What stands between the valuable possessions inside your home and the wind, rain, and snow? Your roof. For that reason, you want a roof that’s sturdy and leak-proof. Since even the best materials break down over time, regular maintenance and repair will help protect your home and possessions from damage. In some cases, you may need to replace the entire roof for best results. While the $6,400 average cost of roofing installation in Philadelphia can seem steep, in the long run, it’s less pricey than having to fix water damage throughout the house or having to replace your belongings.

Choosing Materials

You’ll find a variety of roof styles among Philadelphia homes. Many rowhomes in the city have what are called “flat roofs.” The roofs aren’t truly flat, though, they are actually slightly pitched to allow water to run off. Typically, flat roofs are made of materials such as modified bitumen, built-up roofing, or rubber. Modified bitumen and built-up roofing are similar and consist of layers of waterproof materials and asphalt that can be rolled out over the roof.

Some buildings have sloped roofs, which have a more noticeable angle. Sloped roofs can be covered with a wider range of materials. The budget-friendly choice is usually asphalt. In exchange for being inexpensive, asphalt roofing materials typically have the shortest shelf life. More pricey roofing materials include slate and tile. While they cost more upfront, they also tend to last much longer.

Roof Rules

Philadelphia has a number of rules governing roofs. If you’re in a historic home or district, such as Old City, you may also be limited in what you can do to your roof and will have to get approval before any major roofing installation project. For example, you probably won’t be allowed to install asphalt shingles on your roof if it’s a historic property, according to the Old City Historic District manual, as the asphalt will detract from the historic value of the home. Your goal when repairing a historic roof is to keep it as close to the original as possible.

The International Building Code, which applies in Philly, has strict rules when it comes to replacing or recovering your roof. If you have a flat roof covered with modified bitumen or built-up roofing, you can cover the initial layer of materials with a second layer. But, you’ll have to remove and re-install the roofing materials if there are already two coatings of the same material. You can’t cover up materials made of slate, clay, or wood with another layer. Instead, you have to pull out the first layer before adding the new roof. You can reuse some of the existing materials, as long as they aren’t damaged.

Finding a Contractor

Roofing installation isn’t a do-it-yourself project in Philadelphia. It requires a building permit and a licensed professional to do the job well and within the confines of the law. You can search for a licensed roofer in your area using the city’s website. Since a license just tells part of the story, you might want to do a bit more digging to find out as much as you can about your contractors before you decide to hire them. Look at review sites and ask for references to make sure you’re hiring the best person for the job.

Image Source: Flickr/Seth Werkheiser

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