Roofing in Worthington, Ohio

In Worthington, the houses are older and the rules are stricter: in Old Worthington, a new roof needs the review board's approval before it needs a permit.

Most of Worthington was built after the war. The typical home went up in 1963, and more than half were built in the 1950s and '60s. More than 8 in 10 are older than 1980. A house that age has already had its first roof replaced, maybe twice, so what we find depends on how the last crew did it: whether they tore off or laid new shingles over old, and whether they replaced the flashing or reused it.

The trees that make those neighborhoods are part of it too. Big old trees drop branches on roofs and fill gutters, and the shade keeps moss and wet leaves on the shingles longer. On June 29, 2012, the derecho brought winds the National Weather Service estimated at 70 mph just west of Worthington and knocked down numerous trees on Northland and Proprietors roads.

Old Worthington is its own case. About 1 in 16 homes in the city was built before 1940, including the oldest houses in the original village around the Green. Worthington still has a good amount of slate in service, plus some wood shingle and clay tile roofs. Those are worth repairing, not replacing, and the city's design guidelines say the same.

1963

year the typical Worthington home was built

53%

of Worthington homes built in the 1950s and '60s

70 mph

2012 derecho winds just west of town

Housing figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. Wind: NOAA Storm Events Database. Architectural review: Worthington Design Guidelines. Permits: City of Worthington.