The Blog
Roofing Advice for Chester County Homeowners
Long-form guides from the crews who roof West Chester, written for the decisions homeowners here actually face: insurance claims, hail damage, and what a roof really costs. We are Clear Roofing & Exteriors, and we work out of West Chester, PA.
Windows · November 11, 2026
What Malvern Borough’s permit FAQ says about window work, how the state code treats a same-size swap, and the contractor registration that runs out on December 31.
Read the Guide →Roof Replacement · November 9, 2026
Where West Goshen Township draws the re-roof permit line, how long plan review takes, and what cold air does to a shingle’s seal.
Read the Guide →Roof Replacement · November 4, 2026
What Downingtown Borough asks on its roof permit form: borough or township, layers, decking, ice shield, the historic district and where the dumpster goes.
Read the Guide →Roof Repair · November 4, 2026
Who owns a townhouse roof, where West Whiteland draws the permit line, finding the real leak source, and what cold weather does to a shingle repair.
Read the Guide →Roof Replacement · October 29, 2026
What IKO says to move, cover and unlock before tear-off, the order our crew works in, and what happens with the cleanup and walkthrough at the end.
Read the Guide →Roof Replacement · October 29, 2026
How leaks, poor attic ventilation and stacked layers rot the deck, what an inspection can and cannot tell you, and how we handle rot found at tear-off.
Read the Guide →Roof Replacement · October 24, 2026
Sixteen roofing contractors from a Google Maps read for West Chester, sorted by star rating and then review count, with Google’s own order shown next to each.
Read the Guide →Siding · October 24, 2026
Registration, contract terms and deposit limits under Pennsylvania law, the sheathing behind old siding, the historic district, lead paint and the shared wall on a twin.
Read the Guide →Roof Replacement · October 21, 2026
Which roof jobs in the borough's historic district go to HARB, what the design guidelines say about slate, metal and asphalt, and how long Council approval takes.
Read the Guide →Roof Replacement · October 21, 2026
West Whiteland Township's re-roof permit for Exton houses: when a repair needs one, the online application, the insurance certificate and inspections.
Read the Guide →Gutters · October 13, 2026
Seamless or sectional, 5-inch or 6-inch, where the downspouts empty and which guard fits the trees: how a Glen Mills gutter system gets decided.
Read the Guide →Roof Inspection · October 13, 2026
What an inspector checks on the slate, cedar and asphalt roofs around Chester Springs, what the attic shows, and when an inspection is worth booking.
Read the Guide →Gutters · October 5, 2026
Screen, reverse-curve or micro-mesh: how tree cover, roof pitch and the gutter underneath decide which guard works on your house.
Read the Guide →Gutters · October 5, 2026
Peeling paint behind the gutter line is often the first sign. How fascia rots, how to check it, and why the wood comes before the gutter.
Read the Guide →Roof Repair · October 2, 2026
Two roof repair estimates can cover very different work. Compare the leak source, repair area, flashing details and the plan for hidden damage.
Read the Guide →Siding · October 2, 2026
When storm damage hits a siding line that is no longer made, ask how the quote handles matching, trim, hidden damage and replacement boundaries.
Read the Guide →Hiring a Roofer · September 24, 2026
Check the Pennsylvania registration first and read the contract against what state law says it has to contain. Then confirm insurance and manufacturer certification with whoever issued them.
Read the Guide →Siding · September 24, 2026
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding, as long as the panels are sound and the color is one vinyl can take. Here is what the paint makers say, and the signs that a faded wall is past painting.
Read the Guide →Roof Leaks · September 21, 2026
Water is coming through the ceiling and you need to know what to do right now, what it probably means, and whether this is an emergency or a repair you can schedule. Here is how we handle…
Read the Guide →Asphalt Shingles · September 21, 2026
Most roofs in Chester County are asphalt shingle, and most of the calls we get are about one. Here is how long a shingle roof actually lasts in our climate, what gives out first, when a…
Read the Guide →Specialty Roofing · September 15, 2026
On the older streets of West Chester, an asphalt roof can look wrong on a house that was built for something better. Here is how cedar shake and slate really compare on a historic Chester…
Read the Guide →Winter Roofing · September 15, 2026
That ridge of ice along the edge of the roof is not a decoration, it is a leak waiting for a warm afternoon. Here is what actually causes ice dams on a Chester County roof and how to stop…
Read the Guide →Roof Repair · September 9, 2026
Most roof repairs start as something small and cheap that a homeowner walked past for a season. Here are the seven signs, inside and out, that a Chester County roof needs a look now,…
Read the Guide →Home Value · September 9, 2026
Not every home project pays you back, and the ones on the outside are the easiest to get wrong. Here are five exterior upgrades that genuinely add value to a Chester County home, ranked…
Read the Guide →Storm Damage · September 7, 2026
Most storm damage never shows up as a hole in the roof. It shows up as a creased shingle that leaks in November, or a bruise you cannot see from the driveway. Here is how we check a roof…
Read the Guide →Gutters · September 7, 2026
Gutters fail in winter but get replaced in fall, and the order matters. Here is why the weeks between the first cool nights and the first freeze are the right window to install new…
Read the Guide →Repair vs Replace · September 4, 2026
The honest framework we use on a Chester County roof before we ever quote it: how age, the kind of damage, the number of layers, and the condition of the decking decide whether you patch…
Read the Guide →Seasonal Roof Care · September 4, 2026
The fall roof and gutter checklist we give Chester County homeowners, and the reason the work has to happen before the first hard freeze rather than after the first leak: inspection,…
Read the Guide →Insurance Claim Guide · August 5, 2026
What your policy actually covers, what happens at the adjuster meeting, what ACV and RCV mean for your payout, and what Pennsylvania law says a roofer can and cannot do on a storm claim.
Read the Guide →Storm Damage Guide · August 5, 2026
Hail rarely leaves a hole. It leaves bruises you cannot see from the driveway. Here is exactly what to check after a hailstorm, in order, without getting on the roof.
Read the Guide →Pricing Guide · August 5, 2026
Two quotes for the same house can land thousands apart and both be honest. Here is what actually moves the number on a Chester County roof, and how to compare bids line by line.
Read the Guide →Want the shorter answers first? The roofing FAQ covers the common questions, and the West Chester cost guide has the local numbers.
Featured Google Reviews
Rated 5.0★ on Google
Every one of them five stars. These are real, unedited reviews left by homeowners on Google.
They did an outstanding job on our roof. The crew Chris assembled, were punctual and very respectable of our property. On time no nonsense work crew.
It’s so hard to find a good and honest roofer out there. … Our roof turned out spectacular and we were amazed how efficient they were.
Replacing a roof due to hail damage is a bummer. … I need to understand each step of the process, both technically and financially. CE more then met that requirement.
Fortunately, Clear Exteriors were in my neighborhood and once they got involved everything went smooth. They know Roofs …
100% customer focused and detail oriented business. This company could not have been easier to work with. Extremely helpful in processing my insurance claim.
Amazing experience with the entire staff. Phil and Stephen do a wonderful job of working with you through the whole process.