Permit
Local ordinance, not the state
The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The borough code office can say what Swarthmore requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Swarthmore, PA
Half of the 2,163 homes in Swarthmore were built before 1949. The rules below decide how much of the old roof has to come off and what goes under the new one.
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 Swarthmore
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). 91% of Swarthmore’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Swarthmore’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 borough code office or the contractor what Swarthmore’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 Swarthmore
Of 2,067 occupied homes in Swarthmore, 1,571 (76%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 47% before 1940, 67% before 1960, 91% before 1980; 4% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 56% detached houses, 5% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 10% buildings of two to four units.
On a house built before 1940, ask what the deck is (boards or plywood) and whether slate sits under the later layers: slate can’t be roofed over.
Of the 48 Delaware County municipalities on this site, Swarthmore has the 11th largest share of homes built before 1980: 91%, against a county range of 20% to 98%.
ZIP codes: 19081
Swarthmore and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swarthmore | 1949 | 91% | 76% | 5% | 17 |
| Nether Providence | 1959 | 78% | 88% | 17% | 16 |
| Morton | 1964 | 77% | 59% | 24% | 18 |
| Ridley | 1957 | 87% | 74% | 28% | 19 |
| Springfield Township, Delaware County | 1955 | 92% | 94% | 8% | 18 |
| Rose Valley | 1963 | 79% | 98% | 14% | 15 |
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 Swarthmore
NOAA’s storm reports show 17 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Swarthmore, topping out at 2.5 in on May 22, 2014. The most recent was April 4, 2025.
That is more hail days than 79% of the places in the state on this site.
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 Swarthmore, 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; 56% 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; 47% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| 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
Pennsylvania’s home improvement law (HICPA § 3, § 6) requires registration with the Attorney General from $5,000 a year of such work and puts the number on every estimate; ask for it in Swarthmore and look it up.
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 Swarthmore
Is a permit required for a new roof in Swarthmore, PA?
Local ordinance, not the state. The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The borough code office can say what Swarthmore requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Swarthmore, 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). 91% of Swarthmore’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Swarthmore?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Swarthmore was built in 1949, 91% of homes were built before 1980, 76% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Swarthmore had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 17 days within 10 miles of Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore?
Pennsylvania’s home improvement law (HICPA § 3, § 6) requires registration with the Attorney General from $5,000 a year of such work and puts the number on every estimate; ask for it in Swarthmore and look it up.
What they will ask on the phone
- The street address in Swarthmore, 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 Swarthmore
- That you own the home and decide on the roof
The full list: before you call.