Pricing guide
What roofing costs in Des Moines
Des Moines houses come in a few standard shapes — the east-side ranch, the Beaverdale bungalow, the Ankeny two-story, the Glen Oaks hip roof — and each has a fairly predictable price. This page prices them, then explains why two quotes on the same house can be $4,000 apart. Typical ranges, not a quote.
The short version
- A repair visit: $300–$1,500
- An architectural shingle roof, torn off and rebuilt: $450–$750 per square (100 sq ft)
- Most Des Moines homes: $9,000–$20,000
- Standing-seam steel: two to three times shingles
Replacement cost by the kind of house you have
Roof replacement cost in Des Moines tracks the house type more than the square footage on the listing, because pitch, dormers and layers matter as much as size.
| The house | Roof | Architectural shingles | Standing-seam steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s east-side or Urbandale ranch, one plain gable, 1,000 sq ft | 14 – 17 squares | $9,000 – $12,000 | $17,000 – $30,000 |
| 1920s–40s Beaverdale or Drake bungalow, steep, a dormer, often two layers, 1,400 sq ft | 18 – 22 squares | $10,000 – $16,000 | $22,000 – $40,000 |
| 2000s Ankeny, Waukee or Grimes two-story, 1,800 sq ft | 22 – 28 squares | $11,000 – $20,000 | $27,000 – $50,000 |
| 2010s Johnston or Jordan Creek two-story with a cut-up roof, 2,400 sq ft | 28 – 34 squares | $14,000 – $25,000 | $34,000 – $60,000 |
| Glen Oaks or Woodland Hills hip roof with several dormers, 3,500 sq ft | 40 – 55 squares | $20,000 – $38,000 | $48,000 – $95,000 |
Those shingle prices include tear-off, synthetic underlayment, ice-and-water membrane at the eaves to Iowa's code line and in every valley, new flashing and boots, ridge vent, the permit and cleanup. Anything that leaves one of those out is not comparable.
Repair prices
| Job | Des Moines range |
|---|---|
| Pipe boot with surrounding shingles | $250 – $450 |
| Wind-lifted or missing shingles, small area | $300 – $800 |
| Ice dam steam removal | $400 – $1,000 |
| Skylight flashing kit | $400 – $900 |
| Dormer or wall step flashing | $450 – $1,100 |
| Valley re-lay with membrane | $500 – $1,200 |
| Ridge vent cut into an existing roof | $500 – $900 |
| Chimney step and counter-flashing | $600 – $1,500 |
| Emergency tarp after a storm | $300 – $700 |
| Decking, per 4x8 sheet | $90 – $150 |
On a roof past 18 years, a repair bill approaching $2,500 is where we lay the replacement numbers next to it.
Shingle, Class 4, or steel
| Material | Per square | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Three-tab shingle | about 15% under architectural | Not recommended for Iowa wind |
| Architectural shingle, Class H/F wind rating | $450 – $750 | The standard metro roof |
| Class 4 impact-rated architectural | add $30 – $80 | Resists dime-to-quarter hail; insurer discounts common |
| Exposed-fastener steel panel | $700 – $1,200 | Acreages, outbuildings, simple gables |
| Standing-seam steel | $1,100 – $1,800 | Fifty-year roof; no more hail claims |
Why two quotes on the same house differ by $4,000
The house is a 1930s bungalow in Beaverdale with a steep roof and two layers of shingles. One quote is $11,500 and one is $15,800. Neither roofer is lying; they are pricing different jobs.
The lower quote probably assumes one layer and no decking work, uses felt instead of synthetic underlayment, runs ice-and-water membrane one course instead of to the code line, reuses the chimney flashing, and either leaves the permit out or didn't check that the pitch needs staging. The higher one has looked in the attic, seen the plank decking with two-inch gaps, priced sheeting it over at $1,500–$3,000, added $1,000–$2,500 for the second layer's labor and dump fees, added 10–20% for the pitch, and put a per-sheet allowance for rot on the page.
The same thing happens in the suburbs for different reasons: a Johnston two-story with four valleys, two skylights and a chimney chase is a day more flashing work than the same square footage under a plain gable, and a lot near Sherman Hill with no place to park a trailer costs labor that a Waukee driveway doesn't.
Lines that should be on the page
A roof estimate Des Moines homeowners can compare has all of these: tear-off, not roof-over; underlayment type; ice-and-water membrane to 24 inches inside the wall line and in valleys; a named shingle product and wind rating; six nails per shingle; a decking allowance per sheet; new flashing; ventilation; the permit; and both warranties in years. Our guide on what a roof replacement costs in Des Moines goes line by line, and questions to ask a Des Moines roofing contractor covers the conversation around it.
Who pays
If hail or wind did it, your insurer pays replacement cost or actual cash value minus the deductible; the storm damage page explains the Iowa rules, including why no contractor may offer to cover that deductible. If the roof simply wore out, roof financing in Des Moines runs through manufacturer-backed programs at 12–60 months, and a home equity line is usually cheaper on a $15,000 roof. We'll give you numbers for both and leave the decision with you.
Services
Roof Repair
Leaks at flashing, boots and valleys, wind-lifted shingles, soft decking — found from the attic, fixed with a written price. Most jobs $300–$1,500.
Roof Repair →Roof Replacement
Full tear-off, decking check, synthetic underlayment, ice-and-water at the eaves, wind-rated architectural shingles. One to two days, $9,000–$20,000 on most homes.
Roof Replacement →Storm Damage & Claims
Hail, derecho and wind damage documented from the roof, tarped if needed, and written up in a scope your adjuster can follow. No deductible games.
Storm Damage & Claims →Ice Dam Repair
Steam removal of the dam, repair of the damage underneath, and the attic air-sealing and ventilation work that stops it coming back next January.
Ice Dam Repair →Roof Inspection
A walked inspection with photos and a written report — for buying a house, filing a claim, or finding out how many winters the roof has left.
Roof Inspection →Questions we get asked
What does a new roof cost on an 1,800 sq ft house in Des Moines?
Plan on 22–28 squares, which is $11,000–$20,000 in architectural shingles with a full tear-off and $27,000–$50,000 in standing-seam steel. A plain gable on a ranch-style layout sits at the low end; a two-story with dormers, valleys and a steep pitch reaches the high end.
When is a repair a waste of money?
When the roof is past about 18 years and the problems are spread out — granule loss on every slope, hail bruises on more than one, two layers already up, or a third repair in two years. A single pipe boot or valley on a 12-year-old roof is always a repair. Between those, we show you both prices.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. Repair and replacement estimates are free and in writing, from the roof and the attic, not the driveway. A formal inspection report for a real estate transaction is $150–$300 and is credited if we do the work. A roofer who charges to quote a replacement is charging you to sit through a pitch.
Need roof work in Des Moines?
Call for a free estimate. Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.