2025 Storm Events in Chicago
Recent severe weather that may have damaged roofs in your area
Hail Storm
Affected Areas:
Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Cary, Port Barrington, Woodstock, Schaumburg, Lake in the Hills, Algonquin
Widespread roof and siding damage; many full roof replacements approved by insurance; Cary declared State of Emergency

Roof Replacement Cost in Chicago
Get accurate 2025 pricing for roof replacement in Chicago, Illinois. Compare costs by material, home size, and find trusted local contractors. Compare costs, find contractors, and get a free quote today.
Chicago Quick Facts
Prices updated December 2025
Photo: Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash

Photo by Joss Broward on Unsplash
Roof Replacement Costs in Chicago
Updated December 2025. Prices include materials, labor, permits, and cleanup. Actual costs vary based on roof complexity and condition.
Labor typically 60% of total cost; remaining 40% covers materials, permits, overhead
Additional Cost Factors
- Roof complexity (gable vs. hip vs. complex hip and valley)
- Tear-off and disposal: $1.00-$2.00 per sq ft
- Decking repair: $300-$1,200 depending on damage
- Permit fees: $250-$400 for residential
- Ice and water shield: $200-$500 (critical for Chicago winters)
- Ventilation upgrades: $300-$800
- Gutter replacement: $600-$1,200
- Fascia and soffit repairs: $400-$900
- Geographic location within Chicago metro affects pricing
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Call (888) 292-4579 - Free QuoteRoofing Materials for Chicago
Compare roofing materials suited for Illinois's climate. Prices include installation. Best materials for your area are highlighted.
Most affordable option; suitable for budget-conscious homeowners
Enhanced durability and aesthetic appeal; 110 mph wind warranties available
Best for Chicago climate - reflects 70% solar energy, prevents ice dams
Premium option; requires structural reinforcement due to weight (800-1500 lbs per square)
Mimics slate or wood shakes with less maintenance
Commercial and flat roof option; excellent UV resistance
Budget-friendly flat roof option for commercial and two-flats
Best Materials for Chicago's Climate
- Standing seam metal roofing (best overall for Chicago)
- Stone-coated steel (withstands 3-4 inch hailstones)
- Class 4 impact-resistant asphalt shingles (qualify for 35% insurance discounts)
- Architectural shingles with SBS-modified asphalt
Less Suitable for This Climate
- Standard 3-tab asphalt shingles (15-18 year lifespan in northern Illinois)
- Wood shakes (require extensive maintenance; moisture/ice issues)
- Untreated basic asphalt (vulnerable to hail and temperature cycling)
Climate Considerations in Chicago
Understanding Chicago's weather patterns helps you choose the right roofing materials and plan your project timing.

Photo by Tobias Reich on Unsplash
- Extreme temperature swings from -10F to 95F (historical extremes: -36F to 117F)
- Illinois ranks 4th nationally for hail damage insurance claims
- Heavy snowfall averaging 38+ inches annually in Chicago
- Severe freeze-thaw cycles that reduce roof lifespan 20-30% vs. milder climates
- High winds - Chicago averages 60 mph gusts; tornado risk in 'shifting Tornado Alley'
- Humidity averaging 71% year-round promotes moss and algae growth
- Ice dam formation during winter months
- 32-48 inches annual precipitation with 40% increase in extreme rainfall events since 1900
Best Months
Avoid if Possible
- Metal roofing reflects 70% solar energy, reducing attic temps 10-12F
- Cooling cost reduction of 10-25% with reflective roofing
- Proper attic insulation R-38 minimum per Illinois Energy Conservation Code (effective Jan 2025)
- Ventilation critical - 1 sq ft per 150 sq ft attic area to prevent ice dams
- Federal tax credits up to $1,200 for ENERGY STAR qualified cool roofing materials
The Windy City earns its nickname with wind gusts regularly reaching sixty miles per hour, while its position in the shifting Tornado Alley brings additional severe weather risk. Chicago receives an average of thirty-eight inches of snow annually, creating heavy loads that strain roofing structures and contribute to the formation of ice dams along roof edges. When melting snow refreezes at the eaves, water backs up under shingles and can cause significant interior damage.
Perhaps most concerning for homeowners is that Illinois ranks fourth nationally for hail damage insurance claims. The August 2025 hail storms that swept through the northwest suburbs delivered hailstones up to one and a half inches in diameter, causing widespread roof damage across communities from Palatine to Woodstock. This frequency of severe weather events makes material selection critical for Chicago homeowners.
Humidity averaging seventy-one percent year-round promotes moss and algae growth on roof surfaces, while the region receives thirty-two to forty-eight inches of precipitation annually. The combination of freeze-thaw cycles, heavy precipitation, hail frequency, and temperature extremes means Chicago roofs work harder than most. Proper material selection and installation timing can mean the difference between a roof lasting fifteen years or four decades.
How Chicago's Climate Affects Materials
asphalt Shingles
Become brittle below 40F; vulnerable to cracking in cold weather; granule loss from hail
metal Roofing
Excellent performance - handles temperature swings, sheds snow, prevents ice dams
slate
Very durable but requires structural support; excellent for long-term investment
composite Tile
Good durability; polymer materials remain flexible in cold weather
Chicago's housing stock presents unique pricing considerations. Classic brick bungalows with their distinctive low-pitched hipped roofs may cost less per square foot than complex Victorian-era homes with multiple valleys and dormers. Two-flats and greystones with flat roofs require commercial-grade materials like TPO or modified bitumen, which carry different pricing structures than residential asphalt or metal options.
Geographic location within the metro area also affects pricing. Roof replacement in Evanston typically costs more than comparable work in New Lenox, reflecting differences in contractor availability, labor rates, and material transportation costs. Understanding these factors helps you evaluate quotes accurately and budget appropriately for your specific situation.
Metal roofing commands higher prices at seven to fourteen dollars per square foot for steel options, pushing total project costs to nine thousand to eighteen thousand dollars per one thousand square feet. However, the forty to seventy year lifespan means lower annual costs over time. Stone-coated steel products from manufacturers like DECRA and Boral fall in the fourteen to twenty-four dollar range but add approximately six percent to property values with sixty to seventy percent cost recovery at resale.
Labor typically accounts for sixty percent of total project costs in Chicago, with the remaining forty percent covering materials, permits, disposal, and overhead. Additional expenses frequently surprise homeowners: tear-off and disposal runs one to two dollars per square foot, decking repairs add three hundred to twelve hundred dollars, and permit fees cost two hundred fifty to four hundred dollars. Ice and water shield installation, critical for preventing ice dam damage, adds two hundred to five hundred dollars but prevents far more expensive interior repairs.
Real project examples from 2025 illustrate typical costs. A standard asphalt shingle replacement on a two thousand square foot Chicago bungalow averaged twelve thousand dollars with architectural shingles. Following the August 2025 hail storms, homeowners in Palatine saw full roof replacements averaging fifteen thousand dollars, often covered entirely by insurance. Premium metal roofing installations in Evanston reached thirty-five thousand dollars for twenty-five hundred square foot homes.
Roofing Materials for Chicago
Asphalt shingles remain the most popular choice due to their affordability, with costs ranging from three dollars fifty cents to six dollars per square foot installed. However, not all asphalt performs equally in Chicago conditions. Standard three-tab shingles become brittle below forty degrees Fahrenheit and typically last only fifteen to eighteen years in northern Illinois. Architectural shingles with SBS-modified asphalt offer better performance with twenty-two to twenty-five year lifespans and enhanced wind resistance.
For homeowners concerned about hail damage, Class 4 impact-resistant shingles represent the optimal asphalt choice. These premium products use polymer-based mesh backing and can withstand two-inch steel balls dropped from twenty feet without cracking. Given Illinois's ranking as fourth nationally for hail damage claims, the insurance discounts of up to thirty-five percent available for Class 4 materials often offset their higher initial cost.
Slate roofing offers unmatched longevity of seventy-five to one hundred fifty years but requires substantial structural support due to weight ranging from eight hundred to fifteen hundred pounds per square. Composite tile provides a middle-ground option at seven to twenty dollars per square foot, mimicking premium materials while maintaining flexibility in cold weather. For flat roofs common on Chicago's two-flats and commercial buildings, TPO and modified bitumen systems offer reliable waterproofing with fifteen to thirty year lifespans.
Roofing Permits in Chicago
As of January 2025, Illinois law requires roofing contractors to hold a valid state roofing contractor license, not merely a general contractor license. Contractors must carry minimum two hundred fifty thousand dollars in property damage coverage and five hundred thousand dollars in liability insurance, plus workers' compensation coverage. Your contractor should handle all permit applications and coordinate inspections with the Chicago Department of Buildings.
Historical districts within Chicago may require additional documentation and design approval before work can proceed. Commercial properties and buildings in designated zones have separate permitting requirements. All projects must meet International Residential Code and International Building Code structural minimums, ensuring your new roof can handle Chicago's snow loads and wind requirements.
Choosing a roofing contractor in Chicago
Manufacturer certifications provide additional quality assurance. GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed Select, and Owens Corning Platinum contractors represent the top three percent of roofers who meet rigorous training and performance standards. These certifications unlock enhanced warranties worth two thousand to five thousand dollars in added value, including workmanship guarantees that non-certified installers cannot offer.
Local contractors like Economy Roofing, with over forty years serving Chicago's bungalows and greystones, understand the unique requirements of the city's vintage housing stock. Power Home Remodeling and Erie Metal Roofs offer national backing with local presence and lifetime warranties. Gaffney Construction has served the Chicago metro area since 1970, bringing decades of local experience.
Be wary of storm chasers who appear after severe weather events. These contractors often use high-pressure tactics, request large upfront deposits, and may disappear before completing warranty repairs. Always get multiple written estimates, verify local references, and confirm the contractor will handle permits and inspections. A trustworthy roofer will meet with your insurance adjuster on-site if you're filing a claim and provide detailed documentation of all work performed.
Local Insights
The greystone corridors of Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Pilsen, Bridgeport, and Hyde Park showcase Chicago's distinctive limestone-faced rowhouses, many featuring flat or low-pitched roofs that require commercial-grade membrane systems rather than traditional shingles. These neighborhoods often have historic district considerations that may limit material choices or require approval before work begins. Two-flats throughout these areas need specialized flat roof expertise, with TPO and modified bitumen being the go-to solutions for reliable waterproofing.
The northwest suburbs including Palatine, Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Des Plaines, Rolling Meadows, and Schaumburg face particularly high hail risk, as demonstrated by the August 2025 storms that swept through this corridor. Homeowners in these communities increasingly choose Class 4 impact-resistant shingles not only for durability but for the substantial insurance premium discounts they provide. Suburban developments in these areas typically have HOA requirements that must be addressed before selecting materials, though most associations maintain pre-approved lists that include the premium weather-resistant options best suited to the region's climate challenges.
To ensure you receive fair pricing, obtain at least three written estimates from licensed, insured contractors. Compare not just total costs but material specifications, warranty terms, and included services like permit handling and disposal. Off-peak scheduling during late fall or winter can reduce costs by ten to fifteen percent when contractor demand decreases. Whatever your budget, investing in quality materials and proper installation protects your Chicago home for decades to come.
Top Roofing Contractors in Chicago
Verified local contractors serving Chicago, Illinois. All contractors are licensed and insured for roofing work in your area.
Specialties
Certifications
- BBB A+
- Lifetime Warranty
Best Overall - National company with local Chicago branch, lifetime warranty on all roofing
Specialties
Certifications
- BBB A+
- Lifetime Warranty
Best for New Roofs - Since 1976, specializes in durable stone-coated steel roofs
Specialties
Certifications
- BBB A+
- Eco-Friendly Certified
Most Eco-Friendly - Uses recycled materials and energy-efficient products
Specialties
Best Local Contractor - Since 1970, serves Chicago metro and west/south suburbs
Specialties
Local Chicago company specializing in bungalows, greystones, two-flats, and commercial buildings
Specialties
Certifications
- Free Drone Inspections
Offers free drone roof inspections and detailed cost estimates
Specialties
Based in Homer Glen, IL - serves Chicagoland area
Specialties
Certifications
- GAF Certified
20+ years experience, specializes in storm damage and insurance claim assistance
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Call (888) 292-4579 - Free QuoteComplete Chicago Roof Replacement Guide
Everything you need to know about roof replacement in Chicago. Expand any section for details.
Interior Signs
- Water stains on ceilings or walls
- Daylight visible through roof boards in attic
- Sagging roof deck visible from inside attic
- Moisture or condensation in attic space
- Mold growth on attic surfaces
- Increased heating/cooling bills indicating insulation issues
Exterior Signs
- Missing, cracked, or curling shingles
- Granules accumulating in gutters (sign of shingle deterioration)
- Damaged or missing flashing around vents, chimneys, skylights
- Moss or algae growth on roof surface
- Visible sagging in roof line
- Dents or punctures from hail damage
- Blistering or bubbling on flat roofs
25% Rule: If damage exceeds 25% of roof surface area, Chicago building code requires full roof replacement rather than repair. Also consider replacement if roof is over 20 years old with multiple issues, or if you've had 3+ repairs in recent years.
Chicago at a Glance
Local neighborhoods, climate conditions, and landmarks that influence roofing decisions

Logan Square
Residential homes with porches and rooflines in Logan Square Chicago neighborhood
Photo by Leo Heisenberg on Unsplash

Bungalow Belt
Classic Chicago red brick two-flat building with flat roof typical of city architecture
Photo by Gautam Krishnan on Unsplash

Residential Area
Logan Square Chicago street scene showing historic brick buildings and architecture at dusk
Photo by Joss Broward on Unsplash

Local Climate
Chicago street during winter snowstorm with L train tracks and snowy conditions
Photo by Tobias Reich on Unsplash

Local Landmark
Cloud Gate sculpture known as The Bean in Millennium Park with Chicago skyline reflection
Photo by Nikoloz Gachechiladze on Unsplash
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about roof replacement in Chicago, Illinois
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