Permit
Media’s ordinance decides
The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the borough code office in Media is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Media, PA
The median home in Media was built in 1959; there are 3,105 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 Media
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 81% of Media’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
Media’s climate table decides
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). The contractor or the borough code office in Media will know.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Media
Owners live in 1,271 of Media’s occupied homes, or 42%. By year built, 28% before 1940, 52% before 1960, 81% before 1980; 12% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 19% detached houses, 24% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 16% buildings of two to four units.
Of the 48 Delaware County municipalities on this site, Media has the 29th largest share of homes built before 1980: 81%, against a county range of 20% to 98%.
Media and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media | 1959 | 81% | 42% | 24% | 15 |
| Upper Providence Township, Delaware County | 1967 | 70% | 74% | 7% | 14 |
| Rose Valley | 1963 | 79% | 98% | 14% | 15 |
| Nether Providence | 1959 | 78% | 88% | 17% | 16 |
| Middletown Township, Delaware County | 1977 | 54% | 75% | 14% | 14 |
| Swarthmore | 1949 | 91% | 76% | 5% | 17 |
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 Media
Within 10 miles of Media, hail of an inch or more was reported on 15 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 2.5 in on May 22, 2014. The most recent was April 4, 2025.
Remnants of Hurricane Ida (DR-4618, September 2021) is the latest of 3 federal storm declarations covering Delaware County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Media, 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; 19% 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 | Low pitches and long runs | Standing seam that carries its own loads can skip the tear-off (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 28% here predate 1940 | Sound slate can be reused (R908.5); broken slate cannot |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Low-slope roofs and rear sections (24% of homes here are attached) | 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 Media, 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 Media
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Media?
Media’s ordinance decides. The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the borough code office in Media is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Media?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 81% of Media’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in Media?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Media was built in 1959, 81% of homes were built before 1980, 42% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Media?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 15 days within 10 miles of Media 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 Media?
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 Media, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Media, 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
- Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Media
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.