Roof Replacement in Hartford and Hartford County

Does a new roof need a permit, and who pulls it?

Yes: a full re-roof needs a building permit under the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code, though minor repairs usually do not. The roofer typically handles the application, but you should ask rather than assume, and confirm the rules with your town building office.

Permit-guide listings show permit pages for West Hartford, East Hartford, Glastonbury and Newington, and the same guide sites suggest approval takes about a week. Treat that as indicative only, because it comes from a guide site, not from a town. The town building office is the authority.

The permit matters for more than paperwork. It brings an inspection in some towns, it makes a record that a roof was replaced and it can come up when you sell the house or file an insurance claim. A contractor who proposes skipping it should be asked why.

For the full picture on rules, the guide on permits to re-roof in Connecticut goes through who applies and what the town may ask for.

How many layers of shingles can a roof have?

Two is the most the code allows for asphalt shingles, under IRC R908.3. A roof that already carries two layers has to be stripped to the deck before new shingles go on, and a roof with one layer may or may not suit a second, depending on its condition.

A second layer is cheaper to install and easier to put on in cold weather, which is why the question comes up. The trade-off is that nobody sees the deck under it, the extra weight sits on rafters that may be very old, and a second layer inherits any waviness or soft spots from the first.

On houses that are decades old, ask the roofer to check from the attic how many layers there are and how the decking looks from below. If the answer is two and you are told otherwise, get a second opinion.

What should I check before I sign with a roofer?

Ask for a written contract, check the roofer's Home Improvement Contractor registration in the CT eLicense database, and read the scope and payment terms. Registered status should show as Active. Connecticut gives a three-day right of cancellation on door-to-door sales.

Connecticut issues no roofing licence. Contractors doing roofing on homes register with the Department of Consumer Protection as Home Improvement Contractors, and the department handles complaints about registered contractors. Registration is required for work on residential property of six units or fewer above $1,000 in contracts in 12 months.

Registration requires at least $20,000 in liability insurance and proof of a $15,000 surety bond or participation in the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. Do not rely on a verbal claim: look the name up. The guide on checking a roofer's registration walks through it.

Read the contract for what is included, what happens if the deck needs repair, who handles permit and cleanup, and how and when you pay.

What time of year suits a roof replacement in Hartford?

Roofers work through much of the year, and the timing that suits you depends on the weather and the roofer's schedule. Mild, dry stretches in spring and autumn are practical, but a leaking roof in winter may need work or a temporary cover sooner. Ask what the roofer can do and when.

Winter conditions in Hartford are hard on an open roof: an average January high of 36 F and low of 22 F, and about 49 inches of snow a year. A roof stripped to the deck before a storm is a risk, so ask how the crew protects an open roof when weather turns.

Summer and early autumn are storm season, with the August 2020 tropical storm and the May 2018 microburst as reminders. Ask about timing early rather than at the last moment.