Delavan has a long history, and many of its houses do too. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding replaces roofs in the City of Delavan and around Delavan Lake from our Roscoe office, and we have been roofing since 2006. We are a GAF Master Elite contractor, a status GAF gives to fewer than 2% of roofing contractors. Your inspection is free. Call (815) 624-6278; the phone is answered 24/7.
From Circus Town to Lake Town
Delavan was settled in the 1830s by the Phoenix brothers. From 1847 to 1894 it was winter quarters for more than two dozen circuses, and P.T. Barnum’s circus was founded here in 1871. The Wisconsin School for the Deaf opened in 1852 on land west of downtown, the Bradley Knitting Company brought factory jobs in 1904, and Delavan Lake grew into a summer resort for Chicago families after the 1870s.
That long history shows in the housing. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the median home in the City of Delavan at 1968. About 24% of homes were built before 1940, and roughly 41% were standing by 1960. The Census counted 8,505 residents in 2020.
Older Houses in Town
On the blocks around Walworth Avenue and the older neighborhoods near downtown, many houses are a century old or close to it. Many have been reroofed more than once, and each round can leave something behind:
- Board sheathing. Older houses were sheathed with boards, often with gaps between them. Soft or split boards are replaced, and where needed we add a solid layer so new nails hold.
- Several layers. An older home can have two or three roofs stacked up. All of it comes off.
- Dormers, porches and chimneys. Each one means flashing, and on old houses that flashing can be a patch on a patch. We install new metal.
- Attics that never breathed. Ventilation was an afterthought when many of these homes were built. We add balanced intake and exhaust; see attic ventilation.
Duplexes and Smaller Rentals
Only about half of the homes in the City of Delavan are detached houses, and about 11% are attached single family homes. If you own a duplex or a rental in town, we can schedule around tenants, send you photos instead of asking you to be there, and give you a written estimate you can keep for your records.
Lake Homes and Absentee Owners
Around Delavan Lake, some owners only get to the house on weekends or in summer. We can inspect without you, send photos of every slope and the attic, and walk through the estimate by phone. Most roofs are done in a day, so a replacement usually means one trip to the lake at most. Shaded lots get extra attention at the eaves and valleys, where damp wood hides under old shingles.
What Goes On Your Roof
Every Martin replacement is a full tear off to the deck, wood repairs, ice and water shield on every eave and in the valleys, a complete GAF system from underlayment to ridge cap, new flashing and a magnet sweep of the yard. We lead with GAF Timberline shingles; Class 4 impact resistant shingles and metal roofing are available on request. Martin is a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster as well. We install year round.
Warranty and Financing
Qualifying roofs can carry a lifetime GAF warranty with up to 30 years on workmanship (GAF eligibility rules apply). Our GAF warranty page has the details. Financing is available as low as $149/month for qualified buyers; see financing options.
Why Delavan Homeowners Choose Martin
- GAF Master Elite with 2-Star President’s Club recognition.
- CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster and CertainTeed 5-Star Contractor.
- Best Roofer 6 Years Running, Inc. 5000 Company.
- Hundreds of roofs every year, and thousands of homeowners helped since 2006.
- Free inspections and photos sent wherever you are.
More for Delavan
See our Delavan roofing page, roof repair in Delavan, hail damage roof repair in Delavan and Delavan siding. Nearby, read about roof replacement in Elkhorn and roof replacement in Lake Geneva, or see a GAF Timberline HDZ roof in Lake Geneva. For the full service, see roof replacement. Book a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Delavan Roof Replacement FAQ
I am not at my Delavan Lake house most weeks. Can you replace the roof without me there?
Yes. We inspect, send photos of every slope and the attic, and go over the estimate by phone. Most roofs are done in a day, and we send photos of the finished roof.
What can turn up under the shingles on older houses in town?
Older houses can have board sheathing, more than one old layer and patched flashing around dormers and chimneys. We replace bad boards and show you photos before the new roof goes on.
Can you work around my tenants?
Yes. We schedule with you, let tenants know what to expect, and keep the yard clear and swept at the end of the day.
Do you serve the City of Delavan and the lake?
Both. The same office, phone number and roof system cover homes in town and around Delavan Lake.
How do I reach Martin from Delavan?
Call (815) 624-6278. It rings our Roscoe office and is answered 24/7.
