Bristol, Rhode Island
Roof replacement in Bristol
Home of the country's oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration, and of streets lined with houses older than the parade.
Hope Street and the old town
Bristol has celebrated the Fourth of July every year since 1785, when the Rev. Henry Wight, a Revolutionary War veteran, began the observance. The parade route runs about two and a half miles, and Hope Street keeps its red, white and blue center line all year. The streets around it hold Federal-era and 19th-century houses, many with tall chimneys, dormers and roofs that have been replaced many times since they were built.
Replacing a roof on an older Bristol house
- Find out whether the house is inside the local historic district.
- If it is, choose a material the commission is likely to accept, and apply before the permit.
- Expect board decking; plan for new sheathing where boards are gapped or soft.
- Have chimneys flashed properly, with counter-flashing let into the mortar.
- Specify corrosion-resistant nails and flashing; much of the town is close to salt water.
Beyond the historic center
Postwar neighborhoods north and east of the center are mostly Capes, ranches and Colonials, usually shingle replacements with no extra approvals.
Federal-era or postwar, call a roofer who replaces roofs in Bristol.
Mon–Fri 8:30 am–7 pm · Sat 9 am–4 pm (Eastern)
Bristol roof questions
+Does Bristol have a historic district commission?
Yes, Bristol has local historic district rules covering parts of the town's center. If your house is inside the local district, a change of roofing material or roof shape can need approval before the building permit. Ask the town before choosing a material.
+What fasteners and flashing should a waterfront house in Bristol get?
Corrosion-resistant ones: stainless or hot-dipped galvanized nails where the shingle maker allows them, and copper, stainless or aluminum flashing rather than plain steel.