Wethersfield calls itself "Ye Most Ancient Towne," and it has the buildings to back the claim. Old Wethersfield is usually described as the largest historic district in Connecticut: roughly two square miles and about 1,100 buildings from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It was established as a local historic district in 1962 and listed on the National Register in 1970.
What "local historic district" means for your roof
National Register listing by itself does not restrict a homeowner. Local historic district status does. Inside Old Wethersfield's local district, the town's historic district commission must approve exterior changes visible from a street, and a new roof can fall under that when the material, color or shape changes.
A typical order of steps:
- Talk to the town first. Ask whether your property is inside the local district and what the commission expects for roofs on a house of your age and style.
- Choose the material with that in mind. Matching what is there is the easiest path.
- Apply for a certificate of appropriateness if anything changes, with photos of the house and samples or brochures for the product.
- Pull the building permit once approval is in hand.
- Keep the approval with the contract. The roofer should install exactly what was approved.
Old houses, old framing
Houses from the 1700s and early 1800s were framed with hand-hewn timbers and often have rafters of uneven size and spacing. Their decking may be wide boards with large gaps, originally meant for wood shingles nailed to open lath. Before new roofing goes on, many roofers add a layer of solid sheathing over the old boards so the new roof has a flat, continuous base.
The rest of Wethersfield
Away from the old center, Wethersfield is largely mid-20th-century Capes, ranches and Colonials. Those are standard asphalt shingle replacements. The nearby Rocky Hill page covers the town that was split off from Wethersfield in 1843.
Replacing a roof in Old Wethersfield or anywhere else in town? Call to talk with a roofer who knows the approval process.Mon–Fri 8:30 am–7 pm, Sat 9 am–4 pm (Eastern)
(844) 505-0987Wethersfield roof replacement questions
- Do I need approval to replace the roof on a house in Old Wethersfield?
- If the house is inside the Old Wethersfield local historic district, exterior changes visible from a public way generally need a certificate of appropriateness from the historic district commission. Replacing a roof with the same material is usually simpler than switching materials. Check with the town before signing a contract.
- Can I put asphalt shingles on an 18th-century house in the district?
- Many houses in Old Wethersfield already have asphalt shingles, and commissions often accept them on houses where they are established. Changing from wood shingles to asphalt, or adding metal, is the kind of decision the commission weighs case by case.
- What about houses outside the historic district?
- Most of Wethersfield is outside it. Postwar neighborhoods in the rest of town are ordinary permit-only replacements through the building department.