When hail rattles across Rockford’s older neighborhoods, the first question is simple: did the roof take damage, or did it just get loud? Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding answers that with a free hail inspection and photos of every hit we find. Our Rockford office is at 6019 Fincham Dr, Suite 4, on the east side, and (815) 209-9054 is answered 24/7. If water is already coming in, we can tarp within 24 hours.
An Older City Takes Hail Differently
Rockford’s housing is older than most of the towns around it. Census estimates for 2020 to 2024 put the median home at 1963, and roughly 46% of the city’s homes were built before 1960. Fewer than one in ten went up after 1999.
Age changes what a hailstone does. A shingle that has baked through twenty summers has lost much of its flexibility, so a strike that would only scuff a newer roof can crack it or knock loose a patch of granules. Older houses are also more likely to carry a second layer of shingles over the first, and a layered roof flexes under impact instead of resting flat on the deck. That is one reason we count layers on every Rockford inspection.
What We Look at in the Older Neighborhoods
In Edgewater and Churchill’s Grove on the north side, in Brown’s Hills and Knightsville near Sinnissippi Park, and in Haight Village southeast of downtown, a lot of houses are tall two stories with steep pitches, dormers and brick chimneys. On those roofs we spend most of our time in three places:
- Valleys. Hail and the runoff that follows both funnel into valleys, so a bruised shingle there sees more water than one in the middle of a slope.
- Chimney and dormer flashing. Old metal dents and opens at the seams, and some of it was tarred over years ago.
- Shaded slopes under big trees. Mature trees shade a lot of these streets, and a slope that stays damp longer wears faster once its granules are gone.
Ranches and split levels from the postwar decades are lower and simpler, but their long slopes put a lot of shingle in front of a storm. We photograph each slope separately so a clean front does not hide a beaten back side.
Aluminum and Vinyl Siding Show Hail First
Many older Rockford houses started with wood clapboard and were covered with aluminum siding somewhere along the way. Aluminum dents easily, so it is one of the best ground level clues that hail had real size to it. Vinyl tends to crack or punch through on the wall that faced the storm instead.
We fix siding by replacing the damaged boards or sections, never with sealant or filler. Martin is a Certified James Hardie Installer and Hardie fiber cement is our first choice; vinyl from Mastic and Norandex is the other main option. We were voted What Rocks Rockford Best Siding, 2021 to 2025. See Rockford siding for how we handle older walls.
Rentals, Two Flats and Small Apartment Buildings
About 45% of occupied homes in Rockford are rented, and about one home in six sits in a building with five or more units. When hail hits a rental, the owner may be across town or out of state. We can inspect without you on site as long as the roof is safe to reach, then email the photos and a written plan. For a two flat or a small building, we trace each leak to where it actually entered so the right unit gets fixed.
After the Storm: A Short Checklist
- Stay off the roof. Wet shingles and loose branches are not worth the risk.
- Walk around the house and photograph dents in vents, downspouts and siding before anything is cleaned up.
- Check the attic and top floor ceilings for fresh stains if you can do it safely.
- Call (815) 209-9054 if water is getting in. We answer around the clock and can tarp within 24 hours.
Repair the Hits or Replace the Roof
If the damage is limited to a few spots on a roof that is otherwise sound, we repair it: matching shingles, new vent covers or flashing where metal was dented, and a look at the deck underneath. When most slopes are bruised, or the roof already has two layers and a lot of age, replacement usually makes more sense. Then we tear off to the deck, put ice and water shield on every eave, and install a full GAF system, including Class 4 impact resistant shingles if you want more hail resistance. Most roofs are done in a day, and financing runs as low as $149/month for qualified buyers.
As a GAF Master Elite contractor, a status held by fewer than 2% of roofing contractors, we can register lifetime GAF coverage on a qualifying roof with up to 30 years on workmanship (GAF eligibility rules apply). Our GAF warranty page explains it.
Why Rockford Calls Martin After Hail
- Since 2006, we have helped thousands of Rockford-area homeowners through roof claims. Our page on how roof claims work walks through the steps.
- GAF Master Elite with 2-Star President’s Club recognition, plus CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster.
- Best Roofer 6 Years Running (2020 to 2025) and an Inc. 5000 company.
- Hundreds of roofs every year across the Stateline.
- A local office on Fincham Drive, open 24/7, with free inspections for everyone.
More for Rockford
Start with our Rockford roofing page. For leaks that are not storm related, see roof repair. For the full picture, see our main Rockford hail damage repair page, plus wind damage repair and storm damage repair. Nearby, see Loves Park and hail damage roof repair in Machesney Park. Book a free inspection or call (815) 209-9054.
Rockford Hail Damage FAQ
Why do older Rockford roofs crack from hail that newer roofs survive?
Shingles lose flexibility as they age, and many Rockford roofs are well past twenty years or sit over a second layer. A stiff shingle breaks where a newer one would bend, so the same storm can leave very different damage on two houses on one block.
My house has aluminum siding with new dents. Does that mean the roof was hit?
It can. Hail big enough to dent aluminum may also have bruised the shingles. It is a strong reason to get a free roof inspection, even if nothing is leaking yet.
Can you inspect a Rockford rental after hail if I live somewhere else?
Yes. As long as we can reach the roof safely, we inspect without you there and email the photos and a written plan.
Do you check for two layers of shingles during a hail inspection?
Yes. We count layers on every Rockford inspection because a second layer changes how hail damages the roof and whether a repair will hold.
How fast can you tarp a Rockford roof after hail?
Call (815) 209-9054 any time. We can tarp within 24 hours to keep water out until the repair is done.
