Roofing in Pennsylvania: Old Homes, Hard Winters, and Hail

Pennsylvania's roofing environment is shaped by its geography and its old housing stock. Philadelphia and the southeast experience coastal storm influence and humid summers; Pittsburgh and the west see lake-influenced winters and significant precipitation; the central mountains get heavy snow and ice. Across the state, Pennsylvania has some of the oldest residential housing in the country — row homes and Victorian-era houses with complex roof geometries, original slate, and decades of deferred maintenance.

The Biggest Threats to Pennsylvania Roofs

Ice dams are a consistent problem across the state, particularly in central and western Pennsylvania where winters are severe and housing stock is old. Heat escaping through inadequately insulated attics — common in older Pennsylvania homes — creates conditions for ice dam formation that can cause significant interior water damage.

Nor'easters and winter storms deliver heavy wet snow, ice, and wind across Pennsylvania from November through March. Philadelphia's proximity to the coast amplifies these events, while Pittsburgh's Ohio Valley location creates different but equally challenging winter weather patterns.

Hail affects Pennsylvania — particularly the western and central regions — with regularity during spring and summer storm seasons. Pittsburgh and its suburbs have seen significant hail events that drive insurance claims.

Tropical storm remnants reach Pennsylvania in late summer, bringing wind and heavy rain. Hurricane Ida's remnants caused flooding across eastern Pennsylvania in 2021.

Old housing stock is the underlying complicating factor. Slate roofs, original wood sheathing, old flashing systems, and decades of layered repairs create complexity that newer construction doesn't present.

What to Look for in a Pennsylvania Roofer

Pennsylvania requires home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. Verify registration before hiring. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have additional local licensing requirements.

For historic Pennsylvania homes with slate or old tile, insist on a contractor with documented experience in historic roofing. Not every contractor who claims slate experience has real expertise — ask for specific references and examples.

Common Roofing Materials in Pennsylvania

Architectural asphalt shingles are standard for most Pennsylvania residential construction. Ice-and-water shield installation is critical given the state's ice dam risk.

Slate is found throughout Pennsylvania — the state has a strong slate roofing tradition and experienced slate contractors. Existing slate should be repaired rather than replaced whenever structurally sound.

Metal roofing is increasingly popular across the state for its performance and longevity in Pennsylvania's climate.

The Contrarian Take

Pennsylvania's historic housing stock includes enormous numbers of slate roofs that are routinely replaced with asphalt when a few slates fail or flashings fail. This is almost always the wrong decision. Pennsylvania slate, properly maintained, lasts 75-150 years — a slate roof from 1920 likely has decades of life remaining. The flashings and underlayment fail before the slate does. A specialist re-flash and underlayment replacement, preserving the existing slate, costs a fraction of full replacement and preserves a roof that cannot be replicated at any price with modern materials.

Also Looking in a Nearby State?

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