A new roof in Harvard has to stand up to wind off open farm fields and a long McHenry County winter, and on many older houses it also has to fix what earlier reroofs left behind. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding is a GAF Master Elite contractor, a status held by fewer than 2% of roofing contractors. Most roofs are done in a day, and every job starts with a free inspection. Call (815) 624-6278 to set one up.
What a Harvard Reroof Usually Involves
Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the median Harvard home at 1980, but that middle number hides a wide spread. About 18% of homes were built before 1940, around 27% from 1950 through 1979, and about 36% from 1990 through 2009. Each group brings its own list of work.
- Before 1940: tall two stories near Ayer Street and the Five Points, often with two or three layers of shingles over board decking, plus brick chimneys and dormers.
- 1950 to 1979: ranches with long, low slopes, some on their third roof, where attic airflow can be the missing piece.
- 1990 to 2009: subdivision houses still on builder shingles that are now 20 to 30 years old and ready for a first full replacement.
Tearing Off a Stacked Roof
On the older houses, every layer comes off. Leaving an old layer under a new one adds weight, hides soft wood and shortens the life of the new shingles. Once the deck is bare, we walk it. Board decking from that era can have gaps between boards or soft spots near the eaves and chimney. If the boards cannot hold nails well, we lay new sheathing over them so the new roof has a solid base. The price for decking work is written into your estimate before we start, so there are no surprises on install day.
Built for Wind Across Open Country
Harvard is surrounded by farm fields, and wind gets a long run at the roofs here. That shapes how we install a new one:
- Starter strips at the eaves and rakes. The edges are where wind gets under a roof first, so the first course is sealed down along both.
- Nailing to the manufacturer’s pattern. Every shingle is fastened the way GAF specifies, which matters for wind ratings and warranty coverage.
- Matching ridge caps. Purpose made GAF ridge caps are built for the bend at the peak, where cut pieces of field shingle can crack.
- Ice and water shield on every eave. Also in valleys and around chimneys, because Harvard winters bring ice at the edges.
Fixing the Attic While the Roof Is Open
Older Harvard houses can have little attic ventilation. Trapped heat bakes shingles in summer and melts snow in winter, which refreezes at the edge and backs water under the roof. A replacement is the right time to fix that. We add intake at the soffits where we can and exhaust at the ridge so air moves through the whole attic. See attic ventilation.
Farmhouses, Garages and Sheds
Out in Chemung, Dunham and Alden townships, a reroof often includes more than the house. We can price a detached garage or shed in the same visit, and we install metal roofing for outbuildings and homes where that makes more sense than shingles. See metal roofing.
Duplexes and Rentals
About a third of Harvard homes are duplexes, townhomes or apartment buildings. When both sides of a duplex share a roof, we put it all on one written scope so both owners see the same plan and the shingle lines match. For rentals, we can work out access and timing with tenants so the owner does not need to be there.
Your Install Day
Our office is at 11704 Main St in Roscoe, about 38 minutes from Harvard. On install day we arrive early, cover landscaping and the driveway, and keep debris going straight into the dumpster. When the roof is on, we clean up, run magnets across the yard for nails and walk the job with you. A big two story with several layers can take longer than a day, and we tell you that when we quote. We install year round.
Shingles, Warranty and Paying for It
We lead with GAF. The Timberline HDZ line suits most Harvard homes, the thicker Timberline UHDZ adds a heavier look, and GAF Class 4 impact resistant shingles are there if hail is a concern. We bring samples to the free inspection so you can see colors against your siding. A qualifying Martin roof can carry lifetime GAF coverage with up to 30 years on workmanship (GAF eligibility rules apply); see our GAF warranty page. Payments run as low as $149/month for qualified buyers; see financing options.
Why Harvard Hires Martin
- GAF Master Elite and recognized by GAF with 2-Star President’s Club.
- CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster and 5-Star Contractor.
- Hundreds of roofs every year, and most are done in a day.
- Best Roofer 6 Years Running (2020 to 2025) and an Inc. 5000 company.
- Since 2006, with free inspections for everyone and a phone answered 24/7.
More for Harvard
See our Harvard roofing page, Harvard roof repair and Harvard siding. For how every Martin roof is built, read our main roof replacement page. West of town, see roof replacement in Poplar Grove. Book a free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Harvard Roof Replacement FAQ
Do you tear off all the layers on an older Harvard house?
Yes. Every layer comes off down to the deck. If the old board decking will not hold nails well, we add new sheathing, and that cost is in the written estimate before we start.
How do you install a roof to handle the wind around Harvard?
We seal starter strips along the eaves and rakes, nail every shingle to GAF’s pattern and use matching GAF ridge caps, so the edges and peak are hard for wind to lift.
Can you replace the roof on my garage or shed at the same time?
Yes. We can price outbuildings in the same visit, in shingles or metal, and put everything on one written scope.
Can you replace a shared duplex roof in Harvard?
Yes. Both owners get one written scope and the same shingle line, so the roof matches from end to end.
Will you fix the attic ventilation when you replace my roof?
Yes. We balance intake at the soffits with exhaust at the ridge, which helps the new shingles last and makes ice at the eaves less likely.
