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Roofers in Manchester, NH
Leak on the top floor of a multi-family, or a house that needs a whole new roof? Call (978) 577-5300 or send the form for a free estimate on Manchester roof repair or replacement. We'll review your request and help you with the next step.
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- West Side to the North End
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Roofing services in Manchester
Need roofing work in Manchester?
Leaking, missing shingles, or a roof that's simply worn out? Manchester has its own guides for repairs and full replacements; the other services link to our general guides.
Roof Replacement
Tear-off, deck repair and new roofs on Victorians, multi-families and post-war houses, with the city permit.
Roof Repair & Leaks
Chimney and porch-roof leaks, valley and flashing repairs, missing shingles and inspections.
Flat & Rubber Roofs
EPDM, TPO and modified bitumen on low-slope main roofs, porches and additions.
Ice Dams
Safe removal, plus the insulation and ventilation fixes that stop them.
Storm Damage
Tarping and repairs after wind, falling limbs and heavy snow.
Manchester roofs, neighborhood by neighborhood
What's on the roofs in Manchester
Manchester grew up around the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, once the largest textile mill in the world. It put up 40 mill buildings between 1838 and 1915 and employed more than 17,000 people at its peak in the 1910s, then closed in 1935. That history is still on the rooftops. Census estimates show about 28% of the city's homes were built before 1940 and 45% before 1960. Only about 41% are single-family houses; roughly a quarter are in two- to four-unit buildings and a third in larger ones, and just under half are owner-occupied. With about 115,600 residents, it's New Hampshire's largest city.
Millyard and company housing
Housing the mills built for their workers and supervisors makes up five National Register districts, listed in 1982. The oldest are brick 2½- to 3½-story tenement blocks from the 1840s and '50s, with gabled roofs and paired chimneys.
West Side
Rimmon Heights and the Notre Dame area are dense, historically French-Canadian neighborhoods. On McGregor Street, five Stick-style houses built for mill supervisors form their own small historic district.
North End
Historically the affluent side of the city, dense near Webster Street and more suburban farther north, around Stark Park.
Hallsville and the Hollow
One of the most densely built neighborhoods near the center, anchored by the Hollow, where Massabesic Street breaks the street grid. The city's Heritage Commission keeps a historic area survey of the Hollow.
Southside and Green Acres
Largely post-war suburban neighborhoods of single-family houses, with the city's big retail strip along South Willow Street.
Manchester houses
Roofing Manchester's brick blocks, multi-families and post-war homes
Brick tenement blocks. The mill-era blocks have long gabled roofs broken up by rows of chimneys. Chimney flashing and crowns are where most leaks start, and any work in a historic district can need Heritage Commission review.
Two- to four-family buildings. A big share of the city's housing. Low-slope main roofs and stacked porch roofs need a membrane; see flat and rubber roofs. Plan any replacement around tenants and the top-floor unit.
Victorians. Turrets, bays and cross gables in the older neighborhoods mean many valleys and wall joints. Ask for the flashing work to be spelled out in the estimate.
Post-war houses. In neighborhoods like Southside and Green Acres, capes and ranches are on their second or third roof. Two existing layers mean a tear-off, and capes with finished upstairs rooms are prone to ice dams.
Repair or replace? See roof repair in Manchester and roof replacement in Manchester.
Permits and historic review
Roofing permits in Manchester
Building permit. Manchester's Building Department, part of Planning and Community Development at One City Hall Plaza, says roofing requires a permit. Applications are available online. The fee for alterations such as roofing is 1% of the estimated cost plus a $25 application fee, with a $55 minimum, and normal processing takes 3 to 5 business days. The city enforces the 2021 International Residential Code.
Historic districts. The Heritage Commission reviews qualifying exterior building permits in the city's historic districts, including the Amoskeag Millyard and the Amoskeag Corporation Housing districts. Check before you sign if your building is in one.
Hiring. New Hampshire has no state roofing license. Get written, itemized estimates and proof of insurance before you choose. We verify the credentials a job requires before we send a contractor any calls.
Roofing Service Pros is a referral service. We don't pull permits or do roofing work. The roofing contractor who does the job handles the permit.
FAQ
Manchester roofing questions
Does Manchester require a permit for roofing?
Yes. The city's Building FAQ lists roofing, along with siding, windows and paving, among the work that needs a permit. Building permits are available online through Planning and Community Development. Roofing is charged as an alteration: 1% of the estimated cost of the work, plus a $25 application fee, and the minimum cost for any permit is $55.
Who is supposed to pull the permit, me or the roofer?
Either can apply. The city says it's the homeowner's responsibility to make sure a permit has been applied for and approved before any work starts, so ask your contractor for the permit number before the crew shows up. Normal processing is 3 to 5 business days.
My building is in the Millyard or the old Amoskeag company housing. What applies?
Manchester's Heritage Commission reviews qualifying exterior building permit applications in the city's historic districts, which include the Amoskeag Millyard and the Amoskeag Corporation Housing districts. In 2021 its agenda included a permit for a Market Street building covering slate and rubber roofing. If your building is in one of these districts, check with the Commission through Planning and Community Development before you sign a contract.
I own a two- or three-family. Anything different about the roof?
Often, yes. About a quarter of Manchester's homes are in buildings with two to four units. Many have low-slope main roofs or stacked porch roofs that need a membrane rather than shingles, and the top-floor tenant is usually the first to see a leak. Ask for the whole roof, porches included, to be checked on one visit.
Is Roofing Service Pros free?
Yes. The call and the referral cost homeowners and landlords nothing. Pricing and the contract are between you and the roofing contractor.
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