Your Trusted Exterior Contractor in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is Iowa's capital, and it has the most diverse housing stock in the entire metro. Every neighborhood tells a different story, and we have worked in enough of them to understand exactly what each one demands. In Beaverdale, you will find rows of charming 1940s bungalows with original cedar shake roofs that are decades past their useful life. The siding on these homes has been patched and painted so many times that moisture is getting behind the panels. We do full roofing replacements with modern architectural shingles and proper ice-and-water shield underlayment, then install fiber cement or vinyl siding that will actually last another 30 years in this climate.
Sherman Hill is a different challenge entirely. It is a designated historic district, which means renovation work has to respect the character and architectural details of these century-old homes. You cannot just throw up any material. We work carefully on siding, roofing, and interior painting projects in Sherman Hill to preserve what makes these homes special while still protecting the structure from Iowa's brutal weather. Over in East Village, it is a similar mix. historic homes alongside modern infill, where kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling bring outdated floor plans into the current era without destroying the original charm.
The Ingersoll area is full of established homes from the 1920s through the 1950s that are solid but showing their age. Gutters that have failed, exterior paint peeling off the wood trim, and basements begging to be finished into usable living space. Along the South Side, the needs are even more straightforward. Affordable homes from the 1950s through 1970s often require complete exterior overhauls with roofing, siding, gutters, and concrete all at once. The original driveways and sidewalks have cracked and heaved after decades of Central Iowa freeze-thaw punishment, where a single Iowa winter can cycle above and below freezing dozens of times.
Storm damage is another reality of owning a home in Des Moines. Hail and straight-line wind events hit the metro hard, and we respond fast with emergency roof tarping and full storm damage repairs. Beyond the exterior, basement finishing is one of our most popular interior projects across Des Moines. Older homes with dry, empty basements are sitting on hundreds of square feet of unused space. We frame, drywall, and paint those lower levels into family rooms, home offices, and guest suites. Our painting crews also stay busy refreshing interiors all over the city.
We are based just up I-35 in Ankeny, which puts us about 15 minutes from most Des Moines neighborhoods. We know this city block by block, and we know what it takes to keep these homes standing strong against everything Iowa weather throws at them.
- Family-owned, based just minutes away in Ankeny
- Fully licensed and insured in Iowa
- Free, no-pressure estimates
- 24/7 emergency storm damage response
Des Moines Roofing Contractor. Historic Homes, Complex Roofs, Real Work.
Des Moines has the most complex roofing landscape in the metro. Beaverdale's 1920s and 1940s brick bungalows have steep-pitched, multi-gabled roofs that require experienced hands for tear-off and reinstall. Sherman Hill Victorians and turn-of-the-century Prairie-style homes have intricate flashing, dormers, and tower details that most roofers cannot handle. South of Grand Craftsman and Colonial Revival homes have deeper eaves, integrated gutters, and cedar shake originals that have often been replaced with asphalt over the decades. Highland Park and Capitol East mix pre-1940 stock with newer builds. Meanwhile, East Village and northeast Des Moines have newer subdivisions with simpler asphalt roofs on standard pitches.
What that mix means: Des Moines roofing is not a one-size job. Historic homes need contractors who understand steep-pitch safety, complex flashing, custom drip edge, and matching the visual character of the neighborhood. Some Des Moines historic districts have design review boards that must approve exterior work, including roofing color and material. We handle the historic district paperwork and know which neighborhoods require it (Sherman Hill, Owl's Head, parts of Woodland Heights). See our full roof replacement process for how we handle historic work.
Storm exposure in Des Moines is real. Central Iowa hail moves through the city regularly, and the mature tree canopy in older neighborhoods adds an urban impact-damage dimension you do not see in newer suburbs. Wind-blown limbs during severe weather punch small holes that leak weeks later. See our storm damage roof repair process if a storm hit your neighborhood, and schedule a free inspection if you are not sure.
Cost range for Des Moines roof replacement is wider than the suburbs because the housing stock is so varied. A standard asphalt replacement on a 1980s ranch in Beaverdale runs $8,000 to $12,000. A steeper-pitched Victorian in Sherman Hill or a multi-gabled Craftsman in South of Grand can run $15,000 to $30,000+ depending on flashing complexity, dormers, and material. Metal roof jobs and cedar shake replacements go higher. We give you a firm written quote before any work starts. The City of Des Moines requires a building permit for roof replacement and requires the contractor to be registered.
Small repairs handle a lot of Des Moines calls too. Failed vent boots on 1990s stock, chimney flashing on older brick homes, ice dam damage from bad winters, missing shingles after wind. We tell you honestly whether a repair or a replacement is the right call. See the full list of roof repair jobs we handle.
See All Roofing Services in Des Moines →Services We Provide in Des Moines, Iowa
From your roof to your kitchen, Black Ridge handles it all, inside and out, for Des Moines homeowners.
Roofing in Des Moines
New roofs, replacements, storm damage repair, and inspections for Des Moines homeowners.
Learn about roofing →
Siding in Des Moines
Vinyl, fiber cement, and engineered wood siding to protect and beautify your Des Moines home.
Explore siding options →
Gutters in Des Moines
Gutter installation, repair, and guards to protect your Des Moines home's foundation.
See gutter solutions →
Concrete in Des Moines
Driveways, sidewalks, patios, and steps for Des Moines homes. Removal and replacement.
Get a concrete quote →
Kitchen Remodeling in Des Moines
Cabinets, countertops, flooring, and full kitchen renovations for Des Moines homeowners.
Plan your kitchen remodel →
Bathroom Remodeling in Des Moines
Showers, tile, vanities, and complete bathroom redesigns for Des Moines homes.
Start your bathroom remodel →
Basement Finishing in Des Moines
Turn unused space into living space. Framing, drywall, flooring, and full buildouts.
Explore basement options →
Interior Painting in Des Moines
Walls, ceilings, trim, and cabinets. Clean lines and a fresh look for your Des Moines home.
Get a painting estimate →Questions Des Moines Homeowners Ask Us
Yes. The City of Des Moines requires a building permit for roof replacement, and the contractor must have proper Iowa licensing. If your home is in a designated historic district like Sherman Hill or Owl's Head, additional design review may apply for exterior work. We handle the permit and any historic district paperwork as part of the job.
A standard asphalt roof replacement on a 1980s ranch in Beaverdale runs $8,000 to $12,000. A steeper-pitched Victorian in Sherman Hill or a multi-gabled Craftsman in South of Grand can run $15,000 to $30,000+ depending on flashing complexity, dormers, and material choice. Cost range is wider in Des Moines than the suburbs because the housing stock is so varied.
Yes. Historic Des Moines homes need contractors who understand steep-pitch safety, complex flashing, custom drip edge, and matching the visual character of the neighborhood. Beaverdale bungalows, Sherman Hill Victorians, and South of Grand Craftsman homes each have their own roofing quirks and we work them all regularly.
Sometimes. Several Des Moines neighborhoods (Sherman Hill, Owl's Head, parts of Woodland Heights) are locally designated historic districts with design review boards that must approve exterior work, including roofing material and color. If your home falls under one, we prepare the submission and coordinate the review. If you are not sure, tell us the address during your free estimate and we will confirm.
Roofing (new construction, replacements, storm damage repair, and inspections), siding installation (vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood), gutter services (installation, repair, guards), concrete work (driveways, sidewalks, patios, steps), and interior remodeling (kitchens, bathrooms, basement finishing, interior painting) throughout Des Moines, IA.
Call us at (515) 219-4654 or fill out our online form. We schedule a free, no-obligation visit to your Des Moines property, inspect the work needed, and provide a clear written quote usually within 24 hours.