Roofing contractor in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines has the widest range of houses in the metro, and every era hides different roof problems. We inspect, repair and replace roofs across the city.
- County
- Polk County
- ZIP codes
- 50309, 50310, 50311, 50312 and more
- From our Waukee base
- About 22 minutes
Your roofer in Des Moines
We work in Des Moines every week, on everything from Victorian houses in Sherman Hill to Beaverdale's brick Tudors and the post-war ranches farther out. Most calls start with hail, a new ceiling stain, or a roof that has been shedding granules into the gutters after 20-plus years.
In the older parts of the city, the real condition of a roof is underneath the shingles. We go into the attic whenever we can reach it, photograph every slope, and tell you before tear-off what we expect to find in the decking, so the estimate reflects the actual job.
Des Moines homes and their roofs
Des Moines grew out from downtown for more than a century, so a short drive covers several building eras. Sherman Hill has late-1800s Victorians and cottages, Drake and Highland Park fill in with early-1900s houses, and Beaverdale is known for its steep-gabled "Beaverdale brick" homes, a local take on the Tudor style. Post-war ranches cover much of the rest.
Those older houses come with older roofing habits: plank decking with gaps between boards, two layers of shingles, and built-in box gutters hidden in the eaves. Building code generally won't allow a third layer, so tear-off is standard, and failing box gutters need relining or conversion to hung gutters rather than another coat of tar.
Neighborhoods we cover in Des Moines
- Beaverdale
- Sherman Hill
- Drake
- Highland Park
- Waterbury
- Linden Heights
What we see most on Des Moines roofs
- Decking you can't see from the streetPlank boards from the 1920s can be gapped, cupped or soft near the eaves. We check for deck movement on the roof and look at the boards from the attic, then photograph any section that needs new sheathing before it gets covered.
- Box gutters and tarred flashingBuilt-in gutters leak into soffits and walls when their linings fail. Chimneys and dormer walls on older houses often have flashing that has been tarred over for years and needs proper step and counter flashing.
- Mature trees over older roofsBig oaks and maples shade a lot of Des Moines roofs, which keeps moss and algae growing on north slopes. The 2020 derecho also showed how much damage one large limb can do to an old roof deck.
Services in Des Moines
Where Des Moines sits in our service area
Roofing questions from Des Moines
Do I need approval to replace a roof in Sherman Hill or another historic district?
Some Des Moines neighborhoods are local historic districts, and exterior changes there can need design review before work starts. We check what applies to your address, help you pick materials that fit, and pull any permit the city requires.
My house already has two layers of shingles. Can you roof over them?
No. Code generally stops at two layers, and stacking roofs hides the deck from inspection. We tear off to the boards, replace damaged decking, and install new underlayment, flashing and shingles.
Nearby communities
Book a free inspection in Des Moines
Whether it's one missing shingle or a full exterior, we'll take a look for free and give you a clear written estimate. Call, text or send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day.
- (515) 555-0147Call or text, Mon–Fri 7am–7pm, Sat 8am–4pm
- [email protected]
- Storm emergencyCall any time for tarping