Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding replaces roofs in and around Lake Geneva from our office at 11704 Main St in Roscoe, about an hour away. We have been building new roofs across the Stateline since 2006. Call (815) 624-6278. Someone answers 24/7, and roof inspections are free.
First Roofs on Lake Geneva’s Newer Homes
Lake Geneva has added a lot of houses in the last few decades. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 count about 1 in 4 homes in the city built from 1990 through 2009. Many of them still have the roof they were built with, and newer neighborhoods and golf communities around the lake, like Geneva National, are in the same spot.
A first roof on a big, cut-up house does not wear evenly. The slopes that face south and west go first, along with the ridges and the valleys that carry the most water. By the time those show bare spots and curled edges, the rest is usually not far behind, and replacing everything at once gives you one roof system under one warranty instead of a patchwork.
Lake Geneva’s 1970s Building Boom
The busiest single decade for homebuilding in the city was the 1970s, about 17% of today’s homes. Houses from that era are likely on their second or third roof, and they bring their own replacement questions: older attic venting, low-pitch sections over porches and additions, and sometimes a second layer of shingles. Every old layer comes off so we can replace soft decking and start the new roof on clean, solid wood.
Older cottages and houses near downtown and the Riviera are a different job again, with smaller, steeper roofs, tight lots and mature trees close to the house. We plan the tear-off around the trees and plantings, and tarps go down before the first shingle comes off.
Big Rooflines Along the Shore Path
The large homes along the shore path have more valleys, dormers and roof-to-wall joints than a typical house. On a roof like that the shingles are the easy part. What decides how long it lasts is the flashing at every wall and dormer, ice and water barrier in every valley and along the eaves, and enough ventilation for a large attic. We plan those details before the job starts and photograph them as the roof goes on, so you can see the parts that end up hidden.
Here is a Lake Geneva lakefront home getting a GAF Timberline HDZ roof in Charcoal as part of a full exterior remodel. See the Lake Geneva Charcoal roof project for more.
Lake Geneva GAF Timberline HDZ Charcoal Roof | Martin Exteriors
Choosing a Look for a Lake Home
We install asphalt shingles, premium designer shingles and metal. Designer shingles are made to give the deep shadow lines of slate or wood shake while installing like asphalt, which can suit a roof that is seen from the water. If you are weighing metal, our Lake Geneva roofing page covers metal for lake homes in detail. Have a tile or slate roof that just needs work? See Lake Geneva roof repair.
If your house has skylights, replacement is the right time to deal with them. We are VELUX certified, so old units can be swapped and flashed into the new roof. See skylight installation.
Planning Around the Lake Season
We install year-round, so a Lake Geneva replacement can be scheduled around how you use the house. Weather still sets the exact start date. If you are not in town, we send photos from the inspection, from tear-off and of the finished roof. Once the new roof is on, a roof maintenance plan can keep an eye on it during the months the house sits quiet.
Credentials Behind Your New Roof
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 have made the Inc. 5000 four times (2021 to 2024), and we were voted What Rocks Rockford Best Roofer, 6 years running (2020 to 2025). Financing is available with payments as low as $149/month for qualified buyers, and our roof replacement cost guide explains what moves the price.
More From Martin in Lake Geneva
Our Lake Geneva roofing page covers everything we do around the lake, and Lake Geneva roof repair handles leaks and tile work. Our main roof replacement page shows how we build every roof. We also serve nearby Delavan and Elkhorn. For Elkhorn homes, see our page on roof replacement in Elkhorn. Schedule your free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
Lake Geneva Roof Replacement FAQ
What are premium designer shingles?
They are asphalt shingles made to look like slate or wood shake, with a thicker, deeper profile than standard shingles. They install like asphalt. We bring samples so you can see them against your Lake Geneva home before you choose.
Can you replace our roof in the off-season at the lake?
Yes. We install year-round, so the work can be planned for when the house is quiet. Cold weather and snow can shift the start date, and we keep you posted with photos if you are away.
Do both layers come off on our 1970s Lake Geneva house?
Yes. Every layer comes off down to the deck, so we can replace soft wood and lay ice and water barrier and underlayment on solid boards instead of old shingles.
Can you work around copper or metal accents on our roof?
Yes. We protect copper and metal accents during tear-off and flash the new shingles to them so the joints stay tight. We point out anything on the accents that looks worn.
Do you offer a maintenance plan after a new roof?
Yes. A roof maintenance plan means the roof gets checked on a regular schedule, which is helpful on a lake home that sits empty part of the year.
