Permit
Local ordinance, not the state
Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. The township code office can say what Towamensing requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Towamensing, PA
Half of the 2,260 homes in Towamensing were built before 1987. 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 Towamensing
Layers
No third layer
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). 33% of Towamensing’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
Ice barrier
Towamensing’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. Towamensing’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 Towamensing
Of 2,066 occupied homes in Towamensing, 1,840 (89%) are owner-occupied. By year built, 5% before 1940, 11% before 1960, 33% before 1980; 25% went up in 2000 or later. (ACS 2020–2024.)
By building type: 88% detached houses, 12% manufactured homes.
Of the 15 Carbon County municipalities on this site, Towamensing has the 14th largest share of homes built before 1980: 33%, against a county range of 21% to 95%.
ZIP codes: 18071
Towamensing and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towamensing | 1987 | 33% | 89% | 0% | 11 |
| Franklin Township, Carbon County | 1974 | 56% | 84% | 2% | 12 |
| Lower Towamensing | 1968 | 65% | 79% | 3% | 12 |
| Palmerton | 1947 | 79% | 58% | 24% | 13 |
| Lehighton | 1942 | 93% | 50% | 21% | 12 |
| Penn Forest | 1992 | 21% | 90% | 3% | 7 |
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 Towamensing
NOAA’s storm reports show 11 days since 2006 with hail of at least 1 inch inside a 10-mile circle around Towamensing, topping out at 2.75 in on August 17, 2007. The most recent was April 30, 2024.
Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (DR-1649, June 2006) is the latest of 1 federal storm declaration covering Carbon County since 2006. (OpenFEMA.)
A report says hail fell near Towamensing, 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; 88% 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; 5% 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 | Seams at walls and drainage |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Towamensing, 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 Towamensing
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Towamensing?
Local ordinance, not the state. Under 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8), alterations to a house that make no structural change are outside the state code. The township code office can say what Towamensing requires.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Towamensing?
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). 33% of Towamensing’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
How old are the houses in Towamensing?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Towamensing was built in 1987, 33% of homes were built before 1980, 89% are owner-occupied.
How often does hail hit Towamensing?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 11 days within 10 miles of Towamensing 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 Towamensing?
Before signing for a roof in Towamensing, 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 Towamensing address or ZIP
- One story or two (or more), detached or attached
- What is on the roof now (asphalt shingles, metal, slate, tile, or a flat membrane) and roughly how old it is
- How many layers are on it, if you know
- That the job is a full replacement or a new roof, and your timing
- Any historic-district or HOA rules on the house in Towamensing
- That the house is yours and the decision is yours
The full list: before you call.