Roofing in Bucks County, PA

How roofs differ across lower and central Bucks

Bucks County runs from the edge of Philadelphia up past Doylestown and along the Delaware River, and the houses change a lot along the way. A roof on a 1960s split-level in Warminster and a roof on a 150-year-old stone house in Doylestown fail in different ways and need different fixes. Here's how we think about the main kinds of houses we work on.

Post-war suburbs: Warminster, Southampton, Levittown, Bensalem

Lower Bucks filled up fast after the war with Capes, ranchers and split-levels, many built by the same builder on the same street in the same year. They're simple roofs: a gable or two, few valleys. The common problems are an aging second roof, two layers of shingles from a past overlay, and thin attic insulation that causes ice dams. In Warminster, when one house on the block gets a new roof, the neighbors usually aren't far behind.

Historic boroughs: Doylestown, Newtown, Yardley, New Hope

The old borough centers have steep roofs, dormers, stone chimneys and, on the oldest houses, slate or cedar. Leaks here are usually at the flashing around chimneys and dormers, not in the roof itself, and a careful repair often beats a tear-off. Parts of these boroughs are historic districts where visible changes can need approval before work starts. See Doylestown and Newtown for what that looks like on the ground.

River towns along the Delaware

Yardley, New Hope, Washington Crossing and Morrisville sit on the river and the canal. Damp air and heavy shade mean algae streaks and moss on north slopes, and houses on open ground by the water take more wind. Low-lying streets near the river have flooded before, so drainage away from the house matters as much as the shingles. Our Yardley page goes into it.

Newer developments: 1980s to 2000s

Much of central Bucks, from New Britain Township around Chalfont to Doylestown Township, Warrington and Newtown Township, is subdivisions built in the last 40 years. These houses are bigger, with more hips, valleys and dormers. Many still have their original builder-grade shingles, which are now reaching the end at roughly the same time across a whole neighborhood.

Our Bucks County town pages

Each town has its own page with what we see on roofs there and the questions people in that town ask us most.

• Warminster: right next door to Horsham. Ranchers, splits and Capes from the 1950s to the '70s, many on their second roof.
• Chalfont: a small borough near the Neshaminy Creek, ringed by New Britain Township subdivisions with roofs now 20 to 35 years old.
• Doylestown: the county seat. Old borough houses with slate and stone chimneys, and township developments around Cross Keys and Route 611.
• Newtown: a historic borough, Newtown Township subdivisions, and large, complicated roofs out toward Upper Makefield.
• Yardley: a river town on the Delaware, with Lower Makefield developments wrapped around it.

We also work in Warrington, Southampton, Richboro, Langhorne, Bensalem, Levittown, Buckingham and the towns in between. If your town isn't listed, call and ask. You can also see a Bucks County roof replacement in Bensalem and one in Warminster.

How far is Bucks County from Horsham?

Not far. Our home base in Horsham sits right on the county line, so Warminster is next door and Warrington, Chalfont and Doylestown are a short drive up Easton Road and Route 611. Newtown, Yardley and the river towns are further out, but they're part of our regular area and get the same service.

1. Call or send the form. Tell us what you're seeing: a stain, missing shingles, granules in the gutters, or just an old roof you want checked.
2. We inspect for free. We look at the whole roof, the flashing, the gutters and the attic where we can, and take photos of what we find.
3. You get a written estimate. Line-item, before any work starts, with a straight answer on whether a repair will do. Read more on roof inspections.
4. Active leak? Call any time, day or night. We tarp it to stop the water, usually the same day, then schedule the permanent fix. See emergency roof repair.

What you can check on your own roof before you call anyone

Most of this you can do from the ground with a pair of binoculars, or from the attic with a flashlight. Stay off the roof, especially if it's slate, steep or wet.

• Granules in the gutters or at the downspouts. A little is normal. Handfuls of dark grit mean the shingles are wearing out.
• Shingles curling, cracked or missing, especially on the south and west slopes that take the most sun.
• Dark streaks or green moss on the north side. Streaks are mostly cosmetic. Moss lifts shingle edges and holds water, so it's worth dealing with.
• Rust stains or gaps around the chimney. That is usually the flashing, and it is a repair, not a new roof.
• Slipped or missing slates on an older house. Each one is a small hole. Get them replaced before winter.
• Heavy icicles in the same spot every winter. That points to an ice dam, which is usually an attic ventilation and insulation problem.

In a historic district? Ask before you pick a material: If your house is in the historic part of Doylestown, Newtown, Yardley or New Hope, call the borough before you choose a shingle or color. Visible changes there often need review first. A like-for-like repair is usually simpler than switching materials.

After a storm, watch for door knockers: After big storms, out-of-town crews work their way through Bucks developments. Don't sign anything on the porch that hands over your insurance claim. We document storm damage with photos and can meet your adjuster, but your insurer decides what's covered.

A family roofer from just over the county line

Armstrong Roofing is a family-owned company based in Horsham. Owner Jim Armstrong personally oversees every job, and the team brings 50+ years of combined roofing experience. We're licensed in Pennsylvania (#PA164826), carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance, are BBB A+ rated, and have a 5.0 rating across 172+ reviews on Google.

• Free inspection with photos of what we find
• Written, line-item estimate before any work starts
• Architectural shingles from GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed, plus metal and flat-roof systems
• Our rule of thumb: once a repair would cost more than about 30% of a new roof, put the money toward replacement
• Financing available through Hearth, our financing partner

What it usually costs

A simple Warminster rancher usually sits near the low end of the replacement range. Large central Bucks colonials with lots of valleys and dormers, two layers of old shingles, or rotted decking push it up.

• Roof Inspection: Free
• Roof Repair: $350 – $2,500
• Roof Replacement: $6,500 – $18,000
• Storm Damage Roof Repair: $550 – $6,000
• Emergency Roof Repair: $550 – $3,250
• Gutter Installation: $1,200 – $7,500

Questions we get asked

Which parts of Bucks County do you cover?

Mainly lower and central Bucks: Warminster, Warrington, Chalfont, New Britain, Doylestown, Newtown, Yardley, Southampton, Richboro, Langhorne, Bensalem, Levittown and the towns around them. For upper Bucks, call (215) 824-6932 and we'll tell you if we can get to you.

How far are you from Bucks County?

Very close. We're based in Horsham, right on the county line, so Warminster is next door and Doylestown and Chalfont are a short drive. Newtown and Yardley are further but part of our regular area.

How much does a new roof cost in Bucks County?

Most roof replacements we do run between $6,500 and $18,000. Simple ranchers and Capes sit toward the lower end; big colonials with complicated rooflines, two layers of old shingles or rotted decking push it up. You get a free written estimate after we've seen the roof.

My house is in a historic district. Can I still replace the roof?

Usually yes, but in the historic parts of boroughs like Doylestown, Newtown and Yardley, visible changes can need review before work starts. Check with your borough before you choose a material or color. Repairing in kind is usually the simplest path.

Do you help with storm damage insurance claims?

Yes. We photograph the damage, write up the scope and can meet your adjuster at the house. Sudden wind, hail or tree damage is often covered, but your insurance company makes that call, not us.

Why do roofs near the Delaware get streaks and moss?

The river air is damp and many streets are heavily shaded, so north-facing slopes stay wet longer. Dark streaks are algae and mostly cosmetic; moss is worth removing because it lifts shingles. Algae-resistant shingles help when the roof is replaced.

Are you licensed and insured to work in Bucks County?

Yes. PA license #PA164826, with general liability and workers' compensation insurance. We'll show you proof before any work starts.

Related pages

• Roof Repair: Leaks, missing shingles, flashing and vents. We fix the problem and tell you honestly how much life the roof has left.
• Roof Replacement: Full tear-off and new roof when repairs stop making sense. Written, line-item estimate before anything starts.
• Roof Inspection: A free, top-to-bottom look at your roof with photos, so you know what you actually need before you spend anything.
• Storm Damage Repair: Wind, hail and fallen limbs. We document the damage with photos and work with your insurance adjuster.
• Emergency Roof Repair: Active leak or storm damage? Call any time, day or night. We tarp it to stop the water, then make the permanent fix.
• Gutter Installation: Seamless gutters and downspouts sized to move water away from your foundation.
• Warminster: Our neighbor to the north; lots of 1950s-70s ranchers and splits.
• Chalfont: Borough and surrounding townships in central Bucks.
• Doylestown: Historic borough homes plus the townships around it.
• Newtown: Historic borough and big suburban developments.
• Yardley: River-town homes along the Delaware.
• Montgomery County: Where we do most of our work, from Horsham out across the county.
• Roof Replacement in Bensalem, PA: Full roof replacement in Bensalem.
• Roof Replacement in Warminster, PA: Full roof replacement in Warminster.
• Horsham: Home base. Our shop is here.
• Hatboro: Borough homes and older twins right next door to Horsham.