New roof installation in Horsham and the surrounding counties

New roof installation or roof replacement?

If you have an old roof that's worn out and you want the same kind of roof back, that's a roof replacement, and that page covers it in detail. This page is for the jobs where something about the roof is new:

• An addition or a new build, where there is no roof yet, only framing and sheathing.
• A change of system, like going from shingles to metal, or turning a leaky low-slope porch roof into a proper flat roof.
• A full upgrade, where the roof is being rebuilt to fix problems the old one never got right: no ventilation, no ice barrier, flashing that was always caulked instead of fitted.

Tying a new roof into the old one

On an addition, the new roof is rarely the problem. The joint where it meets the existing house is. Water runs down the old roof and straight into that seam, and if the flashing there is wrong, the leak shows up inside the old part of the house, which makes it hard to trace.

• Step flashing where the new roof meets a wall. Small bent pieces woven in with each course of shingles, not one long strip and a tube of caulk.
• A valley where two roofs meet. All the water from both slopes runs through it, so it gets ice and water barrier underneath and is cut cleanly.
• Matching the old shingles. New shingles next to ten-year-old ones will look darker at first. On an addition that faces the street, it can be worth re-roofing the old slope that meets it so the two match.
• Ventilation for the new attic space. A new room under a new roof needs its own air in at the soffit and out at the ridge, or it will run hot and wet.

If you are building: Bring the roofer in before the framing is done, not after. Overhang depth, soffit vents and where the new roof meets the old wall are all easier to get right on paper than to fix once the siding is on.

What goes into a new roof, layer by layer

1. The deck. Plywood or boards over the rafters. On a new build it should be dry and flat before anything goes on it. On an upgrade, any soft or rotted sheets get cut out and replaced.
2. Drip edge. A metal edge along the bottom and sides of the roof that steers water into the gutter instead of behind it, into the fascia board.
3. Ice and water barrier. A stick-down membrane along the lower edge, in valleys and around chimneys and pipes. It is what stops ice dam water from getting in during a hard winter.
4. Underlayment. A water-resistant layer over the rest of the deck, the backup for any water that gets under a shingle.
5. Flashing. Metal fitted at every chimney, wall, skylight and pipe. Fitted and bent on site, not smeared with roof cement.
6. Shingles or metal, then ridge vent and cap. We install architectural shingles from GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed, plus metal and flat-roof systems.

If you want to see what finished work looks like, look at our Hatfield project or the Bensalem roof.

Questions to ask any roofer before a new roof goes on

• Where exactly does the ice and water barrier go? (Eaves and valleys at a minimum.)
• How is the new roof flashed where it meets the existing wall or roof?
• Where does the attic air come in and where does it go out?
• What brand and product line of shingle, in writing?
• Who pulls the permit? On new construction it is often the builder; on an upgrade, ask.
• Can I see your license number and proof of insurance? (Ours: PA #PA164826, with general liability and workers' compensation.)

If the answer to the ventilation question is a shrug, keep looking. It's the part of a roof people skip most, and it decides how long the shingles last.

What it usually costs

Roof size and steepness set most of the price. Tying into an existing roof, extra flashing work and the choice of shingle versus metal move it from there. These are typical ranges, not quotes.

• New Roof Installation: $7,500 – $20,000
• Shingle Roof Installation: $6,500 – $16,000
• Metal Roofing: $5,000 – $25,000
• Flat Roof Installation: $4,000 – $15,000

Questions we get asked

How much does a new roof installation cost?

Most new roof installations we do fall in a typical range of $7,500 to $20,000. A small addition sits near the bottom; a full system upgrade on a large, steep house sits near the top. You get a free written, line-item estimate before work starts.

What is the difference between a new roof installation and a roof replacement?

A replacement swaps a worn-out roof for the same kind of roof. A new installation is a roof where something is new: an addition, a new build, a switch to metal or flat roofing, or a full rebuild of the system to fix ventilation and flashing problems.

Can you put a roof on my addition and match the existing roof?

Yes, and the key is how the two roofs are joined, with proper step flashing and valleys. We match the shingle type and color as closely as we can, but new shingles look a little darker than a roof that has been in the sun for years until they weather in.

Why does attic ventilation matter on a new roof?

Without air coming in at the soffits and going out at the ridge, summer heat bakes the shingles from underneath and winter moisture rots the deck and feeds ice dams. It is one of the cheapest things to get right when the roof is new.

What shingles do you install?

We install architectural asphalt shingles from GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed. We also install metal roofing and flat-roof systems (EPDM rubber and modified bitumen) for low-slope sections.

Do I need a permit for a new roof?

Usually, yes, in most townships around here, especially for an addition. On new construction the builder often pulls it. Ask your township or your builder, and ask any roofer who is responsible for it before work starts.

Related pages

• Roof Replacement: Full tear-off and new roof when repairs stop making sense. Written, line-item estimate before anything starts.
• Shingle Roofing: Architectural asphalt shingle repair and installation, the roof on most homes around here.
• Metal Roofing: Standing seam and metal panel roofs for homeowners who want a roof that lasts decades.
• Flat Roofing: Low-slope roofs over porches, additions and row homes, where ponding water is the enemy.
• Roof Inspection: A free, top-to-bottom look at your roof with photos, so you know what you actually need before you spend anything.
• Gutter Installation: Seamless gutters and downspouts sized to move water away from your foundation.
• Horsham: Home base. Our shop is here.
• Blue Bell: Larger homes with complex rooflines and lots of valleys.
• Maple Glen: Established neighborhoods minutes from our shop.
• Doylestown: Historic borough homes plus the townships around it.
• Newtown: Historic borough and big suburban developments.
• Montgomery County: Where we do most of our work, from Horsham out across the county.
• Bucks County: Warminster, Doylestown, Newtown, Yardley, Chalfont and everywhere in between.
• Roof Replacement in Hatfield, PA: Full tear-off and new architectural shingle roof.
• Roof Replacement in Bensalem, PA: Full roof replacement in Bensalem.