Harvard sits in open McHenry County farm country, about seven miles south of the Wisconsin line, and storms cross a lot of open ground before they reach town. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding inspects Harvard roofs for hail damage at no charge, photographs every hit, and tells you plainly whether you need a repair, a new roof or nothing at all. Call (815) 624-6278 any hour. If water is coming in, we can tarp within 24 hours.
Three Kinds of Harvard Houses, Three Kinds of Hail Damage
Harvard was laid out along the Chicago and North Western railroad in 1856 and now sits at the end of Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest line. Its houses reflect each chapter. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the median home at 1980, with about 18% built before 1940, about 27% from 1950 through 1979, and about 36% from 1990 through 2009.
Railroad era homes near the Five Points
Around Ayer Street and the Five Points, older two stories can carry two or three generations of shingles. The top layer on a stacked roof does not sit tight to the deck, so a hailstone can crack it more easily, and the damage hides among years of patches. On these houses we count layers, check the chimney and dormer flashing for dents, and look from the attic for fresh daylight or damp boards.
Postwar ranches
The ranches from the 1950s through the 1970s have long, low slopes and can be on a third roof by now. Low pitch means water lingers on bare spots where hail knocked off granules. We check the full field of the roof and the vent stacks, which take direct hits on a flat approach.
Commuter subdivisions
Houses from the 1990s and 2000s went up as Harvard grew. Many still wear original shingles that are now 20 to 30 years old, and shingles that age can have weak seal strips and stiff asphalt. Hail on those roofs tends to leave bruises and broken seals rather than missing shingles, which is why it is easy to miss and worth checking.
Farmhouses and Outbuildings in the Townships
Across Chemung, Dunham and Alden townships, a hailstorm hits the house, the garage and the barn or machine shed at once. When we inspect a farm property, we can look at every roof on the place and give you one set of photos. Shingle roofs get the same slope by slope check as a house in town. Metal roofs on outbuildings can dent; we point out which dents are only cosmetic and which have bent a seam or loosened a fastener. We install metal roofs too, so if a shed or barn roof is done, we can price it alongside the house.
Planning the Visit From Roscoe
Harvard jobs are run from our office at 11704 Main St in Roscoe, about 38 minutes away, and we answer the phone 24/7. If there is an active leak, tell us when you call so we can put a tarp on within 24 hours and come back for the full repair.
Shared Roofs and Rentals
About a third of Harvard homes are not detached houses, and about 40% of occupied homes are rented. For a duplex or small apartment building, we inspect the whole roof, not just the half above the person who called, and send the same photos and written findings to each owner or to the landlord.
Repair or a New Roof
If the hits are limited and the roof is sound, we repair them with matched shingles and new flashing or vent covers where metal was dented. If most slopes are bruised, or a stacked roof already has two or three layers, replacement is usually the better long term choice. We tear everything off to the deck, replace any soft boards, install ice and water shield on every eave and put on a full GAF system. GAF Class 4 impact resistant shingles are an option for a roof that handles hail better. Most roofs are done in a day, and payments run as low as $149/month for qualified buyers.
A qualifying roof can carry lifetime GAF coverage with up to 30 years on workmanship (GAF eligibility rules apply). See our GAF warranty page.
Siding on the Storm Side
Hail that marks the roof can crack vinyl or chip siding on the wall that faced the storm. We replace damaged boards or sections, never patch them with sealant or filler. Martin is a Certified James Hardie Installer and leads with Hardie fiber cement; vinyl is the other main option. See Harvard siding.
Why Harvard Homeowners Call Martin
- GAF Master Elite (fewer than 2% of roofing contractors) with 2-Star President’s Club recognition.
- Since 2006, we have helped thousands of Rockford-area homeowners through roof claims. See how roof claims work.
- CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster and 5-Star Contractor.
- Best Roofer 6 Years Running and an Inc. 5000 company.
- Free inspections for everyone, and the phone is answered 24/7.
More for Harvard
See our Harvard roofing page and Harvard roof repair for leaks and limb strikes. For storms in general, read hail damage repair and wind damage repair. West of town, see hail damage roof repair in Poplar Grove. Book a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Harvard Hail Damage FAQ
Why does hail crack the top layer on older Harvard roofs so easily?
When shingles are stacked two or three layers deep, the top layer does not sit tight to the deck. It has less support under a strike, so it can crack where a single layer might only bruise.
Can you inspect the barn and machine shed along with the house?
Yes. On farm properties in Chemung, Dunham and Alden townships we can inspect every roof on the place and give you one set of photos and written findings.
Do hail dents on a metal outbuilding roof need repair?
Not always. Many dents are cosmetic. A dent that bends a seam or loosens a fastener can leak, and we point those out in the photos.
How far is your office from Harvard?
Our Roscoe office at 11704 Main St is about 38 minutes away. If water is coming in after a storm, we can tarp within 24 hours.
My Harvard home was built in the 2000s. What hail damage should I watch for?
Bruised shingles and broken seal strips, which rarely show from the ground. Look for dented vents and granules at the downspouts, then book a free inspection.
