Roofing in Des Moines

Des Moines sits in the middle of Iowa's hail alley. Most years bring at least one severe hail event to the metro between April and June, and the wind is just as hard on roofs as the hail. The August 10, 2020 derecho pushed 70 to 100 mph winds across the metro and stands as the costliest thunderstorm event in modern US history. Plenty of Des Moines roofs that survived it have shed shingles in every windstorm since, because a sealant strip that breaks once never fully reseals. For the actual numbers, ten years of Iowa hail and wind events by county and month computed from NOAA records, see our Iowa hail statistics page.

Winter does its own damage. Freeze-thaw cycles work water into every gap in the flashing, and ice dams build along the eaves on shaded slopes in Beaverdale, Waterbury, and anywhere with mature trees. That damage usually shows up inside in March as a ceiling stain.

One more Iowa-specific point: impact-rated Class 4 shingles cost more up front but take quarter-size hail without bruising, and many Iowa insurance carriers offer a premium discount for them. On a roof that will see hail every few years, that math is worth running before you pick a shingle. Ask your agent what the discount is, then ask us what the upgrade costs. We will give you both numbers in writing.

What this means in practice: if a storm hit your neighborhood in the last 12 months, get the roof inspected even if it looks fine from the street. Hail bruising and lifted sealant strips are invisible from the ground, and storm claims get harder to prove the longer you wait. We inspect for free after storms, document everything with photos, and tell you straight whether a roof repair covers it or the damage justifies a full replacement claim. For typical repair pricing, see our Des Moines roof repair cost guide.

Good news first: the City of Des Moines does not require a building permit for a straight reroof on a one or two family home. Tear off the old shingles, install the new system, no permit needed.

The exception is structural work. If sheathing or rafters are repaired or replaced, the city requires a building permit. On older Des Moines homes, especially the 1920s to 1960s housing stock in Beaverdale, Drake, and Sherman Hill, finding soft decking during tear-off is common, so plan for the possibility. When a permit is needed, we pull it. You never touch the paperwork.

Two more city rules worth knowing. Des Moines residential roofing follows Chapter 9 of the 2021 International Residential Code, which requires an ice barrier running from the roof edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. That rule exists because of exactly the ice dams our winters produce. The city also prohibits a roof recover (a new layer installed over old shingles) when the roof already has two layers or the deck underneath is water damaged.

If you want to verify any of this yourself, the city's Permit and Development Center is at 1200 Locust Street, phone (515) 283-4200. And if you are comparing contractors, our 2026 ranking of the best roofing companies in Des Moines shows exactly how we stack up against the rest of the metro, with live review data.