Roofing Contractor
Winston-Salem, NC
Roofers in Winston-Salem, NC: Ardmore bungalows to Buena Vista estates
Winston-Salem and Forsyth County run a joint Inspections Division, so one office reviews a roof whether the address sits inside the city limits or out in the unincorporated county. North Carolina’s permit statute exempts some code-compliant work costing $40,000 or less in a single-family home, but the exemption has carve-outs — structural work is one, and under the state code replacing more than 15% of the roof deck is structural — and it does not displace a permit the city or county requires. That Inspections Division confirms what applies to your address and scope.
That matters more here than it would in a newer city. Roofs in Winston-Salem run from Moravian clay tile and wood shake in Old Salem to 1930s bungalow streets whose original plank decking rarely survives a tear-off untouched — so the same crew has to be right about a design guideline and right about what is underneath the shingles.
Big Bear Roofing is a GAF Master Elite contractor — a credential GAF says only 2% of roofers in North America are invited to earn — and Winston-Salem and the rest of the Triad are served territory for our North Carolina operation.
Expert Services. Best Prices. Our roofing professionals in Winston Salem, NC, bring a wealth of experience in both repairing and replacing roofs, using the best roofing materials and systems. Our Lifetime Roof Replacement Warranty on all repair and replacement services echoes our dedication to providing our clients with stable roofing solutions. This warranty also gives our clients peace of mind and confidence in our roofing services.
Roofing Contractors in the Winston Salem Area
Roof damage, particularly from harsh weather, calls for immediate action. Your home’s structure is at risk of leaks from strong winds, storms, hail, etc. In fact, hail damage is generally overlooked until serious leaks develop. This negatively impacts your roof’s lifespan. As one of the top roofing contractors in Winston Salem, NC, we provide rapid responses to such urgent roofing issues so our clients can avoid costly repairs down the line. On a roofing inspection, our certified roofers in Winston Salem, NC, perform a thorough examination as they look for potential leak sources or damage like:
- Torn or missing shingles
- Worn shingle granules
- Rusted flashing
- Missing or cracked caulk
- Deteriorated rubber boots around pipes
With this detailed assessment, we make sure that all likely issues are identified and fixed quickly, maintaining the integrity of your roof.
Comprehensive Roofing Solutions
Big Bear Roofing’s broad array of roofing services addresses the multiple needs of all our clients. As a certified roofing contractor, we are equipped to handle both commercial and residential roofing repairs and re-roofing services.
The wide service portfolio allows us to deal with any sort of roofing challenge, varying from minor repairs to complete roof replacements.
Throughout our services, we only use reliable, top-quality materials.
Roofing in Winston-Salem: permits, review and the storm record
Two roofs a mile apart here can answer to different authorities: one to a Moravian design guideline, the other to the deck underneath. Big Bear Roofing works it inside the same Triad market as Greensboro.
Permits, and who reviews a roof in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem and Forsyth County share one Inspections Division, so the same department handles the permit inside the city limits or out in the unincorporated county. North Carolina’s permit statute, G.S. § 160D-1110, exempts some code-compliant work costing $40,000 or less in a single-family home — but the exemption carries carve-outs, structural work among them, and under R908.3 of the state code replacing more than 15% of the total existing roof deck is structural. It also does not displace a permit your city or county requires. The Inspections Division confirms what applies to your address and scope — which is why “no permit under $40,000” is only half the rule.
Design review is the other half: the Historic Resources Commission takes up exterior work in the protected districts, and Old Salem’s Moravian guidelines protect clay tile, wood shake and specific standing-seam traditions. It comes before the permit and the material order. At $40,000 or more the contractor must hold an NCLBGC general contractor licence; Big Bear holds NCLBGC licence L.88260 in the Roofing classification, and checking who you hire is worth ten minutes.
Exposure, ventilation and what the code actually says
The city sits higher than the eastern Piedmont, so ice damming is real on older roofs that are poorly ventilated or under-insulated; the answer is R806 cross-ventilation, not the eave ice barrier the mountain zones require. North Carolina enforces the 2018 NC Residential Code; the 2024 edition takes effect twelve months after the State Fire Marshal certifies the statutory conditions, and no calendar date has been published. Inland Piedmont design winds sit far below the coast’s, so what matters here is the label, not a wind figure: shingles carry an ASTM D3161 rating (Class F = 110 mph) or an ASTM D7158 rating (Class D, G or H = 116, 155 or 194 mph), and the code accepts either.
The homes here, and the roofs that fit them
Ardmore is dense with 1930s bungalows whose original 1× plank decking usually needs remediation before modern shingles have a code-compliant nail base. The estates in Buena Vista run to designer shingles and custom copper valley flashing; West End and Old Salem answer to what the historic guidelines protect. Along the Reynolda corridor the canopy is the variable: debris in the valleys, algae on shaded low-slope. Salem Creek and Muddy Creek define the local FEMA AE flood zones.
What the storm record shows in Forsyth County
NOAA’s storm events database lists 67 thunderstorm-wind reports in Forsyth County since the start of 2024, 51 with a measured or estimated figure, the strongest a 62.1 mph gust at the Winston-Salem airport on July 12, 2025. Hurricane Michael in 2018 and Helene in 2024 reached the Triad as inland wind and canopy damage, not as coastal events. On a roof, that record reads as creased tabs, displaced ridge cap and limb strikes — hard to see from the ground, expensive to leave.
Metal roofing in Winston-Salem
Standing seam is part of the local architectural vocabulary, protected rather than tolerated in Old Salem’s guidelines. In a historic district that can make metal the expected material rather than the exception, though the guideline protects a tradition: profile, seam and finish matter. Elsewhere it is a service-life decision; how roofing materials compare is where to start, and standing-seam metal roofing is a verified Big Bear line.
Storm damage and insurance in Winston-Salem
We inspect and document the damage to support your claim; North Carolina licenses public adjusters under G.S. § 58-33A-10, and a roofing contractor may not negotiate or handle a claim. No contractor can promise what a carrier will decide. Whether an insurer pays to replace undamaged matching shingles depends on your policy language, not state law, and North Carolina treats a contractor paying, waiving, rebating or hiding your deductible as insurance fraud under G.S. § 58-2-161. See our storm damage page.
Roof replacement in Winston-Salem
A replacement is a code event: what goes back on meets the code in force, while deck and flashing work depend on what tear-off reveals. In North Carolina a roof replacement includes taking the existing coverings off down to the deck. In Ardmore that is where the 15% deck rule gets settled. As a GAF Master Elite contractor, Big Bear can offer the Golden Pledge: limited lifetime coverage on manufacturing defects, a 50-year non-prorated period and 25 years of workmanship. See our roof replacement page.
Commercial roofing in Winston-Salem
A commercial building here may carry TPO, EPDM or modified bitumen; Big Bear’s own commercial line is fluid-applied and low-slope (flat) roofing. Uplift ratings are pressure ratings, not wind speeds: FM 1-90 means 90 pounds per square foot of uplift, never 90 mph of wind. The $40,000-or-more licence threshold applies to a commercial building the same as to a house. See our commercial roofing page.
Roof repair in Winston-Salem
Most leaks start in the same few places: a brittle pipe boot, chimney step flashing, fasteners backed out on a wind-lifted slope. A free, no-obligation inspection, drone-assisted when appropriate, settles which a roof actually has. See our roof repair page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Winston-Salem?
It depends on the scope, the cost and the office that reviews your address. The state’s $40,000-or-less exemption has carve-outs — structural work is one, and replacing more than 15% of the roof deck is structural — and it does not displace a city or county permit.
My house is in a historic district. Can I use asphalt shingles?
That is the Historic Resources Commission’s call and it varies by district. West End and Washington Park require a certificate of appropriateness, and Old Salem’s Moravian guidelines protect clay tile, wood shake and standing-seam traditions.
Is drip edge required in North Carolina?
Not by the code. North Carolina deleted the model requirement, so drip edge is required only where the covering manufacturer’s installation instructions require it — which most do, and warranty coverage often turns on it.
No charge, no obligation — request a free Winston-Salem roof inspection.
FINANCING AVAILABLE
A Better Roof At A Better Price
A solid roof is now available at an affordable price through our flexible financing plan. Roofing purchases can be made by our customers interest-free for 12 months (the balance to be paid in full within that period). This is a financing option of manageable payment options that is convenient and flexible for our customers, as they are not caught off guard by the immediate financial pressures of necessary roofing services.