A homeowner's guide to Madison roofers, repair and ice dams

What roofs go through in Madison

Madison gets about 50 inches of snow a year, a freeze-thaw cycle that runs from November into April, and a spring hail season that peaks in May and June. Then the lakes add humidity all summer. That's a lot of work to ask of a roof.

Snow and ice do the most damage. When heat leaks from the house into the attic, the snow on the upper roof melts, runs down to the cold eave and freezes into a dam. Water backs up under the shingles and comes in over the wall. On the isthmus — Tenney-Lapham, the Marquette neighborhood, Vilas, University Heights — the 1900s–1930s houses have steep roofs, knee walls, and attics that were never insulated to modern standards, and they ice-dam every hard winter. That's why Wisconsin's code calls for an ice barrier at the eaves; ask the roofer how far up yours will run.

Hail comes next. The storms that track across Dane County from the southwest in May and June drop stone the size of a quarter or a golf ball, and the 1990s–2010s subdivisions on the west side (Blackhawk, Hawks Landing, the Junction Road corridor) and the east side (Grandview Commons, Reston Heights, out through Sun Prairie) have acres of architectural shingles that were installed within a few years of each other and get hit together.

Then there's age. A shingle roof in this climate lasts 18–25 years, not the 30 or 50 on the wrapper. Many of Madison's roofs went on in the late 1990s and 2000s, and they are due now.

Two smaller things finish the list. Snow load: Dane County roofs are designed to carry a heavy wet March snow, but a deck softened by twenty years of ice dams at the eaves or a 1920s roof with cracked rafters isn't carrying what it was designed for. And the trees. Silver maples on the older streets and the dead ash the emerald ash borer left standing drop limbs onto garage roofs in summer thunderstorms, and their seeds and leaves pack the gutters that then overflow and rot the fascia.

None of this means a Madison roof has to be a constant project. It means the details matter more here than in most places: how far the ice barrier runs, whether the attic can breathe, whether the shingles were nailed for wind. A roof done right for this climate is quiet for twenty years.

Roofing services in Madison, explained

Roof repair — a roofer traces leaks at chimney flashing, pipe boots, valleys and skylights, wind-lifted shingles and soft decking. Most repairs are $300–$1,500 and done in a visit. See roof repair.

Roof replacement — tear-off to the deck, synthetic underlayment, ice-and-water shield at the eaves and valleys, architectural shingles with six nails, ridge and soffit ventilation sized for a Wisconsin attic. Typical Madison homes run $9,000–$22,000. See roof replacement.

Ice dam repair and prevention — steam removal that doesn't chip your shingles, repair of the water damage, and the attic air-sealing and ventilation that stop it from coming back. See ice dam repair.

Hail and wind damage — tarping, repair, and what to photograph for your insurer. See hail and wind damage repair.

Roof inspections — a written report with photos, for a house you're buying, a roof you're unsure about, or after a storm. See roof inspection.

Finding a roofer in Madison

When it comes to roofing, Madison, WI isn't Phoenix. The underlayment, the ice barrier, the ventilation and the nailing pattern should all be chosen for snow load and freeze-thaw, so ask the roofer to explain each line on the quote. Check a contractor's Wisconsin credentials with the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and your city's permit office before you sign.

This site is a free homeowner guide, not a roofing company. When you call or request an estimate, your request goes to an independent local roofing contractor partner who inspects the roof, prices it in writing and performs the work. Whoever you hire, ask to see their certificate of insurance before work starts.

Areas this guide covers

All of Madison — the isthmus, the near west side, Nakoma and Westmorland, the far west side out to Junction Road, the north side, the east side out past Stoughton Road — plus Middleton, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Verona, Waunakee, Monona, McFarland, Oregon, Cottage Grove, DeForest and Windsor, Marshall and Stoughton. The pricing page has typical numbers before you call.