Full Roof Replacement in Philadelphia, PA
Planning a new roof in Philadelphia, PA? Here's what a full replacement means on a flat rowhouse roof, a shingled twin or a slate-covered stone house. When you're ready, send one request and an independent local roofer will look at the roof and put a price in writing.
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Ask for a Roof Estimate
Takes about 30 seconds. One local roofer gets it and contacts you.
Your request goes to one independent roofer who works in and around Philadelphia, PA, and that roofer contacts you directly. See our Referral Marketing Disclosure.
Starting Over With a New Roof
Rowhouses far outnumber every other kind of home in the city. Their roofs look flat but tilt gently so rain runs to a drain or gutter out back. Most are covered in modified bitumen or EPDM rubber, often under a silver or white coating, and some carry TPO. Sun wears these materials down, so the top layer usually fails first.
Recoating is upkeep, not a new roof. If the membrane has split seams, blisters or soft spots, another coat only buys time. Ask the roofer whether the membrane underneath is sound.
Pitched roofs matter here too: shingles on many twins in West, Southwest and Northeast Philadelphia, and slate on many older stone houses in the Northwest. Slate is a specialty, so ask how often the roofer works with it.
What This Covers
- Flat-roof tear-off. Worn membrane and old coating come off, and a new membrane goes down over a sound surface.
- Party-wall flashing. The seam where your roof meets the neighbor's leaks often. It needs new flashing, and gaps at the party wall should be closed for fire separation.
- Rear drains and gutters. Ask whether the drain, scupper or back gutter is in the written price.
- Pitched roofs. The old covering is stripped and new underlayment laid. Ask about ice-and-water shield at the eaves and attic ventilation.
- Layers and decking. The City's EZ re-roofing standard requires removing every old layer when the roof is worn or damaged, is slate, wood shake or tile, or already has two or more coverings.
Rough Numbers for Roof Replacement
These are 2026 statewide installed prices per square foot of roof surface; the source places the Philadelphia metro at the top of the state, and metal figures are for steel.
| Cost row | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania 3-tab shingles, per sq ft | about $6.45 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania architectural shingles, per sq ft | about $7.10 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania premium shingles, per sq ft | about $8.80 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania exposed-fastener metal, per sq ft | about $9.50 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania standing-seam metal, per sq ft | about $14.65 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
Flat (low-slope) roofs, per sq ft (RoofObservations, 2026, commercial table): modified bitumen about $10.55–$11.10, EPDM about $5.60–$6.45, TPO about $5.25–$6.15. A small rowhouse roof often costs more per foot because of minimum job charges. Slate needs the roofer's own quote. For a pitched-roof planning range, try the roof cost calculator.
The Usual Sequence
- You fill in the request form with a few details about the house.
- One independent local roofer contacts you, then inspects and measures the roof. Many roofers give estimates at no charge; ask the roofer.
- The roofer writes an estimate listing material, tear-off, decking, flashing and drainage.
- You check the company's state registration in the Attorney General's online Home Improvement Contractor lookup and ask to see its City contractor license.
- The roofer files for an L&I EZ permit, which needs no plans. A home on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places needs Philadelphia Historical Commission approval first; staff handle most roof permits.
- The old roof comes off, any rotted sheathing is reported to the inspector and replaced, and the new roof goes on.
What Sets This Apart
This site is a free referral service, not a roofing company. It hands your request to one independent local roofer, and that roofer does the inspection, sets the price and carries out the work. The roofing company pays the site a fee for each referral; homeowners are never charged and are never given anything for asking. Nobody here signs anything with you, so take your time with the estimate.
Common Questions
Can my flat roof just get another coating?
Sometimes. A coating protects a membrane that is still in good shape, but it won't cure a membrane that has cracked, blistered or lifted at the seams. Ask the roofer to check the layer below and explain in writing why a coating or a full replacement suits your roof.
Does a roof replacement in Philadelphia need a permit?
Yes. A new roof covering in the city requires an EZ permit from the Department of Licenses and Inspections, and a contractor the City allows to do the work. The roofer usually files for it; ask to see it. Historic properties need Historical Commission sign-off before roof work begins.
What should the written contract include?
In Pennsylvania, a home improvement contract over $500 must be written and signed by both sides. Look for the contractor's registration number, total price, start and finish dates, the work and materials, and its insurance amounts. You may cancel within three business days of signing. When the job tops $5,000, a deposit bigger than a third of the price isn't allowed, special-order materials aside.
You May Also Need
If the roof still has life in it, read about roof repair or take the repair-or-replace quiz. Weighing materials? See shingle roof replacement, metal roof replacement and the cost guide.
Get Numbers on a New Roof
Describe the house in the form. One independent local roofer will reach out, see the roof and give you a written price to weigh on your own time.