Permit
Ask Orwell 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 Orwell is the one to ask before work starts.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Orwell, PA
The median home in Orwell was built in 1980; there are 508 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 Orwell
Layers
One old layer can stay; two cannot
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 51% of Orwell’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Ice barrier
Set by the local climate table
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 Orwell’s says.
Checked against the code text on October 24, 2026. Code edition, permit and contract rules for the whole state: roof replacement in Pennsylvania.
Homes and roofs in Orwell
Owners live in 313 of Orwell’s occupied homes, or 78%. Counting by decade, 27% before 1940, 31% before 1960, 51% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 28% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 91% detached houses, 8% manufactured homes.
Of the 23 Bradford County municipalities on this site, Orwell has the 17th largest share of homes built before 1980: 51%, against a county range of 40% to 94%.
ZIP codes: 18837
Orwell and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orwell | 1980 | 51% | 78% | 0% | 4 |
| Rome | 1983 | 42% | 86% | 0% | 8 |
| Wysox | 1981 | 49% | 78% | 1% | 9 |
| Sheshequin | 1977 | 55% | 86% | 2% | 13 |
| Litchfield | 1985 | 40% | 91% | 0% | 9 |
| Towanda Borough | 1938 | 85% | 53% | 6% | 9 |
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 Orwell
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 4 separate days within 10 miles of Orwell; the largest was 1.75 in on July 30, 2020.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 12 days).
At the county level, Orwell shares Bradford County’s record of 4 storm disaster declarations since 2006, the newest DR-4408 (Severe Storms and Flooding, November 2018). (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 Orwell’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; 91% 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 | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 27% here predate 1940 | Sound slate can be reused (R908.5); broken slate cannot |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Additions and porch roofs | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Orwell, 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).
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 Orwell
Is a permit required for a new roof in Orwell, PA?
Ask Orwell 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 Orwell is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Orwell?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. With 51% of Orwell’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
When were most homes in Orwell built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Orwell was built in 1980, 51% of homes were built before 1980, 78% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Orwell?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 4 days within 10 miles of Orwell 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 Orwell have?
Before signing for a roof in Orwell, 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
- Where the house is: the Orwell address or ZIP
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
- Whether there is one layer or more, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- 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.