upper Moreland | 1962 | 82% | 58% | 6% | 12 |
| Jenkintown | 1938 | 98% | 67% | 16% | 11 |
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 Lower Moreland
Within 10 miles of Lower Moreland, hail of an inch or more was reported on 11 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 1.75 in on March 29, 2009. The most recent was May 3, 2025.
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4618, September 2021) is the latest of 6 federal storm declarations covering Montgomery County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Lower Moreland, not that it damaged a 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; 85% 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 | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 8% 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 | 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 Lower Moreland, 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 Lower Moreland
Is a permit required for a new roof in Lower Moreland, PA?
Ask Lower Moreland 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 Lower Moreland is the one to ask before work starts.
Is a roof-over allowed in Lower Moreland, 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). 73% of Lower Moreland’s homes were built before 1980; many have been reroofed before.
How old are the houses in Lower Moreland?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Lower Moreland was built in 1967, 73% of homes were built before 1980, 87% are owner-occupied.
Does Lower Moreland get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 11 days within 10 miles of Lower Moreland 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 Lower Moreland?
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 Lower Moreland, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Lower Moreland, or at least the ZIP code
- The number of stories, and whether the house stands alone
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- Your timing for a complete replacement
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Lower Moreland
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.