RTP Roofing · Newport, RI
Roofer in Newport, RI
You call a Newport roofer and the first question is not about shingles. It is whether your street needs Historic District Commission sign-off before anyone touches the roof. RTP Roofing answers that first, then quotes the job.
Free EstimateRTP-····-···· · Warwick Office
Free Estimate
RTP-····-····Warwick Office
Step 1 of 5 · About 1 Minute
What Does Your Home Need?
Pick the closest one. You don't need the right words for it.
Something's Leaking or DamagedA stain on the ceiling, water in the attic, missing shingles.
Old Roof, Weighing ReplacementCurling, bald spots, or it's just been a long time.
Storm DamageWind, a fallen limb, hail. Claim or no claim.
Not Sure, Need an InspectionAn inspection or a second opinion.
Gutters, Siding or ExteriorGutters, siding, trim, windows, skylights.
Commercial BuildingFlat or low-slope roofs, maintenance, replacement.Where Are You Seeing It?
Pick the closest. We'll look at the rest on site.
How Old Is the Roof?
A rough guess is fine.
Have You Started an Insurance Claim?
Either way, we can take a look.
What's Behind the Inspection?
Pick the closest.
Which Part of the Exterior?
Pick the main one. Mention the rest at the end.
What Does the Building Need?
Flat and low-slope roofs included.
What Kind of Property Is It?
When Do You Want It Done?
Where Should We Reach You?
Request Sent
Reference RTP-····-····
We'll reach out from (401) 593-1512 during business hours. Need us sooner? Call that number any time.
Nothing is sent until you say so.
ContinueRather Talk?(401) 593-1512
- 5.0Google rating · 229 reviews
GAF Master Elite® GAF Master Elite® Certified contractor, Cert. #1111816.- BBB A+ Accredited by the Better Business Bureau since September 29, 2022.
- GC-47694 Licensed and registered general contractor in Rhode Island, valid through September 19, 2027.
- GAF Extended Warranty Extended manufacturer warranty available on qualifying installations. Coverage terms vary by product and installation.
Local Conditions
What Roofs Here Are Really Like
Looking for a roofer in Newport? Age is the first thing to understand about the houses. The Gilded Age "cottages" along the water, The Breakers among them, were mostly built between 1870 and 1915, and the Colonial houses are older still. Between those sit Victorians and the wooden homes that working families built block by block.
Those houses are not alike. Ocean Drive has late 19th and early 20th century estates in Queen Anne, Shingle Style and Colonial Revival design. The Fifth Ward has brick-lined streets of cottages and Victorians. Southern Thames has modest, well-kept wooden houses. A quote written from the curb cannot tell them apart, which is why we inspect on the roof.
Newport also sits on Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay, so wind and salt air are part of every roof here.
Places
Where We Work in Newport
We work in both Newport ZIP codes, 02840 and 02841. These are the historic areas we work in:
- Newport National Historic Landmark District
- Kay Street-Catherine Street-Old Beach Road
- Bellevue Avenue
- Fort Adams
- Ocean Drive: late 19th and early 20th century estates in Queen Anne, Shingle Style and Colonial Revival design
- Ochre Point-Cliffs
- Southern Thames: modest, well-kept wooden houses tied to the city's Irish working-class history
The Point is known for its preserved Colonial-era homes. Fifth Ward has brick-lined streets of cottages and Victorians.
Not sure whether your address sits inside one? Call (401) 593-1512 and we will check before we quote.
Permits
How To Get a Roof Permit in Newport: 4 Steps
Newport requires a building permit to replace roof covering. Here is what the City of Newport's Building Inspections page and Inspections page say, laid out as a 4-step guide.
- Confirm the Scope.
Replacing roof covering needs a permit. Ask us whether your repair does too.
- File Online.
Applications go through the city's e-permitting portal at newportri.viewpointcloud.com.
- Know What the Fee Depends On.
The city bases the permit fee on the cost of the work, labor and materials included.
- Talk to the Office if You Need To.
Building Inspections is at 43 Broadway and answers at (401) 845-5459, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you plan to do your own roof, the city requires a notarized homeowner affidavit.
Historic
Roofing Inside a Historic District
Newport has 3 National Historic Landmark Districts, including the Newport Historic District. Roof work inside a local district can mean a second review on top of the building permit. These are the City's local Historic District Commission rules. National Register listing is a separate designation, so confirm your address with the Zoning and Inspections office.
The Historic District Commission adopted its roofing policy on 17 September 2019, and it is blunt about materials. Slate, standing-seam metal, wood shingle and tile roofs are called significant and are meant to be preserved. The policy calls roofs a character-defining feature of historic buildings and says character-defining roofs should be repaired rather than replaced wherever possible. No roof on a Contributing Building may be replaced in total unless an accepted roofing expert documents, in a letter on letterhead, that it is beyond reasonable repair, and a roof that must be replaced is replaced in kind. On a Non-Contributing Building, in-kind replacement is encouraged but not required, synthetic slate or tile is generally not appropriate, and rubber or TPO roofs may be considered if they are hidden from the street.
Applications should include roofing cut sheets, and you bring exact roofing samples to the meeting. The Zoning and Inspections office handling this is on the third floor at 43 Broadway, 401-845-5472. Read the full Historic District Commission roofing policy before you pick a material. We note your current roof material and profile at inspection, so you know what an in-kind replacement has to look like before the meeting.
The Record
Hurricanes, Surge and What Newport Roofs Have Already Survived
Newport's storm history is not abstract.
In the 1938 hurricane, a 12 to 15 foot surge in Narragansett Bay destroyed most coastal homes, marinas and yacht clubs. On August 31, 1954, Hurricane Carol came ashore at Newport with 115 mph winds and destroyed 3,800 homes in about an hour across the area.
More recent memory: Hurricane Sandy's surge in October 2012 washed away sections of the Cliff Walk.
Storm and insurance questions have their own page: see our storm and insurance claims guide. Flood zones are a separate question from roof condition: Newport adopted its current FEMA flood maps on September 4, 2013, and the city offers a map index and GIS lookup on its floodplain management page.
Services
Roofing Services in Newport
A repair or inspection can lead to a replacement if the deck is compromised. See our pages on roof repair, roof inspection and roof replacement. On a Contributing Building the Historic District Commission requires in-kind replacement, and on a Non-Contributing Building it encourages it, so check the classification before choosing between metal roofing and shingle roofing. We also do gutters, siding and skylights.
Newport shares Aquidneck Island with two neighbors. See our pages for Middletown and Portsmouth if your property is just across the line.
GAF Master Elite, RI-Registered, a Rooftop Power Company
RTP Roofing is a GAF Master Elite® certified contractor, RI-registered under GC-47694, and rated 5.0 on Google across 229 reviews. On qualifying installations we can offer GAF's Golden Pledge® Limited Warranty: up to 50 years of non-prorated coverage. Eligibility, coverage, and terms vary by product and installation; full details are at gaf.com.
Next Step
How an RTP Inspection and Estimate Works
Newport's median home value is $746,900. Historic review asks for roofing cut sheets and exact samples, and on a Contributing Building a signed expert letter before a full replacement. So we get on the roof in person and note the current material and profile, rather than guess from the curb. Request an estimate or call (401) 593-1512.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Newport?
Yes. The city's Building Inspections office requires a building permit for replacing roof covering. Applications are filed online through Newport's e-permitting portal, and the fee is based on the cost of the work, labor and materials included.
How do I know if my house is in a Newport historic district?
Newport has 3 National Historic Landmark Districts, including the Newport Historic District, plus named historic districts such as Kay Street-Catherine Street-Old Beach Road, Fort Adams and Southern Thames. Give us your address and we will check before quoting. You can also call the city's Zoning and Inspections office at 401-845-5472.
Can I put an asphalt shingle roof on a historic Newport house?
It depends on the building's classification. On a Contributing Building the Historic District Commission requires in-kind replacement, so a slate roof stays slate. On a Non-Contributing Building in-kind replacement is encouraged but not required. Confirm the classification and the commission's current rules before you buy materials.
My roof is slate or wood shingle. Can I get a full replacement?
Under the Commission's 2019 policy, character-defining roofs are repaired rather than replaced wherever possible, and no roof on a Contributing Building may be replaced in total unless an accepted roofing expert documents that it is beyond reasonable repair. That is why we document the condition during an inspection, and why a repair is sometimes the right first answer.
How soon after a storm should I have my roof inspected?
As soon as it is safe. Newport has seen storms like Hurricane Carol in 1954 and Sandy in 2012, and wind damage can hide under shingles or at the flashing. Photograph anything visible from the ground, then call us at (401) 593-1512. We will confirm scheduling.
What does Newport's hurricane history mean for my roof inspection?
Newport has taken direct hits. The 1938 hurricane brought a 12 to 15 foot surge into Narragansett Bay, and Hurricane Carol came ashore at Newport on August 31, 1954 with 115 mph winds. A house that has stood through decades of storms can still have damage you cannot see from the ground, so an on-roof inspection checks the roof as it is today.
Is my Newport home in a flood zone, and does that affect my roof?
Flood zone and roof condition are separate questions. The city adopted its current FEMA flood maps on September 4, 2013, and offers a FIRM index and GIS lookup on its floodplain management page. Newport also holds a Community Rating System Class 7 designation, which the city says gives eligible homeowners a 15 percent flood insurance discount. For roof work, we start with an inspection.
Nearby
Nearby Towns We Also Serve
Get a Straight Answer on Your Newport Roof
Request a free, on-roof inspection or call (401) 593-1512. We will tell you what your roof needs, including whether historic-district review applies, before you decide on anything.