A frequently asked question our Roofing Superhero, Llana “Roof Lady,” gets asked frequently is: why are homeowners looking to put on a new roof required to obtain a permit?

Rest assured, the permitting office is not the evil villain in this roofing adventure! There are various reasons that revolve around safety, compliance, and accountability. Roofing projects can significantly impact the structural integrity of a home and the overall safety of its occupants. A permit ensures that the proposed roof installation meets local building codes and regulations, which are designed to safeguard against potential hazards keeping your family safe. 

By adhering to these codes, homeowners can mitigate risks associated with inadequate roofing materials, improper installation techniques, or compromised structural support. In essence, permits serve as a layer of protection for homeowners and their investment, ensuring that the new roof is constructed to withstand environmental forces and contribute to the overall stability of the dwelling.

Also, obtaining a permit for a new roof promotes accountability and quality assurance within the construction process. You want to protect yourself and your investment! Local building departments review roofing plans to ensure they meet the requisite standards, including factors such as load-bearing capacity, drainage, insulation, and ventilation. By undergoing this approval process, homeowners gain access to expert oversight, which can help prevent costly mistakes and subpar workmanship. 

Permits also help maintain a record of improvements made to a property, which can be valuable for resale purposes, insurance claims, or legal matters. In essence, the permit requirement fosters a culture of responsible home improvement, benefiting homeowners, communities, and the construction industry as a whole by raising the bar for craftsmanship and safety standards.

In this video, Roof Lady sheds light on the roof permitting process for Colorado homeowners.

Llana Tolbert:

Hi, I’m Llana Tolbert from Lianro Metal Roofs, also known as Roof Lady. And this week, we’re going to talk about permitting and codes. 

Right now, it’s a beautiful day in Colorado, but we’ve had just tons of hail and so many of your having to replace your roofs. And there’s been quite a discussion happening on Nextdoor about permits and requirements and things like that. 

So, the first thing I would encourage you to do is make sure that the contractor you’re working with is licensed and understands what the building codes are.And then you want to inquire, if a permit’s required.  You want to require that they get a permit. 

Down the road, that could cause issues if you sell your house and you haven’t permitted your repairs. Some of the common things that are required in a permit are ice and water shield above 7,000 feet on your eaves, sometimes up the valleys, and sometimes up the rakes. 

Most jurisdictions require metal on the rake ends and your eave ends, but each jurisdiction is different. And so if your contractor says, “I need to get back with you on the code,” that’s not a bad thing, that’s a good thing: they’re going to check it out.

One of the cool things about the stone coated steel is we are a complete and separate roofing system, and so we can actually overlay one layer of asphalt. We nail those two-by-twos into the battens, the panels interlock, and we’re spreading the weight out, adding strength. And so, some of the codes that are required for your asphalt roofs, tile roofs, shake roofs, whatever are different for your stone-coated steel. 

So I hope this helps you better understand permitting. 

Thank you for joining me, and as always, metal up with a Lianro roof!