Clinton covers less than a square mile and a half, so when hail falls on the village it usually falls on everyone’s roof at once. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding is about 25 minutes south in Roscoe, and we inspect Clinton roofs for hail damage free of charge, with photos of each hit and a written plan. Call (815) 624-6278, day or night. If the storm opened a leak, we can tarp within 24 hours.
A Prewar Village Core With Newer Edges
For half a century Clinton barely changed size. The decennial Census counted 856 residents in 1890 and 903 in 1940, and the village only grew past 2,000 around the turn of this century. Those decades left a lot of older houses. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the median Clinton home at 1969, with about 27% built before 1940 and about a third from 1950 through 1979.
Hail treats those two groups differently. On the prewar houses near downtown, the roof is often steep, with chimneys, dormers and porch roofs tied into the main slopes, and it may have been reroofed several times. On the ranches and split levels from the postwar years and the 1980s, the roof is plainer, but the shingles can be older than they look from the road.
Clues Around a Clinton House After Hail
- Porch roofs. Low porch and entry roofs on older houses take hail almost flat. Look for dark spots where granules came off.
- Chimney caps and flashing. Soft metal around old brick chimneys dents and can pull away from the mortar.
- Downspout outlets. A spill of shingle grit at the bottom after a storm means the roof shed granules.
- Siding on the storm side. Cracked vinyl or chipped siding on one wall points to the direction the hail came from.
Stay on the ground. Take photos of what you see and call us; we check the roof and the attic and photograph the shingles up close.
Farm Country on Every Side
Outside the village, the Town of Clinton is open farm ground, near the old Norwegian Jefferson Prairie Settlement, and Highway 140 runs north through it toward I-43. Homes at the edge of the village face open fields, so wind driven hail can land hardest on the slopes facing them. On homes at the edge of town we pay extra attention to those exposed faces and to ridge caps, which crack along the fold.
If you are on a farm property outside the village, we can look at the house and any shingle roofed garage or outbuilding in the same visit and give you one set of photos.
Duplexes and Apartment Buildings
Roughly 3 in 10 Clinton homes are in duplexes and apartment buildings. On a shared roof, damage often does not stop at the property line. We inspect the whole roof and send the same written findings to each owner, so nobody is guessing about the other half.
Repair the Damage or Replace the Roof
We repair hail damage when it is limited and the roof is sound: matched shingles, new vent covers or flashing, and a check of the deck below. When most slopes are bruised, or an older roof already has two layers, replacement usually makes more sense. Then we tear off to the deck, replace soft boards, put ice and water shield on every eave and install a full GAF system. GAF Class 4 impact resistant shingles are an option for better hail resistance. Most roofs are done in a day. Payments run as low as $149/month for qualified buyers.
As a GAF Master Elite contractor, a status fewer than 2% of roofing contractors hold, we can offer lifetime GAF coverage on a qualifying roof, with up to 30 years on workmanship (GAF eligibility rules apply). See our GAF warranty page.
Siding Damage
We fix hail damaged siding by replacing the broken boards or sections, never with sealant. Martin is a Certified James Hardie Installer, and Hardie fiber cement is our first choice, with vinyl as the other main option. See Clinton siding.
Why Clinton Homeowners Call Martin
- Since 2006, we have helped thousands of homeowners across the Stateline.
- GAF Master Elite with 2-Star President’s Club recognition.
- CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster and 5-Star Contractor.
- Best Roofer 6 Years Running and an Inc. 5000 company.
- About 25 minutes away in Roscoe, open 24/7, with free inspections for everyone.
More for Clinton
Our Clinton roofing page covers everything we do in the village, and Clinton roof repair handles leaks that are not storm related. For more on storms, see hail damage repair and storm damage repair. Nearby, read about hail damage roof repair in Beloit and hail damage roof repair in Janesville. Book a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Clinton Hail Damage FAQ
Hail hit my whole street in Clinton. Can you inspect several houses?
Yes. Each homeowner gets a free inspection and their own photos and written plan, even when the same storm hit the whole block.
Why do the porch roofs on older Clinton houses show hail first?
Porch and entry roofs are low and fairly flat, so hail hits them nearly straight on. Bare spots there can be the first visible sign of damage.
My home is at the edge of the village. Is it more exposed to hail?
It can be. With open farm ground beside it, wind driven hail can hit the slopes facing the fields harder. We check those faces and the ridge caps closely.
Can hail damage show up as a leak months later?
Yes. A bruised shingle can hold through a few rains, then crack after freeze and thaw cycles. That is why we suggest a free inspection soon after the storm, even if nothing is dripping yet.
How far away is your office from Clinton?
Our office at 11704 Main St in Roscoe is about 25 minutes away. Call (815) 624-6278 any time, and we can tarp within 24 hours if water is getting in.
