Permit
Ask Union Township first
The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The township code office can say what Union Township requires.
Source: 34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)
Roof Replacement in Union Township, Berks County, PA
The median home in Union Township was built in 1978; there are 1,532 of them. 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 Union Township
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. 53% of Union Township’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
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. Union Township’s answer is with the township code office.
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 Union Township
Owners live in 1,309 of Union Township’s occupied homes, or 87%. Counting by decade, 20% before 1940, 32% before 1960, 53% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 26% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 89% detached houses, 3% attached single-family houses (rowhouses, twins and townhouses), 5% manufactured homes.
Of the 67 Berks County municipalities on this site, Union Township has the 40th largest share of homes built before 1980: 53%, against a county range of 18% to 97%.
ZIP codes: 19518
Union Township and the towns around it
| Place | Median built | Before 1980 | Owners | Row, twin | Hail days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Township, Berks County | 1978 | 53% | 87% | 3% | 16 |
| Birdsboro | 1965 | 68% | 68% | 37% | 19 |
| Warwick Township, Chester County | 1966 | 75% | 88% | 4% | 13 |
| Amity | 1990 | 41% | 84% | 7% | 18 |
| West Pottsgrove | 1956 | 83% | 65% | 23% | 16 |
| North Coventry | 1970 | 67% | 75% | 8% | 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.
Hail and storms near Union Township
Within 10 miles of Union Township, hail of an inch or more was reported on 16 days between 2006 and 2025, the biggest stones 2 in on May 28, 2019. The most recent was July 8, 2025.
Berks County has had 2 federal major-disaster declarations for storms since 2006; the latest was DR-4267, Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (March 2016). (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
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; 89% 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 | A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1) |
| Slate | 75 years | Older houses; 20% here predate 1940 | Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight |
| Flat roof: EPDM or TPO | 15 years | Additions and porch roofs | Coating is not a replacement |
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
Before signing for a roof in Union Township, 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 Union Township
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Union Township?
Ask Union Township first. The state code does not cover a reroof that changes no structure (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). The township code office can say what Union Township requires.
Is a roof-over allowed in Union Township, or is it a tear-off?
IRC R908.3.1.1 forbids roofing over two existing layers, over slate or tile, or over a water-soaked roof. 53% of Union Township’s homes were built before 1980, so count the layers before comparing quotes.
When were most homes in Union Township built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Union Township was built in 1978, 53% of homes were built before 1980, 87% are owner-occupied.
How many hail days has Union Township had?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 16 days within 10 miles of Union Township 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 Union Township have?
Before signing for a roof in Union Township, 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 Union Township, or at least the ZIP code
- How many stories the house has, and whether it is detached or attached
- What covers the roof now and about when it went on
- The number of layers, if anyone has counted
- That you want a new roof or a full replacement, and when you want the work done
- Whether the house is in a historic district or an HOA
- That you are the owner and the one who decides
The full list: before you call.