Asphalt Shingle Roof Replacement in Louisville, Ohio

What kinds of roofs are on Louisville homes?

Louisville grew in rings around the crossing of Main Street (State Route 153) and Chapel Street (State Route 44), and you can read the age of a roof from how far it sits from that corner.

Older homes near downtown and Main Street

The blocks around the downtown historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and roughly bounded by Chapel Street, Lincoln Court, St. Louis Court, Nickelplate Street, East Gorgas Street and Center Court, hold the city's oldest houses. Many went up in the first half of the 1900s. They are taller, with steeper pitches, dormers, chimneys and short valleys where two roof planes meet. Some still carry a second layer of shingles over the first, and under it you may find original plank decking that needs attention before new shingles go down. See roofing in the downtown Louisville Historic District.

Mid-century ranches and split-levels

Louisville became a city in 1960, and a large share of its houses were built in the decades on either side of that year. Brick and frame ranches, split-levels and modest two-story colonials line the streets between downtown and the edge of town. Their roofs are long, low and simple, which makes them a straightforward tear-off. The weak spots are the details: a single brick chimney with tired flashing, a bathroom vent stack, and a low-slope back porch roof tied into the main roof. See roofs on Louisville's mid-century ranch streets.

Newer subdivisions toward Nimishillen Township

Streets built from the 1980s on, out where the city meets Nimishillen Township, have larger roofs with more hips, valleys and attached garages. Many still have builder-grade 3-tab shingles that are wearing out at about the same time across a whole street. See roofing in Louisville's newer subdivisions and roof replacement in Nimishillen Township.

What does a roof replacement in Louisville include?

One scope, written out on your quote, with nothing to add later. Every asphalt shingle roof replacement includes:

1. Full tear-off. Every layer of old shingles and underlayment comes off down to the decking, so damaged boards can be found and replaced.
2. Synthetic underlayment. A tough synthetic sheet over the whole deck, stronger and more water resistant than old felt paper.
3. Ice and water shield at eaves, valleys and penetrations. A self-adhering membrane along the eaves and in every valley, where ice dams and heavy runoff do the most damage, and around penetrations.
4. Drip edge. Metal edging along the eaves and rakes that protects the deck edge and sends water off the roof.
5. Starter strip. A sealed first course at the edges so the first row of shingles holds down in wind.
6. Ridge vent. Continuous venting along the peak so the attic can breathe, which helps the shingles last and cuts ice dams.
7. Architectural shingles. Thicker, dimensional shingles with higher wind ratings and a longer typical life in the Midwest than 3-tab.
8. Dumpster. The old roof goes straight into a dumpster, not onto your lawn.
9. Magnet sweep. The yard, driveway and beds are swept with a rolling magnet to pick up nails.
10. Full cleanup. Debris is hauled away and the site is left clean before the job is called done.

Why architectural shingles instead of 3-tab?

Architectural shingles are laminated in two layers, so they are thicker and heavier than flat 3-tab. In the Midwest they typically last about 25 to 30 years, against about 15 to 20 for 3-tab, and they usually carry wind ratings of 110 to 130 mph instead of 60 to 70. They cost more per square, and the extra life is usually the better buy. The architectural shingles page goes deeper, and roof and gutters in the same week explains what happens at the roof edge.

Do you need a permit for a new roof in Louisville, Ohio?

Inside the city limits, yes. Residential building permits come from the City of Louisville, not the county. The city's Planning and Zoning office is at 215 South Mill Street, its permit requirements sheet lists a building permit for residing or reroofing, and the building permit application has a Roofing and Siding box. The city issues building permits for one, two and three family homes. The Stark County Building Department handles commercial buildings in Louisville, not houses.

If your home has a Louisville mailing address but sits outside the city in Nimishillen Township, a different pair of offices applies. The blog post on roof permits in Louisville versus the township walks through both.

Roof replacement questions from Louisville homeowners