Residential roofing covers everything from a full tear-off and replacement to storm damage repair, shingle patching, flashing work around chimneys and skylights, and ventilation upgrades in the attic. Madison's freeze-thaw cycles, ice dams, and summer hail put real stress on roofs here, so the work isn't just about laying shingles. A contractor also has to get the underlayment, flashing, and ventilation right, or you'll be dealing with leaks and premature wear within a few years.
When you're comparing the 7 businesses in this category, look past the sales pitch and check a few concrete things: are they licensed and carrying both liability and workers' comp insurance, do they pull permits and schedule inspections, and will they put material brand, warranty terms, and cleanup responsibilities in writing before work starts. Ask how they handle unexpected deck damage found once the old roof comes off, since that's where vague contracts turn into change-order headaches. A crew that's been doing roofs in Dane County for years will also know the local permit process and typical wind and snow-load requirements, which matters more than a low bid.
Our scoring weighs licensing and insurance status, warranty coverage, responsiveness, and the pattern of feedback across jobs, not just a single star average. For the full rundown with scores and side-by-side notes on each of the 7 contractors, see our ranked guide to the best roofing contractors in Madison. If you want to understand exactly how we calculate those rankings, our methodology page breaks down every factor we use.
