Short answer: As of September 2026, the five highest-scoring roofing contractors in the Reading, PA metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score are Bachman’s Roofing (89.8), Affordable Roofs & Remodeling (77.2), J&L Roofing (76.4), Clear Roofing & Exteriors (74.6), Red Well Roofing (65.3). Each holds a certification we verified on the manufacturer’s own register, every rating was corroborated elsewhere, and placement on this page is not for sale.
The Roofing Brief scored 8 certified roofing contractors serving the Reading metro on a published, reproducible formula, then researched each of the top five individually to confirm its record. Berks County logged 521 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports in ten years, most of them in June, July and August, and over 28 and 29 May 2019 it got the whole sequence at once: two-inch hail at Morgantown and Mertztown, 1.75-inch stones in Wyomissing Hills, and an EF2 tornado with winds up to 120 mph that tore roofs in Morgantown’s Valley Ponds subdivision. The ranking is led by Bachman’s Roofing, a Wernersville family firm since 1972 with 1,765 registry reviews, more than any other contractor in this batch, and it also carries this page’s most important caveat: a B- BBB rating that cites two complaints left unanswered. The city adds a rule most Pennsylvania metros do not have. In four historic districts, a replacement roof visible from a street or alley needs Reading’s approval before work starts.
Wind, terrain and the Reading housing stock
Reading’s historic districts are the first thing to check. Callowhill, Prince, Centre Park and Penn’s Common are locally regulated by the city’s Board of Historical Architectural Review, and any exterior alteration visible from a public street or alley needs a Certificate of Appropriateness. The city’s roof replacement guidelines require compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and aim to keep distinctive historic materials. In-kind replacement can be approved at staff level by the Historic Preservation Officer, but a request to substitute a different material on grounds of cost goes to the board as a financial hardship case, backed by documents such as the insurance policy’s exclusions or the adjuster’s valuation. Ask any contractor whether they have taken a Reading application through before, and build the approval time into the schedule.
Outside those districts, Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code requires a permit to alter or repair a residential building but exempts an ordinary repair, and its exemption list does not name roofing, so a like-for-like replacement often proceeds unpermitted across Berks County while individual municipalities can require one. Ask yours, because where no permit is pulled nobody inspects the work. The code still applies, and in a county with this much summer wind the details that matter are at the edges: starter courses sealed at eaves and rakes, drip edge that genuinely covers the deck edge, and the shingle manufacturer’s high-wind fastening wherever it is required. Where no inspector will look, write those details into the contract and ask for dated photographs before the shingles cover the underlayment.
The storm pattern is frequent and moderate rather than catastrophic: 61 hail reports over the decade, 43 of an inch or more but only two at two inches, against 521 wind reports and eight tornadoes. The 2021 season produced two EF1s twenty days apart, one near Kempton in Albany Township on 29 July that crossed into Lehigh County, and one near Berne on 18 August that tore a porch roof away and carried the damage into the main roof of a house on Ash Road. On a Berks County roof, uplift at edges, ridges and porch roofs is the failure to plan for, more than hail bruising.
The top five span a wide radius, from Wyomissing two miles from the city centre to West Chester, 31 miles away in Chester County, and the distance matters. Three of the five, Bachman’s and the two Wyomissing firms, sit within about eight miles. Red Well Roofing, a family firm on the Lancaster County side, holds fifth place by six hundredths of a point over GP Martini Roofing of Exton, a President’s Club contractor whose 4.3 rating across 77 reviews cost it the place. Two long-established Wyomissing companies ranking second and third on near-identical records is the clearest signal in the data: if you live in the city or its western suburbs, you have unusually strong local choice. Whoever you hire, confirm their Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration with the Attorney General.
The 5 best roofers in Reading, PA
Scored 2026-09-25. The metro mean rating used as the Bayesian prior for Reading is 4.688, across a pool of 8 certified contractors.
| Rank | Company | TRB Score | Certification | Rating (reviews) | Adjusted | In business since | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bachman’s Roofing | 89.8 | President’s Club | 4.8 (1,765) | 4.797 | 1972 | Wernersville, PA |
| 2 | Affordable Roofs & Remodeling | 77.2 | Master Elite | 5.0 (76) | 4.876 | 1992 | Wyomissing, PA |
| 3 | J&L Roofing | 76.4 | Master Elite | 5.0 (64) | 4.863 | 1989 | Wyomissing, PA |
| 4 | Clear Roofing & Exteriors | 74.6 | Master Elite | 5.0 (214) | 4.941 | 2023 | West Chester, PA |
| 5 | Red Well Roofing | 65.3 | Master Elite | 5.0 (15) | 4.76 | 2004 | New Holland, PA |
1. Bachman’s Roofing — TRB Score 89.8
Bachman’s Roofing is based in Wernersville, PA, in business since 1972, led by Eric Bachman, BBB b-, citing failure to respond to 2 complaints (as Bachman’s Roofing, Building & Remodeling, Inc), and holds President’s Club standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 35 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 31.9 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 15.0 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 7.9 | 10 |
| Total | 89.8 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Rated B-, with failure to respond to two complaints cited; in business since 1 January 1972. BBB
- Member profile for Bachman’s Roofing. Northern Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce
What they actually do. Roofing, solar, siding, windows and attic insulation from multiple locations serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Why it ranks here. President’s Club with 1,765 registry reviews at 4.8, the deepest review record of any contractor in this batch. It scores 89.8, 12.6 points clear of second place.
Best fit for: Homeowners who want a large, long-established firm with the top certification tier and capacity after a storm.
What we would want clarified. BBB rates the company B-, citing failure to respond to two complaints. Two complaints is a small number for a firm this size, but leaving them unanswered is the opposite of what a top-ranked contractor should do. Ask how complaints are escalated, get the warranty registration in writing, and ask where the crew assigned to your job is based. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (610) 678-8004, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
2. Affordable Roofs & Remodeling — TRB Score 77.2
Trades as Affordable Roofs & Remodeling; listed on the GAF registry as Affordable Roofs & Remodeling LLC.
Affordable Roofs & Remodeling is based in Wyomissing, PA, in business since 1992, led by Scott Gust, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 35.0 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 8.7 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 9.5 | 10 |
| Total | 77.2 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Customer review profile for Affordable Roofs & Remodeling, LLC, Wyomissing. HomeAdvisor
What they actually do. Residential roofing and remodelling, locally owned in Wyomissing.
Why it ranks here. Master Elite with a perfect 5.0 across 76 reviews, scoring 77.2, 0.8 ahead of J&L Roofing on a near-identical record.
Best fit for: City of Reading and western-suburb homeowners who want a Master Elite firm two miles away.
What we would want clarified. No BBB profile or rating was locatable. Confirm Home Improvement Contractor registration with the Pennsylvania Attorney General before signing. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (484) 955-9913, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
3. J&L Roofing — TRB Score 76.4
Trades as J&L Roofing; listed on the GAF registry as J&L Roofing LLC.
J&L Roofing is based in Wyomissing, PA, in business since 1989, led by Luke Hoffman, BBB profile filed under Center Valley, PA, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 34.5 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 8.4 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 9.5 | 10 |
| Total | 76.4 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Business profile for J & L Roofing, LLC. BBB
What they actually do. Family-owned residential roofing from Wyomissing.
Why it ranks here. Master Elite, 5.0 across 64 reviews, scoring 76.4, less than a point behind Affordable Roofs & Remodeling. The difference between them is twelve reviews.
Best fit for: Homeowners who want a second Master Elite quote from the same end of town.
What we would want clarified. Its BBB profile is filed under Center Valley in Lehigh County rather than Wyomissing, so ask where the business and its crews are based, and confirm its Home Improvement Contractor registration. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (610) 914-2889, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
4. Clear Roofing & Exteriors — TRB Score 74.6
Clear Roofing & Exteriors is based in West Chester, PA, in business since 2023, led by Stephen Mattiola, BBB accredited since 24 August 2023, A+, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 37.6 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 10.8 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 2.2 | 10 |
| Total | 74.6 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Accredited since 24 August 2023, rated A+. BBB
What they actually do. Roof replacement and repair and storm damage work, with line-item pricing.
Why it ranks here. Master Elite with 214 reviews at 5.0, the strongest rating-and-depth combination in the pool, scoring 74.6. Distance costs it: 31 miles from the metro centre, it earns 2.2 of 10 proximity points.
Best fit for: Southern Berks County homeowners near the Chester County line, around Birdsboro and Morgantown.
What we would want clarified. About three years in business and based in West Chester, 31 miles from Reading, the farthest of the five. Ask how quickly it can attend a leak call in Berks County. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (484) 983-3476, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
5. Red Well Roofing — TRB Score 65.3
Trades as Red Well Roofing; listed on the GAF registry as Red Well Roofing LLC.
Red Well Roofing is based in New Holland, PA, in business since 2004, led by Amos L. Fisher, Not accredited; BBB has insufficient information to rate (as Red Well Construction, LLC), and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 30.4 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 5.6 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 5.3 | 10 |
| Total | 65.3 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Business profile for Red Well Construction, LLC, Gap, PA. BBB
- Customer review profile for Red Well Construction LLC, New Holland. Angi
What they actually do. Residential roofing from the Lancaster County side of the Berks line.
Why it ranks here. Master Elite with 5.0 from 15 reviews, scoring 65.3, which holds fifth place by 0.06 points over President’s Club contractor GP Martini Roofing (Exton, 4.3 from 77 reviews).
Best fit for: Southwestern Berks and eastern Lancaster County homeowners.
What we would want clarified. Fifteen reviews is the thinnest record in this top five, and BBB has too little information to issue a rating. The business also trades as Red Well Construction, so search both names. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (717) 587-4348, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
The 521 wind reports that shape a Reading roof
Aggregate hail counts tell you very little about a specific roof. These are the individual events: every severe-weather report logged by the National Weather Service across the 1 county of the Reading, PA statistical area over ten years, with the dates, the stone sizes and the towns they landed on. Over that decade the metro logged 61 hail reports, 521 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports and 8 tornadoes. The database’s property-damage fields are left blank for most of these reports, so it carries no usable loss total for this metro and we do not quote one.
The biggest hail to fall on Reading in a decade
| Date | Stone size | Reported near | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 2019 | 2.0 in | Morgantown | Berks |
| 29 May 2019 | 2.0 in | Mertztown | Berks |
| 28 May 2019 | 1.75 in | Wyomissing Hills | Berks |
| 28 May 2019 | 1.75 in | West Lawn | Berks |
| 28 May 2019 | 1.75 in | Geigertown | Berks |
| 20 May 2022 | 1.5 in | Alsace Manor | Berks |
The largest stone on record for this metro fell on 28 May 2019 near Morgantown, measured at 2.0 inches. That is hen-egg sized. Two inches is the threshold at which insurers expect functional damage and full replacement claims.
Wind. The strongest thunderstorm gust logged in the metro was 78 knots, about 90 mph, near Fleetwood on 6 May 2025. Asphalt shingles begin lifting at roughly 67 mph when they are correctly nailed, and considerably below that when they are not.
Tornadoes. 8 tornadoes touched down in these counties over the decade, the strongest rated EF2 near Morgantown on 28 May 2019.
What the National Weather Service wrote about it
The NWS logs a written account of each severe-weather episode. This is its description of the 6 May 2025 event near Fleetwood, reproduced verbatim:
Multiple softwood and hardwood trees snapped, along with two trees uprooted in the area of 428 Orchard Rd. Additionally, a small flagpole was bent at ground level. Damage occurred over an area of approximately 400 yards by 300 yards.
That is what the specification has to anticipate here, written up by the agency that recorded it rather than by a contractor selling the repair.
When it happens. Severe weather reports cluster in July (150), August (118), June (110). The worst years on record were 2020 (139), 2019 (114), 2021 (77). If you are scheduling non-urgent work in Reading, the months outside that window are when crews are least stretched and least likely to be triaging emergency callouts ahead of your job.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, county-level detail files 2016 to 2025, filtered to the counties of this statistical area by The Roofing Brief. Damage figures are as reported to the NWS and undercount insured losses.
What to do with this. Hail is not the governing risk in Reading. Weight your decision toward wind rating, ventilation and flashing detail rather than paying extra for impact-rated shingles.
How to tell a Reading roofer’s claims from their record
There is no state roofing licence in PA. Pennsylvania issues no state roofing licence. Instead, under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, any contractor doing more than $5,000 of residential home improvement work a year must register as a Home Improvement Contractor with the Office of the Attorney General.
HIC registration requires minimum insurance of $50,000 personal injury and $50,000 property damage, a HICPA-compliant written contract, and the registration number printed on every contract, estimate and advertisement. It is a registration, not a competency exam.
That absence is the most important fact on this page. Where a state issues no credential, a manufacturer certification that can be revoked is the only quality signal a homeowner can actually check, which is why this ranking is built on certification rather than star ratings.
Check here: Pennsylvania Attorney General contractor search. The Attorney General’s search confirms whether the registration is active, when it expires, and whether complaints have been filed. A quote with no HIC number on it is not HICPA compliant.
Four checks to run before you sign anything, in any state.
- Verify certification at the source. Use the GAF verification tool rather than trusting a badge image on a company website.
- Get the certificate of insurance from the insurer, not the contractor, and confirm general liability and workers compensation are both active on the day work starts.
- Confirm who pulls the permit. If a contractor asks you to pull it as the homeowner, that moves liability onto you. Decline.
- Get warranty terms in writing before any deposit, and check the manufacturer warranty being promised actually requires the certification tier the contractor holds.
The shape of the Reading contractor market
8 certified roofing contractors serve the principal cities of the Reading, PA statistical area, of which 2 hold the top President’s Club tier. The pool carries 2,262 customer reviews between them at a mean rating of 4.688. The statistical area had a 2024 population of 439,117, a change of 2.39% against the 2020 census base, per the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates.
How these Reading rankings were produced
Every contractor in the Reading, PA pool was scored out of 100 on four published components: certification tier, a Bayesian adjusted rating, review depth and distance from the metro centre. In this metro that meant scoring 8 certified contractors, of whom 2 hold President’s Club standing and 6 Master Elite, against a metro mean rating of 4.688. The top five were then researched individually against Better Business Bureau records, state licence registers and manufacturer directories. The findings are printed above whether they flatter the contractor or not, and nobody paid to appear.
The full method, the weightings, what the GAF certification tiers actually mean, who is eligible to be ranked and what we do not claim are all set out on our roofer ranking methodology page. Last updated: September 2026. Scoring run: 2026-09-25. Corrections go to the editor and are actioned on verification.
Common questions about roofers in Reading
Who is the best roofer in Reading, PA?
Bachman’s Roofing of Wernersville, PA scores highest in the Reading metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score, at 89.8 out of 100 as of September 2026. It holds President’s Club certification with a 4.8 rating across 1,765 reviews. Highest-scoring is not the same as best fit for your specific job, and the four companies behind it score within 24.5 points.
How many certified roofing contractors serve Reading?
8 contractors on the GAF certification registry serve the principal cities of the Reading, PA statistical area as of September 2026, of which 2 hold President’s Club status.
How much damaging hail does Reading get?
The Reading, PA statistical area recorded 43 hail reports of 1 inch or larger and 2 of 2 inches or larger between 2016 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Events Database. The largest hailstone reported measured 2.0 inches.
Did any contractor pay to appear on this list?
No. The Roofing Brief takes no placement fees, no lead fees and no affiliate commission from any roofing contractor. Ranking comes entirely from the published formula applied to public registry data, followed by an individual research pass on the top five.
What was the worst hailstorm in Reading in the last ten years?
The largest hailstone logged by the National Weather Service in the Reading, PA statistical area between 2016 and 2025 measured 2.0 inches, reported near Morgantown on 28 May 2019. That is hen-egg sized. Two inches is the threshold at which insurers expect functional damage and full replacement claims. Across the decade the metro recorded 61 hail reports. The database’s property-damage fields are left blank for most of these reports, so it carries no usable loss total for this metro and we do not quote one.
When is the worst time of year for roof damage in Reading?
Severe-weather reports in the Reading, PA statistical area cluster in July, August, June, on the NOAA record for 2016 to 2025. If the work can wait, booking outside that window usually buys you shorter lead times and more of the contractor’s attention.
Do roofers need a licence in PA?
Pennsylvania issues no state roofing licence. Instead, under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, any contractor doing more than $5,000 of residential home improvement work a year must register as a Home Improvement Contractor with the Office of the Attorney General. HIC registration requires minimum insurance of $50,000 personal injury and $50,000 property damage, a HICPA-compliant written contract, and the registration number printed on every contract, estimate and advertisement. It is a registration, not a competency exam.
What should I check before hiring a roofer in Reading?
The Attorney General’s search confirms whether the registration is active, when it expires, and whether complaints have been filed. A quote with no HIC number on it is not HICPA compliant.
Is Reading a hard market to find a good roofer in?
Berks County logged 521 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports in ten years, most of them in June, July and August, and over 28 and 29 May 2019 it got the whole sequence at once: two-inch hail at Morgantown and Mertztown, 1.75-inch stones in Wyomissing Hills, and an EF2 tornado with winds up to 120 mph that tore roofs in Morgantown’s Valley Ponds subdivision. The ranking is led by Bachman’s Roofing, a Wernersville family firm since 1972 with 1,765 registry reviews, more than any other contractor in this batch, and it also carries this page’s most important caveat: a B- BBB rating that cites two complaints left unanswered. The city adds a rule most Pennsylvania metros do not have. In four historic districts, a replacement roof visible from a street or alley needs Reading’s approval before work starts.
Is wind or hail the bigger risk to a roof in Reading?
Wind, by a wide margin. The Reading, PA statistical area logged 521 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports against 43 hail reports of an inch or more between 2016 and 2025. Wind damage shows up at the rake, ridge and edge rather than across the field of the roof, so the fastening schedule and edge detail matter more here than the impact rating of the shingle.
Roofer rankings for other metros
The Roofing Brief scores certified roofing contractors in the 400 largest U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas on the same formula.
- Best roofers in Lancaster, PA, about 29 miles from Reading
- Best roofers in Allentown, PA, about 29 miles from Reading
- Best roofers in Philadelphia, PA, another PA metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in York, PA, another PA metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Salem, OR, a metro of comparable size
- Best roofers in Salinas, CA, a metro of comparable size
- Best roofers in Harrisburg, PA, also scored, about 51 miles away
- Best roofers in Scranton, PA, also scored, about 75 miles away
- Best roofers in Atlantic City, NJ, also scored, about 103 miles away
See the full index of all 400 metro roofer rankings, or read how to find and vet a roofing contractor anywhere in the country.
Cite this analysis
The Roofing Brief. “Best Roofers in Reading, PA: The Roofing Brief Contractor Score.” Published September 2026. Inputs: GAF certification registry; NOAA Storm Events Database 2016-2025; U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; Better Business Bureau and independent review-platform records for each ranked contractor.