Asphalt Shingle Roofing in Brunswick, Maine

Architectural asphalt shingles cover most of Brunswick's post-1960 houses, from the capes and colonials of the 1970s and 1980s to homes built since 2000, and they remain the most economical way to re-roof them. The thicker laminated shingles hide minor deck waviness better than old three-tab, which helps on older houses, and many are rated for higher wind speeds when installed with the manufacturer's nailing pattern. That rating matters on exposed lots near Maquoit Bay and Mere Point.

Underneath, the 2021 residential code Maine adopted calls for an ice barrier membrane at the eaves in areas where ice damming is a known problem, and Brunswick's winters qualify. Extending that membrane into valleys and around chimneys adds protection where water collects. Drip edge, a synthetic underlayment over the rest of the deck, and balanced intake and exhaust ventilation all extend shingle life. On subdivision homes from the 1990s that are due for their second roof, a tear-off rather than a layover also reveals sheathing problems early. Color choice is open outside the historic districts; inside the Village Review Overlay District, a change in roof material or appearance is worth confirming with staff.

Census estimates put Brunswick at roughly 9,500 housing units with a median year built of about 1982, so the typical house here is younger than in Portland but the range is wide. Close to one in five units dates from before 1940 and about 31 percent from before 1960, including the houses of the downtown and the Bowdoin neighborhoods. Another 16 percent or so went up between 1960 and 1979, and roughly 27 percent is from 2000 or later. About 71 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied, and only about half of all units are single-family detached houses, which reflects the apartments, student housing and multi-unit buildings near the college and Maine Street. Seasonal homes are a small share, about 165 units. Expect clapboard Federal, Greek Revival and Colonial Revival houses in the historic districts, and vinyl-clad capes, ranches and colonials farther out.

Brunswick is coastal on its south side and inland on its north. Mere Point, Maquoit Bay and Middle Bay put houses in the path of salt air and wind off Casco Bay, while neighborhoods near the Androscoggin and out toward Durham feel more like an inland town. The Portland Jetport, the nearest long-record National Weather Service station, averaged about 69 inches of snow a year over the 1991 to 2020 normals, and Brunswick's own climate table shows roughly 51 inches of total precipitation. Winters swing above and below freezing many times, which works water into clapboard joints, cracked caulk and shingle edges. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into the east and north walls, and the shore points take the hardest wind.

Building permits in Brunswick go through the Planning and Codes Office at Town Hall, 85 Union Street, on paper or through the online permit portal. Maine's building code moved to the 2021 International Residential Code on April 7, 2025. Much of the historic core lies in the Village Review Overlay District, where the Village Review Board issues a Certificate of Appropriateness for alterations; the town notes that replacing windows, facades and ornamentation with identical styles and materials is not subject to review, and staff can approve minor work not visible from a public way. Waterfront lots within 250 feet of tidal areas also fall under shoreland zoning.

Architectural (dimensional) asphalt shingles are the most common roof in Maine for good reason: they are affordable, they come in many colors and textures, and a good system handles snow, ice and wind well. Several projects on this site used CertainTeed Landmark shingles. What separates a long-lived shingle roof from a short-lived one is mostly underneath: ice and water protection at the eaves, correct nailing, and balanced ventilation.

• Tear-off to the deck and sheathing repair where needed.
• Ice and water shield at eaves, valleys and around penetrations; underlayment over the rest.
• Starter strip and drip edge at the edges, then shingles nailed in the manufacturer's nail zone.
• Step flashing at walls, new pipe boots, and chimney flashing as needed.
• Hip and ridge caps over a ridge vent, balanced with intake at the soffits.

• Granules washing into the gutters and bald patches on the shingles
• Shingles that curl, cup, or lift in wind
• Leaks around chimneys, vents or skylights
• Moss or dark streaking on shaded slopes

• Roof area and pitch
• Shingle line and color
• Layers to tear off and deck repairs
• Flashing and ventilation work
• Number of valleys, dormers and penetrations

Every job is priced from a free on-site visit. Typical ranges for the trade are on our roofing page, and the details of this service are on the architectural asphalt shingle roofing overview.

Back to the Brunswick exterior services overview, or see every town on our Cumberland County service areas page.