Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding inspects and repairs hail-damaged roofs in Delavan, WI, from the older blocks near downtown to the cottages around Delavan Lake. The inspection is free, you get a photo of every hit we find, and the work runs out of our Roscoe office at 11704 Main St. Call (815) 624-6278. We answer 24/7.
Hail on Delavan’s Older In-Town Roofs
Delavan’s housing skews older than most of the Stateline. Census estimates put the median home in the city at 1968. About 24% of homes were built before 1940 and about 41% before 1960, many of them on the streets around Tower Park and Walworth Avenue.
That age changes what hail does. A shingle that has baked through decades of summers is stiffer, so a hailstone that would only scuff a newer roof can fracture it. Many of these houses also carry a second layer of shingles. When the top layer takes a hit over an older layer, the bruise has less support under it, and a soft spot can open into a leak sooner. Board decking on the oldest houses adds another check: we look for split planks under the worst-hit area before deciding on a patch.
For leaks that have nothing to do with a storm, such as worn chimney flashing or an old tar patch, see roof repair in Delavan.
Lake Homes Under the Trees
Around Delavan Lake the roofs are a different story. Lots are wooded, roofs sit in shade, and many places are empty for weeks at a time. After a hailstorm, those roofs often take two kinds of damage at once: the hail itself, and limbs or debris knocked loose by the same storm.
Shade makes hail harder to read. Moss and needles hide bruises and granule loss, so we clear a test area on each slope before we judge it. Low-slope porch and three-season-room roofs get their own look, because they use a different roofing system than the main roof and they wear differently under impact.
Signs Hail Hit Your Delavan Roof
- Random dark spots on the shingles. Hail knocks granules off in a scattered pattern, not in neat lines the way normal wear does.
- Fractured or soft tabs. Older shingles can crack outright. Newer ones feel spongy where the mat was crushed.
- Split ridge caps. The ridge sits highest and takes some of the hardest hits.
- Dings in roof vents, chimney caps and the AC unit. Soft metal shows impact long before shingles do, and you can see much of it from the yard.
- Fresh marks on decks, fences and patio furniture. Clean spatter marks on weathered surfaces show where the hail landed and which way it came from.
- Cracked vinyl or chipped fiber cement siding on the side that faced the storm.
If you see any of these, book a roof inspection or use our free inspection form. Please stay off the roof yourself.
When You’re Not at the Lake After a Storm
Plenty of Delavan Lake owners hear about a storm from a neighbor or the news, not from looking at their own roof. If that’s you, here is the simple version:
- Call us from wherever you are. (815) 624-6278 is answered 24/7. Tell us the address, how to reach the property, and whether anyone has seen water inside.
- We inspect the roof and the attic when we can get in. We check every slope, the flashing, the vents and the porch roofs.
- You get the photos and a written plan. We send them to you, so you can decide on repair or replacement without driving up first.
- If water is coming in, we can tarp within 24 hours. A tarp keeps the next rain out until the permanent repair is on the schedule.
Condos, Townhomes and Shared Roofs
Only about half of Delavan homes are detached houses. The rest are condos, townhomes and apartment buildings, many of them run by an association. After hail, we photograph each building and each slope on its own and put the findings in writing, so the owners or the board can see the same facts and decide together.
Repair Now, or a New Roof Built for the Next Storm
A repair makes sense when the hits are limited to one area and the shingles around them still lie flat. When whole slopes are bruised, the roof already has two layers, or the shingles were near the end of their life before the storm, a new roof is usually the better choice. You see the photos either way.
If you replace, GAF shingles are our lead line, and Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are an option many Stateline homeowners choose after a bad hail season. They are rated for impact resistance and hold up better to hail than standard asphalt. Ice and water shield goes on every eave. Most roofs are done in a day, which helps when you are driving up from out of town to meet us. More on roof replacement.
Did the Siding Take Hits Too?
Hail that reaches the roof usually reaches the walls on the storm side. We fix damaged siding by replacing the boards or sections that took the hits, never by filling or sealing them. We lead with James Hardie fiber cement as a Certified James Hardie Installer, and we install vinyl siding too. See Delavan siding for the details.
Why Delavan Homeowners Choose Martin
Martin Exteriors is a GAF Master Elite contractor, a status GAF gives to fewer than 2% of roofing contractors. As a Master Elite contractor, we can offer a 50-year GAF warranty with up to 30 years on workmanship on qualifying roofs (GAF eligibility rules apply). We also hold 2-Star President’s Club recognition. We are a four-time Inc. 5000 company (2021 to 2024), and we were voted What Rocks Rockford Best Roofer, 6 years running (2020 to 2025). Our family has been serving your family since 2006. Financing is available, as low as $149/month for qualified buyers.
More for Delavan
Start with our Delavan roofing page, see Delavan roof repair for everyday leaks, and siding in Delavan if the walls need work. Our sitewide hail damage repair, wind damage repair and storm damage repair pages go deeper. Nearby, we also serve Elkhorn and Lake Geneva. Book a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278. Nearby, see hail damage roof repair in Elkhorn.
Delavan Hail Damage FAQ
Can hail damage a Delavan Lake cottage roof without anyone noticing?
Yes. Bruised shingles and lost granules rarely leak at first, and a place that sits empty can take water for weeks before anyone walks in. If you are away, call (815) 624-6278. We inspect the roof and attic and send you the photos.
Does a second layer of shingles change how hail affects my Delavan roof?
It can. A top layer over an older layer has less support under each hit, so bruises can open into leaks sooner. We check how many layers are on the roof and look at the decking under the worst-hit area before recommending a repair.
Is a hail damage inspection in Delavan free?
Yes. Roof inspections are free for everyone, in town or at the lake. You get photos of what we find and a written plan for repair or replacement.
What kind of new roof holds up better to hail in Delavan?
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are rated for impact and hold up better to hail than standard asphalt. GAF is our lead shingle line, and our Master Elite status means a qualifying GAF roof can carry up to a 50-year GAF warranty with up to 30 years on workmanship (GAF eligibility rules apply).
How do you fix hail-damaged siding on a Delavan home?
We replace the boards or sections that took the hits. We never fill or seal hail damage. We lead with James Hardie fiber cement and also install vinyl siding.
