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
Weather permitting, we can schedule a Lake Geneva replacement around how you use the house. 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, 7 years running (2020 to 2026). Financing is available with payments as low as $149/month for qualified buyers, and our roof replacement cost guide explains what moves the price.
How Much Does a Roof Replacement Cost in Lake Geneva, WI?
Most full asphalt roof replacements in Lake Geneva run about $10,000 to $19,500+, depending heavily on the roofline.
A newer home in town and a large lake home with several gables and dormers can sit at very different points, and the biggest rooflines can go past the top of the range. What sets the price on a Lake Geneva roof:
- Roof area. Big lake homes carry much more roof.
- Pitch and shape. Steep gables, dormers and valleys slow the work.
- Shingle line and look. Premium shingle lines or metal cost more than a standard GAF architectural line.
- Ventilation, flashing and details. Flashing, venting and other details are planned before the job starts.
- Layers coming off. Older roofs from the 1970s boom may hide more than one layer.
- Decking repairs. Damaged boards are replaced and photographed.
What a Free Lake Geneva Estimate Includes
- A free inspection, with photos sent if you are not in town.
- A written estimate before work starts.
- Photos as the roof goes on, so you can see the parts that end up hidden.
Schedule your free inspection or call (815) 624-6278.
How a Lake Geneva Roof Replacement Goes
Start to Finish
- Free inspection. We check the spots that give older Lake Geneva roofs trouble: porch and addition roofs, the deck, chimney and dormer flashing, the venting, and how many layers are up there. Then we walk you through what we found.
- Your price in writing. Your estimate spells out which GAF shingle line goes on and each piece of the roof system. If the deck has rotted boards, the cost to replace each sheet is written down before we start.
- Permit and install date. We pull the permit the City of Lake Geneva or your town requires and set your install date, weather permitting.
- Tear off and a complete GAF roof. We strip the roof to bare wood and swap out any soft boards. Winters near the lake bring ice dams, so ice and water shield runs along every eave and through every valley. Then the underlayment, drip edge, flashing, the ventilation your roof needs and GAF shingles go on, all to GAF’s specs. Because we’re a GAF Master Elite contractor, qualifying roofs can get GAF’s 50-year warranty. Most roofs are done in a day.
- Cleanup, then photos. We haul away the debris and run a magnet over the lawn to catch stray nails. You also get pictures of the new roof and of any boards we replaced. If it’s a seasonal home, we can handle the contract remotely and work with your caretaker or property manager.
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.
Recent Roof Replacement Job in Lake Geneva, WI
A recent roof replacement in Lake Geneva was on a lakefront family home during a full exterior remodel. The owner ran the remodel himself and hired Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding for the roof and the James Hardie siding after comparing contractors. See the project kickoff in Lake Geneva lake home remodel, part 1. The new roof is a GAF Timberline HDZ system in Charcoal with black drip edge, put on during a stretch of mild weather in mid December. See the Lake Geneva Charcoal roof day.
Lake Geneva Roof Replacement FAQ
How much does a roof replacement cost in Lake Geneva?
Most full asphalt roof replacements in Lake Geneva run about $10,000 to $19,500+, and the largest lake home roofs can cost more. Roof size and shape, layers, decking, the shingle line and flashing or venting work decide your price. Inspections are free.
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, weather permitting. The work can be planned for when the house is quiet, though 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.
