Roof replacement: things to consider

Many homes in Montgomery Village were built more than  50 years ago, and wear and tear are part of the game. Today’s roofs can last 30 to 40 years or more, and therefore have a major and long-lasting impact on the aesthetics of a home and community. Roofs are also expensive, so before starting the work, it is important to reach out to the MVF Architectural Standards Department to apply and receive approval before you proceed with your roof replacement. By contacting Architectural Standards first, you will avoid an architectural violation and the potential of having to pay to replace your roof a second time to bring it into compliance.

Colors. When deciding on colors for your roof, check the architectural criteria for your community. Many of our communities were designed with standard roof colors, which means that all roofs in the community need to be the same color. We are always happy to work with residents to determine color equivalents to criteria colors across roof manufacturer brands.

Other communities in the Village do not have standard colors, which means that residents can choose to keep the color that is currently on their home, or they can update their color scheme to something new. In those communities without standard roof colors, replacing a roof is a good opportunity to update a home and prepare it for the next 30 to 40 years of changes in color trends.

 You can access your community criteria by logging into your Member Dashboard at www.montgomeryvillage.com or by contacting the Architectural Standards Department at 240-243-2364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Style. Roofs typically come in wood shingles, 3-tab and architectural profiles, and roof manufacturers have different brand names for these roof styles. 3-tab roofs have a flat profile—the shingles are a uniform shape and they are installed next to each other on the roof. Architectural style roofs have a three-dimensional quality to them—the shingles overlap and they are cut into different shapes for architectural interest on the roof. Wood shingle roofs are cedar wood, machine cut and installed over a mansard roof.

This is another reason to check your community criteria to determine if your community requires a specific style roof or shingle. If it does not, work with your roofing company to determine which style works best for your roofing needs and then indicate the style on your application.

Please reach out to the Architectural Standards Department staff for assistance at any time during your roof replacement selection and application process. We are here to help; call 240-243-2364 to speak with a staff member. Property Improvement Request applications can be submitted online at www.montgomeryvillage.com/pir, or hard-copy applications may be picked up at the MVF Office, 10120 Apple Ridge Road.

Roof applications are typically reviewed by staff at our weekly review meetings. Applications received by 5 p.m. on a Tuesday will be reviewed on the Thursday of the same week. Our average turnaround time on applications is 10 business days, from receipt of application to decision letter being sent to the homeowner. Some applications may take longer to return, while others may take less time depending on the complexity and completeness of the application. If you are replacing your roof due to damage or another emergency, please indicate that on your application, and we will give it priority in the review process. We look forward to working with you to enhance the beauty of our planned community.