Bedford was founded in 1680 by 22 Puritans from Stamford, Connecticut, and became part of New York by royal decree in 1700. British troops burned the town in 1779; the 1787 Court House on the Bedford Village green is the oldest government building in Westchester. Today the town has about 17,300 residents (2020 Census), including about 1,700 in Bedford Village.
Bedford covers wooded hills, the Cross River Reservoir and the Mianus River Gorge Preserve, at about 380 feet. Most of the town is large, tree-covered properties, with denser older housing in its three hamlets: Bedford Village, Bedford Hills and Katonah. Tall trees and northern-county snow are constants for every roof here, and on the older houses near the green, so are the historic-district rules.
Village green houses and wooded estates
Bedford Village holds the town's colonial-era and historic homes around the green, inside the Bedford Village Historic District. Beyond the village, much of the town is country property set well back in the woods, often with long roof runs, multiple wings, garages and outbuildings.
Larger houses usually have more hips, valleys, dormers and chimneys, so flashing quality matters more than the shingle itself.
What to plan for on a Bedford roof
Historic-district review first
Homes in the Bedford Village Historic District need district review before exterior changes, so we start there, not with a shingle catalog. We provide samples, colors and specifications for the review. Slate-look designer shingles like GAF Camelot II or Slateline, or the wood-shake look of GAF Grand Sequoia, often suit the district's older houses.
Complex roofs on large houses
Big Bedford homes may have several wings, steep pitches, many valleys and stone chimneys. Most leaks on houses like these come from flashing, not shingles. Jersey Roofing's crew replaces step and counter flashing, uses metal or copper valleys where water volume is high, and stages the job wing by wing so the house is never left open overnight.
Woods, debris and moss
Properties near the Mianus River Gorge and Cross River Reservoir sit under a heavy canopy. Valleys fill with leaves, shaded slopes grow moss, and limbs fall in storms. We recommend algae-resistant shingles, gutter protection, and trimming limbs over the roof before installation. Code-required ice barrier at the eaves handles the snow that lingers in shade.
Historic districts and design review
The Bedford Village Historic District and the Katonah Historic District each have their own local review, so check with the Town before changing roof material or color there. Outside those districts, the Town of Bedford Historic Building Preservation Commission oversees designated historic buildings, but the town code treats roofing-material changes as allowed as-of-right on Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings. We can help you confirm which rules apply to your house.
Roof permits in Bedford
- Office
- Town of Bedford Building Department
- Phone
- (914) 666-8040
Bedford Village, Bedford Hills and Katonah are hamlets of the Town of Bedford, so permits go to the Town Building Department at 425 Cherry Street in Bedford Hills; Jersey Roofing files for you.
The roof systems installed in Bedford
Jersey Roofing installs complete GAF and Owens Corning systems: ice and water barrier at the eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment, starter strips, architectural or designer shingles, matched ridge cap and balanced ventilation. On a qualifying GAF system it can register the Golden Pledge® warranty, and on an Owens Corning system, Platinum Protection. Both include lifetime workmanship coverage. Compare the warranties.
Neighborhoods we serve in and around Bedford
- Bedford Village
- Bedford Hills
- Katonah