Roof Replacement in Connecticut

When a new roof makes more sense than a repair

Owens Corning lists seven signs a roof may need replacing: curled or cupped shingles, bald spots where granules are gone, cracked shingles, a roof at least 20 years old or looking worn, neighbors with same-age houses getting new roofs, dark algae streaks, and moss. When only part of the roof is damaged, Connecticut lets repairs of up to 25 percent of the roof covering in a calendar year go without a permit. Our inspections are free, and our roof repair page covers the repair side.

Tear-off or roofing over: what the code allows

A roof replacement removes the existing layers down to the roof deck (IRC R908.3); only an ice barrier membrane already bonded to the deck may stay, under a new layer of ice barrier. A recover, or layover, puts new roofing over the old, and it is allowed only in limited cases, such as roofing installed over the old layer to its manufacturer's instructions (R908.3.1). It is never allowed when (R908.3.1.1):

• the roof already has two or more layers of any kind of roofing;
• the existing roof is water-soaked or too deteriorated to serve as a base;
• the existing roof is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile.

A tear-off also exposes the whole deck, so damaged decking can be replaced. On any reroof, rusted, damaged or deteriorated flashings, edgings and vents must be replaced (R908.5).

What the Connecticut code requires on a new roof

Connecticut enforces the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code, based on the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC). The Department of Administrative Services says its 2026 successor, expected July 1, 2026, is delayed pending approval by the legislature's Regulation Review Committee (checked September 17, 2026). On a new asphalt shingle roof, it requires:

Ice barrier at every eave

The state's climate table marks ice barrier as required (Table R301.2), so R905.1.2 applies in every town: two layers of underlayment cemented together, or a self-adhering membrane, from the lowest roof edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line, and at least 36 inches up the slope on roofs pitched 8 in 12 or steeper.

Membrane strips over the deck joints

Connecticut's version of R905.1.1 requires a self-adhering membrane strip at least 4 inches wide over every joint in the roof decking, with underlayment over the whole roof. The strips are not needed when self-adhering underlayment is used instead, or on roofs sheathed with lumber less than 3 feet in nominal width.

Shingles rated for your town's wind

Appendix AY sets each town's ultimate design wind speed, from 115 mph in 21 towns, most in Litchfield County, to 129 mph in Stonington; 96 towns sit at 120 mph. Shingle packaging must carry a matching wind class: ASTM D7158 Class D, G or H at 115 mph, and Class G or H from 120 to 129 mph (amended Table R905.2.4.1); shingles outside D7158's scope are labeled to ASTM D3161 instead. Find your town's figure through our Connecticut roofing town pages or the Connecticut roofing code guide.

Fasteners and drip edge

Each strip shingle gets the fasteners its manufacturer's instructions call for, never fewer than four (R905.2.6). Drip edge is required at eaves and rakes, lapped at least 2 inches and fastened at most 12 inches apart (R905.2.8.5).

Permits in Connecticut and New York

In Connecticut, a full roof replacement needs a building permit (R105.1, R105.2). A contractor may not start until the permit has been obtained (CGS 20-427), and its application must show the contractor's Department of Consumer Protection registration number (R105.1.2). Each town sets and posts its own permit fees (R108.2), and the building official must issue or deny the permit within 30 days of filing (R105.3.1).

In Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, roofing falls under New York's Uniform Code; permit applications filed since December 31, 2025 must comply with its 2025 edition, including the 2025 Residential Code of New York State. Local governments enforce it, so ask your city, town or village building department.

How a Stallion Ridge roof replacement runs

1. Free inspection or instant estimate. We come out, listen to what you want and walk the whole house, and free inspections include storm and hail damage assessments. Or enter your address on our free roof estimate page: we measure the roof from aerial imagery, and a representative walks you through the numbers.
2. A line-itemed proposal, with material samples.
3. Contract and permit. A written, signed contract, then the permit before tear-off.
4. Tear-off. Landscaping is tarped, and the old roof comes off down to the deck.
5. The new roof. On a shingle roof, deck-joint strips, ice barrier, underlayment, drip edge and flashing, then the roofing itself, fastened to the manufacturer's instructions.
6. Cleanup. Daily tidy-ups, and a magnetic sweep for nails before we leave.
7. Warranty. Our 25-year workmanship warranty, in addition to the manufacturer's warranty on the materials.

Roofing we install

We install asphalt shingle roofs, including architectural shingles; metal, including standing seam; flat and low-slope EPDM and TPO; slate; cedar shake; and synthetic roofs. Brands we install include GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, Atlas, IKO, TAMKO, Malarkey and DaVinci synthetic slate and shake. We also handle skylights, chimney flashing, gutters, emergency tarping, roof cleaning and commercial roofs, and every roofing project includes gutters and downspouts formed without seams along each run.

Life figures are from InterNACHI's Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes, which Owens Corning cites; weather, design, material quality and maintenance change them. The EPDM Roofing Association gives a properly designed, installed and maintained EPDM membrane an expected 38 years, and the Metal Roofing Alliance says 30 to 50-plus years for metal.

What a roof replacement costs

Our roof replacements start at around $650 per roofing square (100 square feet of roof). The price rises with the material, the number of old layers torn off, the pitch, decking repairs, chimneys and skylights, and access. Financing is available with approved credit through Service Finance Company and Hearth. If a storm caused the damage, we help document it and work with your insurance company on the claim.

Common questions about roof replacement in Connecticut

What Connecticut law requires in a roofing contract

Roofing work on a private residence priced over $200 is a home improvement (CGS 20-419), and the contractor must be registered with the Department of Consumer Protection (CGS 20-420). The contract must be in writing and signed by both parties, with the contractor's registration number, start and completion dates and notice of your cancellation rights (CGS 20-429). You may cancel until midnight of the third business day, and weekends and legal holidays do not count (CGS 20-429; CGS 42-134a, 42-135a). If more than 30 days have passed since the contract's starting date and no substantial part of the work has been done, the contractor must refund your payment within ten days of a written request (CGS 20-427).

Roofing by town

Sources: 2022 Connecticut State Building Code (amended IRC R105, R108, Table R301.2, R905.1.1, Table R905.2.4.1 and Appendix AY) and the 2021 IRC as adopted; Department of Administrative Services code adoption page; New York Department of State, 2025 Uniform Code notice of adoption; Connecticut General Statutes chapters 400 and 740; Owens Corning; InterNACHI; EPDM Roofing Association; Metal Roofing Alliance. Checked September 17, 2026. Stallion Ridge Exteriors is a service-area business based in Bethel, Connecticut.