Permit
New Garden’s ordinance decides
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 New Garden is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in New Garden, PA
The median home in New Garden was built in 1994; there are 4,053 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 New Garden
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 26% of New Garden’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
New Garden’s climate table decides
IRC R905.1.2 calls for an ice barrier where Table R301.2 says so; in Pennsylvania the municipality completes that table. New Garden’s answer is with the township code office.
Rules as read on October 24, 2026. Everything else the state requires: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in New Garden
Owners live in 2,993 of New Garden’s occupied homes, or 77%. By year built, 7% before 1940, 12% before 1960, 26% before 1980; 33% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 75% detached houses, 7% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 9% buildings of two to four units.
33% of homes here were built in 2000 or later. HUD’s useful-life table gives an asphalt-shingle roof 20 years, so roofs on houses from the early 2000s are reaching that age.
Of the 71 Chester County municipalities on this site, New Garden has the 67th largest share of homes built before 1980: 26%, against a county range of 12% to 80%.
ZIP codes: 19311 · 19350 · 19374
New Garden and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Garden | 1994 | 26% | 77% | 7% | 12 |
| Avondale | 1938 | 69% | 62% | 25% | 10 |
| Kennett Square | 1957 | 75% | 56% | 15% | 11 |
| London Grove | 1997 | 26% | 96% | 7% | 10 |
| West Grove | 1971 | 59% | 77% | 21% | 10 |
| Kennett | 1991 | 38% | 77% | 19% | 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 New Garden
NOAA’s storm reports show 12 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around New Garden, topping out at 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 New Garden, 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; 75% 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; 7% here predate 1940 | Never a base for a new layer (R908.3.1.1); heavy |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Porches, additions, low-slope rears | Where the roof meets a wall or parapet |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in New Garden, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
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 New Garden
Does a roof replacement in New Garden need a permit?
New Garden’s ordinance decides. 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 New Garden is the one to ask before work starts.
Can a new roof go over the old one in New Garden?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 26% of New Garden’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
How old are the houses in New Garden?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in New Garden was built in 1994, 26% of homes were built before 1980, 77% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit New Garden?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 12 days within 10 miles of New Garden 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 New Garden?
Before signing for a roof in New Garden, get the contractor’s PA registration number: the home improvement law requires registration with the Attorney General above $5,000 a year of such work, and the number on contracts and estimates (HICPA § 3, § 6).
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in New Garden, 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 New Garden
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.