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Roof repair & replacement in Twin Cities–area suburbs

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After a hail or wind storm

  1. Photograph from the ground first. Dented gutters, vents and downspouts, and granules in the gutters, are easy to document safely.
  2. Get an on-roof inspection. Hail bruising and wind-creased or lifted shingles are often invisible from the yard. Roofers book up in peak hail months, so get on a schedule early.
  3. Check warranties. On newer houses, ask whether the roof is still under the builder's or shingle maker's warranty. On older ones, ask what's under the current layer and whether the decking needs work.
  4. Compare like for like. Get the scope, material and warranty in writing, and compare two quotes on the same scope.
  5. Check who you're hiring. After a big storm, out-of-area crews arrive fast. Ask for a local address, proof of insurance and a written scope before signing anything.
  6. Call your insurer with evidence. Ask the roofer for dated photos and a written damage report you can give the adjuster.

Roof repair or roof replacement? A decision guide

The same guidance as the quiz on each city page, laid out in full. Find the line that matches your situation. The most urgent ones are listed first.

Act now Water coming in now, or part of the roof open to the sky

Protect the inside and get an emergency tarp on

Repair or replacement is a question for later. Right now the job is keeping water out of the ceiling, insulation and walls, and many roofers offer emergency tarping.

Do this now

  1. Put buckets under drips and move furniture and electronics out of the way.
  2. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out from under it and call for help.
  3. Call a roofer for emergency tarping. Ask for a written price for the tarp alone, separate from any repair.
  4. Photograph the roof from the ground and the damage inside, with dates.
  5. Call your insurer if a storm or a falling tree caused it.

Don't

  • Don't climb onto a wet or storm-damaged roof yourself.
  • Don't sign a full repair or replacement contract just to get a tarp on.
Book a visit A recent hail or wind storm, with no water coming in

Get an inspection before you file or sign anything

Hail damage is often invisible from the ground, and a roof can look fine while its shingles have lost their protective granules. An inspection answers whether there's damage worth a claim.[1]

Do this now

  1. Photograph the roof, gutters, downspouts, siding and any dented vents or AC fins from the ground.
  2. Check your policy's deductible and its deadline for reporting storm damage.
  3. Book an inspection with a licensed, local roofer, and ask for photos of anything they find up there.

Don't

  • Don't sign a contract with a door-to-door crew before you've read your policy and seen the adjuster's findings.
  • Don't climb up to look yourself, especially on a steep or wet roof.
Book a visit A ceiling stain or drip that isn't active right now

Find the leak before the next rain

Most roof leaks start at the openings: chimneys, vents, skylights, valleys and wall joints, not the open field of shingles. That usually makes this a repair rather than a replacement.

Do this now

  1. Mark and date the edge of the stain so you can tell if it grows.
  2. If you can get into the attic safely, look above the stain with a flashlight for wet wood or insulation.
  3. Book a roofer to trace the leak, and ask them to show you photos of where water is getting in.
  4. If a storm caused it, write down the date. If you file an insurance claim, your insurer will ask for it.
  5. Keep a bucket and a towel ready for the next storm.

Don't

  • Don't paint over the stain. You'll lose track of whether it's still leaking.
  • Don't step between the ceiling joists in the attic. The drywall won't hold you.
Book a visit Widespread wear, or visible damage on an older roof

Get replacement quotes, plus one honest repair opinion

Wear across many slopes, or damage on an older roof, often means a patch won't buy much time. Comparing written quotes is how you find out.

Do this now

  1. Get at least three written quotes that list the same things: tear-off, decking repair, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and cleanup.
  2. Ask each roofer whether a repair would last a few more years, and why or why not.
  3. Ask who pulls the permit and what the warranty covers, both workmanship and materials.
  4. Check reviews and confirm the company has a local address and insurance.

Don't

  • Don't choose on price alone if the quotes don't cover the same work.
  • Don't pay most of the cost up front before materials are delivered.
Book a visit One damaged area on a roof that isn't old

This looks like a repair, not a replacement

A few missing shingles, a loose flashing or a cracked vent boot on a roof that's otherwise in good shape is normally a repair job, and a good roofer will say so.

Do this now

  1. Photograph the problem area from the ground.
  2. Ask a roofer for a repair quote, not a replacement inspection.
  3. Ask them to check the flashing and vent boots while they're up there. Those are the usual leak points.
  4. If the roof is still under a workmanship warranty, call the original installer first.

Don't

  • Don't let a small repair wait through storm season. A loose area gets bigger in the wind.
  • Don't agree to a full replacement without a second opinion when only one area is damaged.
Book a visit Buying, selling or insuring the house, or an older roof with no visible damage

Get a written roof inspection

When the question is the roof's remaining life, not a specific problem, a written inspection with photos gives you something to plan, negotiate or insure with.

Do this now

  1. Ask for an inspection report with photos and an estimate of the roof's remaining life.
  2. If you're buying, ask the seller for the roof's age and any repair or claim history.
  3. Ask your insurer whether the roof's age affects your coverage or premium.

Don't

  • Don't rely on a general home inspection alone for an older roof. Ask for a roofer's look.
  • Don't take a free inspection that comes packaged with pressure to sign on the spot.
Handle it yourself No leak, no recent storm and no visible damage on a newer roof

Nothing urgent. Keep an eye on it

Nothing you've described points to a problem. A few minutes of checking after big storms is enough for now.

Do this now

  1. After a hail or wind storm, look at the roof from the ground and check the gutters for piles of granules.
  2. Keep the gutters clear so water drains off the roof edge.
  3. Once a year, look at the attic underside of the roof with a flashlight for stains after rain.
  4. Keep receipts and the installer's warranty somewhere you can find them.

Don't

  • Don't walk on the roof to check it. Look from the ground or a ladder at the edge.
  • Don't pressure-wash shingles. It strips the granules.

Good to know

  • Write down the storm's date. If you file an insurance claim, your insurer will ask for it.
  • If you don't know the roof's age, the closing paperwork, the seller's disclosure or your city's permit records often show when it was last replaced.

This guidance was written with AI tools. It has not yet been reviewed by a person. It's general information, not professional advice. If anyone is in danger, call 911.

Common questions

What size hail counts as “severe”?

The National Weather Service treats hail 1 inch in diameter (about quarter-sized) or larger as severe[1]. Smaller hail can still damage older or already-worn shingles.

Why do hail report counts vary so much between nearby cities?

Storm reports come from trained spotters, officials and the public, so they partly track where people are. Storms over open land get under-counted — check your roof after any storm with hail in it, whatever the record says.

Should I call my insurer or a roofer first?

Usually the roofer first, for an inspection and dated photos — then the insurer with that evidence. Read your policy for its reporting deadline and wind/hail deductible before signing any contract.

Sources

  1. NWS Storm Prediction Center FAQ (link unverified)

Full citations and method.