RTP Roofing · Providence, RI
Roofer in Providence, RI
The stain on the top-floor ceiling has been there since before you bought the building, and nobody agrees on whose roof it is to fix. RTP Roofing gets on the roof first, then tells you what Providence's older buildings actually need.
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 In Providence Are Really Like
Looking for a roofing company in Providence, RI? Providence housing is old, and much of it is in multi-unit buildings. RTP Roofing gets on the roof before we quote, because older roofs can hide decking and flashing problems until the old layers come off.
Because so much of the housing is in multi-unit buildings, a single roof often covers more than one household.
Ownership matters too. In a multi-unit building, the person paying for the roof is often not the person calling about the leak. If that is you, we will happily talk to both of you.
Providence housing is older, often multi-unit, and often owned by someone other than the people living under the roof, so a roof decision here usually involves more than one person.
Neighborhoods
Providence Neighborhoods And ZIP Codes
Providence has 25 official neighborhoods, and we work in all of them. Among them:
- East Side: includes College Hill and Fox Point, and holds the largest contiguous area of National Register buildings in the U.S.
- Federal Hill: just west of Downtown across Interstate 95
- Smith Hill and Valley: north of Federal Hill
- Olneyville: west of Federal Hill
- West End and Upper South Providence: south of Federal Hill
- West Broadway and the South Side
- The North End and the Jewelry District
Providence is served by ZIP codes 02901 through 02912, plus 02918, 02919 and 02940. Some of those codes overlap neighboring towns, including North Providence and Cranston, so a Providence mailing address does not always mean a Providence building. If you are not sure which side of the line your roof is on, check before you apply for a permit, because the permit office you deal with depends on it.
Permits
How To Get A Roofing Permit In Providence
The Department of Inspection and Standards handles roofing permits at 780 Allens Avenue, Providence, RI 02905. Here is how the process works, from the City of Providence Inspection and Standards FAQ:
- Pick who pulls it.
A Rhode Island licensed contractor with the appropriate license can take out the permit. A homeowner of an owner-occupied single-family residence may take out a permit if they perform the work without help.
- Apply online.
Permits can be applied for through the city's portal at providenceri.viewpointcloud.com.
- Expect a short wait on a minor re-roof.
The city states that a minor re-roof permit can often be applied for and issued within 5 business days.
- Know the office hours.
The department is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closes at 4:00 p.m. in July and August.
We pull the required permit on every replacement, so for our jobs this is background rather than homework. If you are comparing quotes and one contractor says no permit is needed, it is worth checking that against the city's own page above.
The Record
Storms, Nor'easters, And A Harbor City's Memory
Providence sits at the head of Narragansett Bay, about 10 feet above sea level, with the Providence River running through the middle of the city. Providence has a long record of hurricane flooding, starting with the 1938 New England Hurricane, which pushed a surge of 15.8 feet above normal spring tides and left more than 13 feet of water in some parts of Downtown. After the 1938 hurricane and Hurricane Carol in 1954, a hurricane barrier was built at Fox Point between 1960 and 1966. The barrier was closed for Hurricane Irene on August 28, 2011, and for Hurricane Sandy on October 29, 2012, when the water crested at 9.5 feet.
Surge is a flood problem, and a roof is not what floods. What reaches your shingles in a storm is wind and wind-driven rain, and in winter, nor'easters, which can bring significant rain and snow to Providence's humid continental climate. Old flashing, lifted shingles and tired valleys are the places that water finds first.
Trees add another variable. A USDA Forest Service survey of 2015 to 2021 estimated about 495,200 live trees across Providence's 13,100 acres, with Norway maple, black oak and northern red oak among the dominant species. The city's Forestry Division manages 27,400 street trees and handles more than 2,000 service requests a year, including dead tree removal and fallen branches. If damage is in play, our storm damage and insurance claims page explains how we document it.
Historic
Roofing In A Providence Historic District
Providence contains the largest contiguous area of National Register of Historic Places buildings in the United States, especially on the East Side. 9 local historic districts cover about 2,635 properties: Armory, Broadway, College Hill, North Elmwood, Power-Cooke, Providence Landmarks (Residential, and Industrial and Commercial), South Elmwood, Stimson Avenue and Wanskuck.
The rule that surprises owners is this one. The Providence Historic District Commission (PHDC) reviews changes to a property's exterior, including ordinary repairs and replacement of exterior features. Owners in a local district need a Certificate of Appropriateness or a letter of exemption from the PHDC or its staff before a building permit for exterior work. Work done without approval can bring violations, liens and a referral to Housing Court.
The PHDC's 2017 standards and guidelines for districts such as College Hill, Stimson Avenue, Armory, Broadway and the Elmwoods get specific about roofs. They say original roofing materials should be retained, repaired and preserved where possible, with replacement in kind encouraged and the original materials, shapes, colors, patterns and textures matched. Roof colors should be medium to dark in tone, and asphalt shingles are not encouraged as a replacement for slate. Changes to roof forms, chimneys, cupolas, finials and roof decks go to a public hearing, and built-in gutters on Greek Revival, Italianate and Mansard houses should be kept as character-defining features. Replacing an existing asphalt roof with new asphalt does not require photographs for the in-house staff review route. Guidelines change over time and may differ by district, so confirm the current language for your address with the PHDC.
The commission's office is at 444 Westminster Street, Suite 3A, Providence, RI 02903, phone 401.680.8517. Check with them before you sign a contract, and send us what they tell you so the scope matches.
GAF Master Elite, RI-Registered, a Rooftop Power Company
RTP Roofing is a GAF Master Elite® certified contractor, RI-registered under GC-47694. 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.
Services
Roofing Services In Providence
Most Providence roofs sit on older, often multi-unit buildings, and a few local steps shape the job before any shingle goes on: the historic district approval if your address is in one of the 9 local districts, the permit through Inspection and Standards, and, in a building with several households, the question of who is paying and who is living under the roof. A limited leak may be a roof repair, a roof at the end of its life is a roof replacement, and if you cannot tell which, a roof inspection is the place to start.
Some Providence ZIP codes overlap North Providence and Cranston, so confirm which city your building is in before you plan around a permit. Small commercial buildings mixed into residential blocks are covered under commercial roofing. We also do gutters and tree services when a branch is the cause.
Providence borders Pawtucket, Cranston, East Providence, North Providence, Johnston, Cumberland and Lincoln. We work in Pawtucket, Cranston, East Providence, North Providence and Johnston too, so if your roof or your tenants are across the line, one call covers it.
Thinking about solar for your Providence home? See solar in Providence from Rooftop Power, the family of companies RTP Roofing is part of.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Providence?
Roofing permits go through the Department of Inspection and Standards at 780 Allens Avenue. The city says a minor re-roof permit can often be applied for and issued within 5 business days, and applications can be made online. A Rhode Island licensed contractor can take it out, and we pull the permit on every replacement.
Can I pull my own roofing permit as a landlord or owner?
The city says a homeowner of an owner-occupied single-family residence may take out a permit if they perform the work without help. If you hire a contractor, a Rhode Island licensed contractor with the appropriate license can take it out. For any other situation, ask the Department of Inspection and Standards.
Does my house need historic district approval before a new roof?
Only if it is in one of the city's 9 local historic districts, such as College Hill, Stimson Avenue or Wanskuck. There, the Providence Historic District Commission requires a Certificate of Appropriateness or a letter of exemption before a building permit for exterior work, and ordinary repairs are included. Call the PHDC at 401.680.8517 to find out whether your address is covered.
Can I put asphalt shingles on a slate roof in a historic district?
The commission's 2017 guidelines for districts such as College Hill, Stimson Avenue and the Elmwoods say asphalt shingles are not encouraged as a replacement for slate, and that original materials should be repaired or replaced in kind where possible. Colors should be medium to dark in tone. Guidelines change and can differ by district, so ask the PHDC before you choose a material, and we will quote to whatever they approve.
My Providence building is more than 80 years old. What problems should I expect on the roof?
Older roofs can hide decking and flashing problems until the old layers come off, so ask any contractor how they handle surprises found during tear-off.
Do nor'easters cause ice dams on Providence roofs?
They can contribute. Providence's winter nor'easters can bring significant rain and snow, and ice dams form when snow melts and refreezes at the eaves. Our ice dams guide covers what to look for.
What do I do about roof damage after a hurricane or big storm?
Take photos of what you can see safely from the ground, keep any debris that came off the roof, and call us. We will get on the roof, document what we find, and explain the repair options. Our storm damage and insurance claims page covers how we work with claims. We cannot promise a specific insurer outcome.
How soon can you inspect my Providence roof?
Request a free inspection online and we will confirm a date when you reach us. If water is coming in right now, say so in your request so we can treat it as urgent.
Nearby
Nearby Towns We Also Serve
Get A Straight Answer On Your Providence Roof
Request a free, on-roof inspection online. We will tell you what your building actually needs, from the East Side to Olneyville, before we talk price.