Suffolk County · Massachusetts

Roof Replacement in Boston, MA

Call 1-877-216-2893 to be connected with an independent roofing contractor who serves Boston and Suffolk County.

Find Roofing Contractor is a referral service. We do not perform roofing work ourselves.

Calls may be recorded. You will hear a notice before you are connected.

Finding a roof replacement contractor in Boston

When you call, you may be asked a few short questions about your project by an automated prompt or by the contractor, and you are connected with an available independent contractor who serves Boston. The call is the only step: no forms and no sign-up.

Licensing in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, roofers working on 1- and 2-family homes generally need a Construction Supervisor License (a Roof Covering specialty license exists), and contractors working on owner-occupied homes of 1-4 units must also be registered as Home Improvement Contractors. Homeowners can check both credentials on the state's online lookup tools. Home Improvement Contractor registration lookup: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search Before you hire, check the contractor's record with the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections.

License lookup

Source: the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections · Checked September 2026

Permits in Boston

Replacing a roof in Boston requires a permit from the Inspectional Services Department; a Short-Form Permit covers roof work with no structural changes. For buildings with three or more units, the work must be done by a licensed contractor. Building permits for Boston are handled by Boston Inspectional Services Department.

Permits page

Source: Boston Inspectional Services Department · Checked September 2026

Weather and your roof in Suffolk County

From 2016 to 2025, NOAA recorded 4 hail reports (largest hailstone 0.75 in) and 63 thunderstorm wind damage reports (gusts up to 75 mph) in Suffolk County. The local forecast zone also logged 17 winter storm or heavy snow events and 41 high wind events, plus 3 tropical storm or hurricane events. Coastal wind exposure makes the shingle wind rating and edge fastening worth discussing with the contractor.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 2016-2025

Homes in Boston

308,000 homes
12% detached single-family
59% built before 1960

Boston has about 308,000 housing units. About 12 percent are detached single-family homes. About 59 percent were built before 1960, including 47 percent before 1940. About 35 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied. On homes of this age, ask the contractor what they will check under the old covering: the roof deck, the flashing and the attic ventilation.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023, tables B25024, B25034 and B25003

Before you call, have ready

A few details help the contractor understand your project on the first call.

the approximate age of your roof
the current material (asphalt shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat)
the size of your home or the number of stories
whether an insurance claim is involved
photos of the roof, if you have them

Talk to a roofing contractor who serves Boston

One call connects you with an independent local contractor. You discuss scope, schedule and price directly with them.

Call 1-877-216-2893

Calls may be recorded. You will hear a notice before you are connected.

Replacing a roof in Boston

In Boston, a roof replacement generally requires a permit from the Boston Inspectional Services Department, so one of the first things to settle with any contractor is who files it and whether it covers everything planned. From there, the larger question is whether your roof needs replacing at all.

Full replacement tends to win over spot fixes when the covering is near the end of its life, wear shows up across the whole surface, the deck has softened or delaminated, or there are already multiple layers. Nearly half of the city's housing, about 47 percent, predates 1940. On buildings of that vintage, stripping the old roof often reveals board sheathing, patched flashing and limited ventilation, and a careful contractor will explain what they plan to inspect once the surface is open.

The area's forecast zone recorded 41 high wind events and 17 winter storm or heavy snow events. That makes a shingle's wind rating, the nailing pattern at the edges, and an ice and water barrier along the eaves sensible topics.

Round out the conversation with material options suited to the roof's slope, a realistic schedule, the manufacturer's warranty on the materials, and a clear plan for removing and disposing of the old covering. A referral service can put you in touch with an independent contractor who works on homes in the city.

How it works

Call 1-877-216-2893. You hear a short notice that the call may be recorded.
Answer a few questions about your roof and your home. Your location and project details help route the call.
Talk to an independent local contractor. You discuss the scope, schedule and price directly with the contractor and decide whether to hire.

Is Find Roofing Contractor a roofing company?

No. We are a referral service that connects homeowners in Boston with independent roofing contractors. The contractor you speak with is responsible for the work.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Boston?

Replacing a roof in Boston requires a permit from the Inspectional Services Department; a Short-Form Permit covers roof work with no structural changes. For buildings with three or more units, the work must be done by a licensed contractor. Check with Boston Inspectional Services Department before work begins: permits page.

How do I check a roofing contractor in Massachusetts?

Ask the contractor for their registration or license number and look it up with the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections: license lookup. Ask for proof of insurance as well.

Is this service for roof replacement only?

Yes. We connect homeowners who are planning a full roof replacement.

When can a contractor start?

Start dates depend on the contractor's schedule and the scope of your project. You agree on dates directly with the contractor.

Will my call be recorded?

Calls may be recorded. You will hear a notice at the start of the call, before you are connected.