What does Newport's commission say about slate and cedar?
The Newport Historic District Commission treats slate, standing-seam metal, wood shingle and tile as significant roofing types and says synthetic substitutes such as artificial slate are generally not appropriate. Properties in locally designated districts need a Certificate of Appropriateness before exterior work, including roof replacement.
That wording is useful even if you do not live in Newport, because it shows how a commission thinks. The material is part of the house's character, so the default answer to a substitute is no, and a plan to replace it with something modern needs a reason.
Match any quote to the commission's roofing policy before materials are ordered. A roofer who does not mention the commission on a house in the district has not read the file. For the longer version of how districts in Newport and Pawtuxet handle roofing, see the guide on historic district roofing.
Can an old slate or cedar roof be repaired instead of replaced?
Usually yes, when the deck and most of the covering are sound. A roofer replaces failed pieces, refastens loose ones and rebuilds flashing. When nails have rusted through across a whole slope or the boards are rotten, replacing that slope is more honest than a patchwork.
On slate, the usual failure is the fastener, not the stone. Nails rust, the piece slides, and the slate above it follows. Replacing a few pieces fixes the visible hole, but a roofer should tell you whether the neighbors are on the same borrowed time.
On cedar, moisture is the story. Shingles on the north side of a roof stay damp and grow moss, and a roof without enough airflow beneath it dries slowly. Cleaning and replacing individual shingles can keep a roof going where the deck is dry, and a roofer can tell you how far that is likely to stretch.
Where the roof is mixed, a slate slope patched with asphalt shingles or a cedar roof with plywood repairs, a roofer may recommend restoring the original material so the whole roof wears evenly. That is also what a commission is likely to want to see.
Who approves a roof change on an older house in Warwick or Bristol?
Start with the city or town building department, which handles the permit, then ask about historic review. In Warwick, a re-roof permit typically goes through the Building Department, and Apponaug and Pawtuxet Village properties may need Historic District Commission review. Confirm both with the city before any work is booked.
The Warwick details come from a third-party permit source, so treat them as a starting point and call the city to confirm. Properties within 200 feet of tidal water may also need review by the Coastal Resources Management Council, which matters in a town with as much shoreline as Warwick.
Bristol, Warren, East Greenwich and Tiverton each have historic districts of their own: Bristol along Hope Street, Warren's waterfront district with 300-plus buildings, East Greenwich's 1974 National Register district, and Tiverton Four Corners with about 50 acres and sixteen historic buildings. If your roof is in one of them, ask the roofer whether the quote assumes a review.
