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Des Moines Roofing, Built To Iowa's Weather
Hail in June, straight line wind in August, ice dams in January. A roof in Polk County works harder than the warranty brochure assumes. Action Roofing & Construction has been replacing and repairing them across the metro for more than twenty years, from our shop in Norwalk.
Get A Free Estimate Call (515) 202-2173
BBB A+ Accredited
GAF Certified Plus
Owens Corning Preferred
InterNACHI Trained
4.9 Stars On GoogleA Des Moines Roofer You Can Actually Drive To
There are a lot of companies named Action Roofing. Only one of them is at 2422 Green Hills Drive in Norwalk, has been owned and run by Albert since 2001, and has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau at an A+ rating since 2004. That is us, and the distinction matters more than it sounds like it should. After a big storm the Des Moines metro fills up with out of state crews running names that are hard to tell apart, and homeowners have a hard time working out who is local.
We are eleven miles from downtown. Our crews work Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Clive, Urbandale, Johnston, Waukee, Altoona and the surrounding Polk, Dallas and Warren County communities. We carry GAF Certified Plus and Owens Corning Preferred credentials, which lets us offer manufacturer system warranties most local roofers cannot write, and our team is trained through the InterNACHI inspection program. We are registered as a construction contractor with the State of Iowa as required by Iowa Code chapter 91C.
What that adds up to is simple. When the roof we put on your house has a problem in year nine, there is a phone number in Norwalk that still answers.
Roofs In Polk County
Roofing content tends to talk about weather in the abstract. Central Iowa deserves better than that, because the failure modes here are specific and they are not the same ones a roofer in Phoenix or Seattle is designing against.
Straight line wind
The August 10, 2020 derechoThe National Weather Service office in Des Moines recorded the strongest winds of that storm in the corridor between Highway 30 and Interstate 80, which runs directly through this metro. The highest official gust measured in central Iowa was 99 mph at the Marshalltown airport. Polk County was one of twenty seven Iowa counties included in the federal disaster declaration that followed. Roofs that survived it are not necessarily undamaged. Wind that strong breaks the thermal seal between shingle courses without removing a single shingle, and a roof with broken seal tabs looks perfect from the driveway and fails in the next ordinary thunderstorm.
Hail
May through August, every yearCentral Iowa sits in an active hail corridor and the metro takes damaging events regularly. Hail rarely punches holes. It bruises, fracturing the mat under the granules and knocking off the granule layer that protects the asphalt from ultraviolet light. The roof does not leak that week. It leaks in three years, after the exposed asphalt has cooked. This is why a free post storm inspection is worth the hour even when nothing looks wrong from the ground.
Ice dams and freeze thaw
December through MarchCentral Iowa runs roughly a hundred freeze and thaw cycles a year. Heat escaping through an under insulated attic melts snow at the ridge, the water runs down and refreezes at the cold eave, and the resulting dam pushes meltwater back up under the shingles. This is the single most common cause of winter ceiling stains in older Des Moines homes, and it is an insulation and ventilation problem wearing a roofing costume. We look at the attic, not just the shingles.
Age plus everything above
The compounding problemA twenty year old three tab roof in Beaverdale has absorbed two decades of the three items above. That is why the number on the shingle wrapper is a laboratory figure, not a central Iowa figure. Most three tab roofs in this metro reach end of useful life between fifteen and twenty years. Architectural laminates typically run twenty to twenty five. Storm history matters more than age by itself.
What Des Moines Code Requires
Most homeowners never see this information, and a surprising number of contractors get it wrong on the estimate. The City of Des Moines Permit and Development Center publishes its residential shingle requirements, and the City has adopted Chapter 9 of the 2021 International Residential Code for one and two family dwellings. Here are the parts that change what a legitimate estimate should look like.
City of Des Moines Residential Roofing Requirements
2021 IRC Chapter 9 as adoptedReroofing does not require a building permit
The City states this plainly. A building permit becomes required only if sheathing or rafters are repaired or replaced. If a contractor has added a permit fee to a straight reroof estimate, ask what the permit is for. If the deck does need work, the permit is legitimate and required.
You often cannot legally shingle over the old roof
A roof recover is not permitted where the existing roof is water soaked or deteriorated, where the existing covering is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos cement tile, where the roof already carries two or more applications of any covering, or where the shingle manufacturer prohibits recover. In a large share of the older Des Moines housing stock at least one of those conditions is true, which means a full tear off is not an upsell. It is the code.
Ice and water shield to 24 inches inside the wall line
An ice barrier is required: either two layers of underlayment cemented together, or a self adhering polymer modified bitumen sheet, running from the lowest edge of every roof surface to a point not less than 24 inches inside the exterior wall line of the house. On roofs of 8 in 12 or steeper it must also extend at least 36 inches measured along the slope from the eave. If your estimate does not itemize ice and water shield, that is a real question to ask.
Asphalt shingles need 2:12 minimum, and 2:12 to 4:12 needs double underlayment
Asphalt shingles may only be used on slopes of two units vertical in twelve horizontal or greater. Between 2:12 and 4:12 a double underlayment application is required, applied as a 19 inch starter strip at the eave followed by 36 inch sheets lapped 19 inches. Low slope porch roofs and rear additions are where this rule gets quietly skipped.
Four nails minimum per strip shingle
Not fewer than four fasteners per strip shingle or two per individual shingle, minimum 12 gauge shank with a 3/8 inch head, long enough to penetrate the sheathing three quarters of an inch or fully through it. High wind installation typically calls for six. Under nailing is the most common cause of blow off in a metro that sees derecho grade wind.
Crickets on wide chimneys, 4 inch sidewall flashing
A cricket or saddle is required on the ridge side of any chimney or penetration wider than 30 inches measured perpendicular to the slope. Sidewall flashing must be continuous or step flashing, not less than 4 inches high and 4 inches wide. Reusing old step flashing instead of replacing it is a shortcut that shows up as a wall leak years later.
Source: City of Des Moines Permit & Development Center, 602 Robert D Ray Drive, Des Moines IA 50309, (515) 283-4200, Residential Asphalt Shingle Requirements. Requirements can change. Confirm current rules with the City before work begins.
It's Not One Roofing Market
A roof estimate for a 1928 brick Tudor and a roof estimate for a 1968 ranch should not look the same, and in Des Moines both are ten minutes apart. The neighborhoods below cover most of what we see across the city.
Beaverdale
Predominantly 1920s to 1940sThe Beaverdale brick Tudors are the most distinctive roofing challenge in the city. Steep pitches, prominent front gables, dormers and multiple intersecting planes mean far more linear feet of valley and flashing per square than a typical ranch. Many of these homes exceed 8 in 12, which triggers the extended 36 inch ice barrier requirement along the slope. Steep and cut up is slower work, and an estimate that prices Beaverdale like a simple gable roof is an estimate someone is going to lose money on.
Sherman Hill and the near west side
Late 1800s to early 1900sSherman Hill is a designated historic district and the oldest residential neighborhood in Des Moines. Complex Victorian rooflines, turrets, and original slate or wood shake on some structures. Two things follow: the R908.3.1.1 recover prohibition almost always applies here because of the original covering material, and exterior work in a historic district may carry review requirements beyond the building code. We check both before quoting.
Drake and Waveland Park
Early 1900s to 1940sBungalows and foursquares with front dormers, deep eave overhangs and a high share of rental conversions near the university. Deferred maintenance is more common in this stock than elsewhere in the city, which means decking condition is a live question rather than a formality. We pull enough shingles to see the deck before we write a number, because finding rotten sheathing on tear off day is how a fixed price stops being fixed.
South of Grand
1900s to 1930s, larger homesBigger footprints, more roof planes, multiple chimneys and mature tree canopy overhanging the roof. Chimneys wider than 30 inches need a cricket on the uphill side, and that detail is skipped often enough that we specifically look for a missing one when we inspect. Heavy canopy also means more organic debris in valleys and a shorter practical maintenance interval.
Highland Park and Union Park
Early to mid century, north sideA mix of pre war housing and post war infill on the north side. This part of the city was in the strongest wind band of the 2020 derecho. When we inspect here we look hard at seal tab integrity, not just missing shingles, because that is where wind damage hides on a roof that looks fine.
Easter Lake and the southwestern hills
Post war ranches, 1950s to 1970sSimpler geometry, shallower pitches, and a lot of roofs that are now on their second or third covering. That last part is the important one. If two applications are already up there, code does not allow a third, and the honest answer is a tear off. This is also where low slope rear additions turn up, which pulls in the 2:12 and double underlayment rules.
Roofing And Exterior Services In Des Moines
Residential Roofing
stormStorm Damage Inspection
Free documented inspection after hail or high wind, with photographs and a written scope you own.
apartmentMulti-Family
Apartment, townhome and association roofing scheduled around occupancy and board approval timelines.
home_workSiding
The same hail that bruises a roof dents siding on the impact facing elevation. We look at both.
carpenterSoffit and Fascia
Intake ventilation lives in the soffit. Get it wrong and you get ice dams no shingle can prevent.
water_dropGutters and Gutter Guards
Seamless gutters and LeafX guards, sized for the roof area actually draining into them.
What Iowa Law Says About Roofers And Insurance Claims
After a hail event, Des Moines homeowners get door knocked by crews promising to handle the insurance claim, fight the adjuster, and make the deductible disappear. Every one of those promises is prohibited by Iowa law, and a homeowner who accepts one may end up with a contract that is not enforceable.
Iowa Code section 103A.71 governs residential contractors doing catastrophe repair work. Two of its rules apply to what a roofer is allowed to say, not just what a roofer is allowed to do:
A contractor may not advertise or promise to rebate any insurance deductible, including by way of an allowance or a discount against the price. And a contractor may not represent or negotiate on a homeowner's behalf on a roofing insurance claim, or advertise that it will. Under subsection 5 of that statute, a contract with a contractor who violates either rule is void, and under subsection 6 it is an unlawful practice under Iowa's consumer fraud law.
So when a stranger in your driveway offers to cover your deductible, that is not a favor. That is a contract you may not be bound by, offered by someone who either does not know Iowa law or is counting on you not knowing it.
What we do instead
- Inspect your roof at no charge and photograph what we find, so there is a dated record of the condition.
- Give you a written scope of work and an itemized estimate that belongs to you, not to us.
- Explain in plain language what the damage is, what the code requires, and what the manufacturer requires.
- Be on site when your adjuster inspects, to walk the roof and answer questions about our scope of work.
- Do the work to code and to manufacturer specification once you and your carrier have settled the claim.
What we will never do
- Offer to cover, rebate, waive or discount your deductible.
- Represent you or negotiate with your insurance company on your behalf.
- Ask you to sign over your claim benefits to us.
This is general information about Iowa law, not legal advice. Your policy and your claim are between you and your carrier.
From First Call To Final Cleanup
Free inspection
We get on the roof, not just look at it from the ground. Seal tab integrity, granule loss, flashing condition, valley condition, penetration boots, and the attic side for ventilation and moisture. Photographed throughout.
Written scope and estimate
You get an itemized document: tear off layers, deck repair allowance, ice barrier coverage, underlayment, shingle system, ventilation, flashing replacement, and cleanup. Line items, not a single number.
System and color selection
GAF or Owens Corning, with the warranty tier explained honestly. If an impact rated Class 4 shingle makes sense for your situation, we will tell you what it costs and you can ask your agent what the premium credit is worth.
Scheduling
Central Iowa roofing is weather dependent and we will not pretend otherwise. You get a realistic window, a heads up before material delivery, and a call if the forecast moves us.
Installation
Property protected, tear off to the deck, decking inspected and repaired where needed, ice barrier and underlayment per code, then the shingle system to manufacturer specification so the warranty is actually valid.
Cleanup and walkthrough
Magnetic sweep of the yard and drive, debris hauled, and a walkthrough with you before we leave. Then the warranty paperwork, registered with the manufacturer where the system qualifies.
What Our Customers Say
*****
[REVIEW TEXT - Byron R., hail and insurance claim. Pull verbatim from the live Reviews page before publish.]Byron R.
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[REVIEW TEXT - Tammy B. Pull verbatim from the live Reviews page before publish.]Tammy B.
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[REVIEW TEXT - Brad S. Pull verbatim from the live Reviews page before publish.]Brad S.
We Work The Whole Des Moines Metro
Des Moines is the center of what we do, but the housing stock and the storm patterns change as you move out from it. Each of these communities has its own page.
Des Moines Roofing Questions
Do I need a building permit to replace my roof in Des Moines?
No. The City of Des Moines Permit and Development Center states that reroofing does not require a building permit. A permit is required only if sheathing or rafters are repaired or replaced. Many homeowners are told otherwise, so it is worth knowing before a contractor adds a permit line to your estimate.
Can I shingle over my existing roof in Des Moines?
Often not. Under IRC R908.3.1.1 as adopted by Des Moines, a roof recover is not permitted where the existing roof is water soaked or deteriorated, where the existing covering is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos cement tile, where the roof already has two or more applications of any covering, or where the manufacturer prohibits recover. In much of the older Des Moines housing stock at least one of those conditions applies, which means a full tear off.
Is ice and water shield required on a Des Moines roof?
Yes. Des Moines requires an ice barrier consisting of two cemented layers of underlayment or a self adhering polymer modified bitumen sheet, running from the lowest edge of the roof to a point not less than 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. On roofs of 8 in 12 or steeper the barrier must also extend at least 36 inches measured along the slope from the eave edge, which affects a large share of the steep pitched homes in Beaverdale and Sherman Hill.
Will Action Roofing handle my insurance claim for me?
No, and no Iowa roofer legally can. Iowa Code section 103A.71 prohibits a residential contractor from representing or negotiating on a homeowner's behalf on a roofing insurance claim, or even advertising that it will. What we do instead is inspect the roof, document the damage with photographs, give you a written scope and estimate, and be on site during your adjuster's inspection to walk the roof and answer questions about our scope. You remain the party who deals with your carrier.
Should a roofer offer to cover my insurance deductible?
No. Iowa Code section 103A.71 prohibits a residential contractor from advertising or promising to rebate an insurance deductible, including through allowances or discounts. Under subsection 5 of that statute, a contract with a contractor who does so is void. If a roofer knocking your door after a storm offers to make your deductible disappear, that offer has just made your contract unenforceable.
How long does an asphalt roof last in central Iowa?
Shorter than the number printed on the wrapper. Central Iowa combines summer hail, straight line wind, and roughly a hundred freeze and thaw cycles a year, and that combination ages a roof faster than the manufacturer's test conditions. Most three tab roofs in the Des Moines metro reach the end of useful life somewhere between fifteen and twenty years, and architectural laminates typically run twenty to twenty five. Storm history matters more than age alone.
How soon after a storm should I have my Des Moines roof inspected?
Within a few weeks if a hail or high wind event moved through your neighborhood. Hail bruising and lifted sealant strips are usually invisible from the ground, and the longer the gap between the storm and the inspection the harder it becomes to establish when the damage occurred. An inspection costs nothing and creates a dated photographic record.
Get A Free Des Moines Roof Inspection
No cost, no obligation, and you keep the photographs and the written scope whether you hire us or not. Twenty plus years in central Iowa, from a shop you can drive to in Norwalk.
Request Your Free Estimate Call (515) 202-2173