Our work in Winchester
We have completed one roof in Winchester. One job, not a portfolio — we would rather say so than dress it up. The town is 41 miles from our base in Bethel.
Winchester is a 32.5-square-mile municipality in Litchfield County.
Within Winchester we work in Mooreville, Nelsons Corner, Winchester Center and Winsted. Housing stock varies enough inside one Connecticut town that the right roof in one neighbourhood is not automatically right three miles away.
Design criteria for a Winchester roof
For Winchester, the governing figure is an ultimate design wind speed of 115 mph (89 mph nominal), straight out of Appendix AY of the 2022 state code. Winchester is on the low side of the state range; 168 municipalities carry an equal or higher figure. It sits outside the code's hurricane-prone region — the sealed deck requirement does not apply.
Snow loading here is 40 psf at grade. At the state's maximum loading, structure is not an afterthought. Framing gets looked at here before anything is specified.
Connecticut amendments that apply here
The state changes the model code in two places worth knowing about. R905.1.2 requires ice barrier everywhere in Connecticut, extending at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line as measured up the slope. And R905.1.1, the sealed roof deck amendment, does not apply over narrow lumber sheathing — under 3 inches nominal — which is exactly what many pre-1950 houses in this state have.
The six-nail question comes up constantly. Code minimum in Connecticut is four nails per shingle. Manufacturers require six to honor their wind warranty. We install six. Both facts are true at the same time, and anyone presenting six as a code requirement has it wrong.
Permits and inspections in Winchester
Winchester issues roofing permits through its building department. Keith Fortier is listed as the building official. The published number is 860379-3818. Written questions go to kfortier@townofwinchester.org. We pull the permit ourselves. If a roofer asks you to pull it in your own name, that is a reason to stop and ask why.
A roof replacement permit in Connecticut is generally issued over the counter or online once the scope is submitted, with an inspection at completion. Where a house sits in a local historic district, or where zoning or health review applies, that approval comes first and can add real time. If your property is affected, we will tell you before the contract is signed rather than after the dumpster arrives.
How Winchester compares with the towns around it
Winchester shares its design wind figure with all 6 of its neighbours, so specifications carry across these town lines cleanly. The permit process does not — each town runs its own.
| Bordering town | Design wind | vs. Winchester | Ground snow | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barkhamsted | 115 mph | same | 35 psf | Litchfield |
| Colebrook | 115 mph | same | 40 psf | Litchfield |
| Goshen | 115 mph | same | 40 psf | Litchfield |
| New Hartford | 115 mph | same | 35 psf | Litchfield |
| Norfolk | 115 mph | same | 40 psf | Litchfield |
| Torrington | 115 mph | same | 40 psf | Litchfield |
Get a straight answer on your roof
Free inspection, a written scope, and a 25-year workmanship warranty.
Common questions about roofing in Winchester
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Winchester?
Yes. A roof replacement in Winchester requires a building permit, and we pull it as part of the job. The building department's published number is 860379-3818 if you want to confirm anything independently.
Is ice barrier required on a Winchester roof?
Yes — Connecticut requires it statewide under code section R905.1.2, running from the lowest roof edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. With a 40 psf ground snow load in Winchester, that detail is doing real work.
Who is the building official in Winchester?
Keith Fortier is the building official on record for Winchester, per the State of Connecticut list of municipal building officials. Staffing changes — confirm with the town before relying on it.
What wind speed does a roof in Winchester have to be designed for?
The 2022 Connecticut State Building Code assigns Winchester an ultimate design wind speed of 115 mph. That figure sets the fastener schedule and the manufacturer wind rating we specify.
Have you worked in Winchester before?
Yes. Our records show 1 completed roof in Winchester. That count comes from our own job history.
How many nails per shingle should be used in Winchester?
Connecticut's code minimum is four. Shingle manufacturers require six to keep their wind warranty in force, and six is what we install. Six nails is a manufacturer requirement, not a code requirement.
Design criteria are taken from Appendix AY of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code. Building department details come from the State of Connecticut list of municipal building officials, updated 04-06-2026. Municipal staffing and personnel change — confirm current details with the town. Stallion Ridge Exteriors is a service-area business based in Bethel, Connecticut.