Local Roofing Guide · Villanova
Roofing in Villanova: One Neighborhood, Two Townships
Villanova sits on the line between Montgomery and Delaware counties: part of it is in Lower Merion Township and part is in Radnor Township. It’s best known for Villanova University, founded in 1842, and for the large Main Line homes on the streets around the campus.
The homes we see in Villanova
Many Villanova homes date from the early-to-mid 1900s — stone and stucco colonials, Tudors and estate homes with slate, cedar and copper — alongside newer custom homes. Roofs here tend to be large, steep and cut up by dormers, chimneys and valleys.
- Find out which township you’re in first — it decides the permit rules
- Slate, cedar and copper details that should be repaired and matched, not replaced by default
- Big roofs with many sections, where every valley and wall line is a potential leak
- Gutters and downspouts sized for large roof areas and heavy tree cover
Two townships, two sets of rules
A Villanova address (ZIP 19085) can be in either township. On the Lower Merion side, lower Merion asks for a roof permit addendum with every roofing permit, describing the existing and proposed materials. Its rules allow no more than two layers of shingles, and a new roof can’t be laid over wood shake, slate, clay or cement tile — those have to come off first. Historic properties covered by Chapter 88 also need Historical Commission review. On the Radnor side, the permit goes through Radnor Township. We work in both and handle the permit with whichever township your home is in.
Villanova by the numbers
1961Median year homes were built
49%Homes built before 1960
58Days with storm wind damage reported nearby since 2005
23Days with hail reported nearby since 2005
Half of the homes in Villanova were built before 1961, and 49% predate 1960. Many of them are on their second or third roof, so the decking, flashing and ventilation underneath deserve a close look.
Villanova’s most notable recent hail came in June 2023, when golf-ball-size (1.75-inch) hail was reported in King of Prussia, within 5 miles. That’s the exception: storm wind damage was reported nearby on 58 days since 2005, while hail an inch or larger fell on just 5. Live Villanova forecast, radar & alerts →
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 — Villanova Census-designated place; National Weather Service storm reports 2005–2026, within 5 miles of the town center (snowfall: 10 miles).
Neighborhoods We Serve
- Villanova (Lower Merion side)
- Villanova (Radnor side)
- Rosemont
- Bryn Mawr
- Gladwyne
ZIP Codes
- 19085 — Villanova
- 19010 — Bryn Mawr / Rosemont
- 19087 — Wayne / Radnor
