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Roofers in Rochester, NH
Shingles worn out on an older house, or a leak on a newer home or manufactured home? Call (978) 577-5300 or send the form for a free estimate on Rochester roof repair or replacement. We'll review your request and help you with the next step.
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- Gonic to East Rochester
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Roofing services in Rochester
Need roofing work in Rochester?
Whether you've found a leak, noticed worn or missing shingles, or think it's time for a new roof, start with the service that matches your situation.
Roof Replacement
Tear-off, deck repair, ice and water barrier and a new roof, done to code.
Roof Repair & Leaks
Flashing, vent boots, missing shingles and leak tracing, plus inspections.
Flat & Rubber Roofs
EPDM, TPO and modified bitumen on low-slope 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, hail and heavy snow.
Rochester roofs, village by village
What's on the roofs in Rochester
Rochester grew as a mill town on the Cocheco River; by 1880 shoe manufacturing was its dominant industry, alongside woolen mills. Known as the Lilac City, it has about 32,500 residents and the Spaulding Turnpike running through it. Census estimates show about 18% of its homes were built before 1940 and nearly 59% since 1980. Just over half are single-family houses, and about one in seven is a mobile or manufactured home, a much larger share than in Dover or Portsmouth. About two-thirds of homes are owner-occupied.
Downtown
The old mill and shoe-factory center on the Cocheco River, where lumbering, woolen mills and shoe factories built the city.
Gonic
A village around a dam on the Cocheco River, about two miles south of downtown, with its own ZIP code and a long-standing identity of its own. The Spaulding Turnpike separates it from downtown.
East Rochester
On the Salmon Falls River at the Maine line. A farming area that grew into a small textile and shoe mill town, mostly between the 1880s and 1920s; several of its Victorian buildings have been restored.
North Rochester
Rochester's third outlying village, along with Gonic and East Rochester.
Rochester houses
Roofing Rochester's mill-village houses, newer homes and manufactured homes
Mill-era and Victorian houses. Downtown, Gonic and East Rochester have houses from the shoe and woolen mill years. Steep gables, porches and old chimneys mean flashing work matters most, and older decking often needs patching.
Homes built since 1980. Most of the city. Roofs from the '80s and '90s are due or past due, and two existing layers mean a full tear-off. Watch attic ventilation to avoid ice dams.
Mobile and manufactured homes. A big share of Rochester's housing. Low-pitch roofs on these homes can leak at seams and fasteners; the fix may be a membrane, a metal roof-over or a re-pitch. See flat and rubber roofs.
Two- to four-family buildings. About 15% of homes. Porch roofs and low-slope sections need a membrane rather than shingles.
Repair or replace? See roof repair and roof replacement.
Permits and historic review
Roofing permits in Rochester
Building permit. Rochester's Building and Licensing Services handles re-shingling through its Express Building Permit, with a flat $10 fee. Approval comes before work starts; after-the-fact permits cost twice the normal fee. Ask whether a larger job, such as replacing decking or changing the roof's shape, needs a full building permit.
Historic Overlay District. Development in the city's Historic Overlay District needs a certificate before a building permit, but the Land Use Code exempts work on single-family and duplex buildings. Owners of larger buildings in the district should check with Planning.
Hiring. There's no state roofing license in New Hampshire, so ask each contractor for proof of insurance and compare written, itemized estimates. 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
Rochester roofing questions
Does a re-shingle need a permit in Rochester?
Yes. Rochester's Building and Licensing Services lists "Roofing (Re-Shingle only)" on its Express Building Permit application, which carries a flat $10 fee for these small projects. Approval is still required before work begins, and an after-the-fact permit costs twice the normal fee. Bigger roofing jobs may need the regular building permit.
My house is in Rochester's Historic Overlay District. Does the roof need approval?
Probably not if it's a house. Rochester's Land Use Code requires a certificate before a building permit for development in the Historic Overlay District, but it exempts work on single-family and duplex buildings. Larger buildings in the district may need review, so check with the Planning Department first.
We have a manufactured home. Can it get a new roof?
Yes. About one in seven Rochester homes is a mobile or manufactured home. Many have low-pitch roofs, so the right fix depends on the roof's shape and condition: some get a membrane, some a metal roof-over, some a re-pitch with shingles. Ask the contractor to explain why they recommend one, and check your park's rules if you're in a community.
Our house in Gonic or East Rochester is over 100 years old. Anything special?
Older mill-village houses often have board decking, old chimneys and more than one layer of roofing. Expect deck repairs once the old roof is off, and ask for new flashing at every chimney and wall.
Do homeowners pay to use Roofing Service Pros?
No. We don't charge homeowners for the call or the referral; you agree on price and terms directly with the roofer.
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