Asphalt Shingle Roofing in Sebago, Maine

Architectural asphalt shingles are the practical re-roof for most year-round houses in Sebago, from 1970s ranches to the homes built since 2000 on large lots along the main roads. The heavier laminated shingles look better and hold better in wind than the three-tab shingles many of these roofs started with, and they cost less than metal or cedar, which matters when a farmhouse, ell and barn all need roofing in the same season.

Winter decides whether a shingle roof lasts. The International Residential Code, on which Maine's building code is based, calls for an ice barrier underlayment at the eaves wherever there is a history of ice forming there, and given the snow Sebago gets, it is worth insisting on, along with membrane in valleys, around chimneys and at roof-to-wall joints. Because the town does not require a permit for roofing, nobody from the town inspects that detail, so ask to see it before the shingles go on. Drip edge, starter courses and the manufacturer's nailing pattern determine the wind rating the roof actually reaches. Low-slope porch roofs need a membrane rather than shingles.

Census estimates count about 1,520 housing units in Sebago, with a median year built of 1975, older than neighboring Naples. About 17 percent predate 1940 and roughly 36 percent predate 1960. Another 19 percent went up between 1960 and 1979, about a quarter between 1980 and 1999, and about 20 percent in 2000 or later. Some 85 percent are single-family detached houses, and about 89 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied. Nearly 600 units are held for seasonal use. The town's 2006 comprehensive plan found that most homes along Sebago Lake, Peabody Pond and Barker Pond were seasonal while year-round houses sat away from the water, noted a steady conversion of camps to year-round use since 1991, and counted mobile homes at about 13 percent of the stock, mostly on individual lots rather than in parks.

Sebago is inland lake and hill country, so salt air is not a factor; snow and cold are. The National Weather Service station in nearby Gray records about 84 inches of snow in a normal year, with roughly 20 inches in each of January and February. Elevation adds to the exposure here: Sebago Center sits about 450 feet above sea level, and homes on the slopes toward Douglas Mountain sit higher still. Along the shore, Sebago Lake freezes over completely only every few winters, so wind has miles of open water to build across before it reaches the west-shore camps, and the lake area is known for sudden weather changes in every season. Wooded lots throughout town keep walls and decks shaded and slow to dry.

Permits are handled by the Sebago Code Enforcement and Planning office at 406 Bridgton Road on Route 107, where the Code Enforcement Officer also serves as building inspector and is often out on site visits from noon to 3 p.m. The town's permits page lists building permits, shoreland zoning permits and permit-by-rule forms, and states that no permit is needed for roofing or exterior painting. Siding and window work should be confirmed with the office, and a new deck should be expected to need a building permit. Land within 250 feet of Sebago Lake or a great pond falls under shoreland zoning, which has its own permit form.

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 Sebago exterior services overview, or see every town on our Cumberland County service areas page.