Roofing in Reston, VA: Houses, Townhouse Clusters and Condo Buildings
Reston Roof is based in Reston, so these are our own streets. We replace and repair roofs on houses and townhouses, chase chimney leaks, tarp storm damage, and take on flat sections and some commercial roofs.
What Reston's Roofs Actually Are
Robert E. Simon founded Reston in 1964, and the community now has roughly 30,000 homes. Census figures (ACS, 2020 to 2024) show about one in five is a detached house, about 30 percent are attached townhouses, and about 47 percent are in buildings of five or more units. The median home was built in 1984, and about 41 percent date from before 1980.
The census does not track roofs, so this next part is our own inference: with homes that age, most original roofs have probably been replaced at least once.
Talk to Reston Roof
Phone ConsultationWhat We Do on Reston Roofs
- Full roof replacement on houses and townhouses, including asphalt shingle roofs.
- Roof repair, including leaks around chimneys and flashings.
- Emergency tarping after storm or tree damage, with photos for your claim.
- Small structure roofs, such as gazebos, and roof vent additions.
- Flat and low-slope sections on homes, condo buildings and some commercial roofs.
On emergency repairs, one homeowner wrote in a Google review: "Needed an emergency repair from animal damage on my roof. Called on a Saturday, and they showed up on Sunday morning, before the rain. They were on time and did a great job." (Michael H., Google review)
Four Rulebooks, One Roof
- Fairfax County Land Development Services. Reston has no town hall of its own, so building permits come from the County (703-222-0801). Its list says replacing roof shingles does not need a permit, but roof repairs, chimney repairs and large decking replacements can. Townhouse roof plywood that must be fire rated is excluded from the small decking exemption. We confirm with the County before work starts.
- Reston Association. RA reviews exterior changes under the Reston Deed. Its Design Review Board application has a Roofing section that asks for the manufacturer, style, material and photos of each side of the house. We help gather that, and we suggest asking Covenants staff (703-435-6530) whether a same-color replacement needs an application.
- Your cluster or condo association. These add their own standards, so check your association's covenants first.
- Special districts. Reston Town Center has its own association and design review board, and Lake Anne Village Center sits in a County historic overlay, so a call comes before design choices there.
Our guides on Fairfax County roofing permits and HOA roof requirements in Reston go into more detail.
Village by Village, Road by Road
Lake Anne, the first village center, was built in the 1960s, with townhouses around the plaza. Reston Town Center opened its first blocks in 1996. North Point, Hunters Woods and South Lakes are village names we know, but we assume nothing about the roofs in them until we are standing on one.
Access shapes the work as much as the roof does. Deliveries to bigger buildings along Reston Parkway, Sunset Hills Road and Sunrise Valley Drive are timed around traffic, and on Baron Cameron Avenue and Hunter Mill Road we plan the truck route before the crew arrives. In townhouse clusters we plan dumpster and ladder positions with the neighbors in mind.
After a Storm or a Falling Tree
Reston Association looks after more than 1,300 acres of open space, about 800 of it woodland, and tree limbs reach many roofs. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado in Reston on April 19, 2019, with winds up to 70 mph. A tree went through the upper floor of a townhouse on Quietree Drive, and shingles were damaged near Town Harbor Drive. If a line is down, call the utility first. Dominion Energy serves most of Fairfax County. Then call us: we tarp the opening, photograph the damage for your claim and schedule the permanent repair once we have seen what is underneath. Our emergency roof repair guide covers what to do before we arrive.
Two Reston Roofs, Described
A 1980s detached house near Hunter Mill Road with a chimney leak. The shingle roof is about 2,200 square feet and stains the ceiling beside the chimney after heavy rain. We would find where water enters, replace the chimney flashing, and strip the shingles if they are near the end of their life. If the attic needs more ventilation, we add vents. Before work starts we confirm the County permit question and ask Reston Association whether an application is needed. The owner sees photos of the leak source and a written scope.
A 1970s townhouse in a cluster off Wiehle Avenue. The roof is shared in a row, and the plywood under it may be fire rated. We would measure what needs replacing and confirm with the County, because the exemption for small decking replacements stops at fire-rated plywood. Reston Association's packet asks for neighbor acknowledgement, so we help collect it. The owner sees a plan that treats the party-wall flashing separately and a closing photo set.
Flat Sections, Commercial Roofs and Metal
Most Reston roofs are pitched, but some have a flat section or belong to a larger building. These pages explain each option, including when it is the wrong one.
How Getting Started Works
- Call (571) 453-6515 or book a phone consultation, and tell us the address and what you have seen.
- We look at the roof and photograph what we find.
- You get a written scope that says what needs a County permit or Reston Association review.
- We schedule the work with your association and neighbors in mind.
- We close with photos of the finished roof.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Reston have its own building department for roof permits?
No. Reston is an unincorporated part of Fairfax County with no town hall, so building permits come from Fairfax County Land Development Services. Reston Association is a private covenant and amenity association, not a permit office. The County's list says replacing roof shingles does not need a permit, while roof repairs, chimney repairs and large decking replacements can, so we confirm with the County before work starts.
Do I need Reston Association approval to put on the same shingle color?
Reston Association reviews most exterior changes under the Reston Deed, and its design review application has a Roofing section. Ask Covenants staff at 703-435-6530 whether a same-color replacement needs an application, and have the manufacturer, style, material and photos ready before you call.
What should I do first if a fallen branch or storm damages my Reston roof?
Stay off the roof and away from any downed line, and call the electric utility if one is down. Dominion Energy serves most of Fairfax County. Photograph the damage from the ground, then call us. We can tarp the opening to keep water out, document the damage with photos for your claim, and schedule the permanent repair once we have seen what is underneath.
Does Reston Roof only work on houses, or on condo buildings and offices too?
Most of our Reston work is residential, on houses and townhouses, with some commercial roofs as well. We also look at flat and low-slope sections on homes, condo buildings and small commercial properties. Ask when you call, and we will tell you whether your building suits what we do.
My Reston townhouse roof is part of a row. Who decides what goes on it?
That depends on your cluster or condo association, since each cluster sets its own rules. Reston Association publishes cluster design standards that can list specific roof options, and its application asks for neighbor acknowledgement. Start by asking your association, then Reston Association Covenants staff. Townhouse roof plywood that must be fire rated also affects what can be replaced without a County permit.
Next Door to Reston
Herndon is an incorporated Town that runs its own building permit office, so it is not Fairfax County territory inside Town limits. Sterling is governed by Loudoun County. Great Falls, Oakton and Chantilly are Fairfax County communities, like Reston. See all service areas, or read about commercial roofing in Reston.