Roof Replacement in Northern Wisconsin
A roof replacement is the largest exterior investment most Northwoods homeowners make, and it is the one job where shortcuts stay hidden for years. Roof Masters replaces roofs the same way on every house: complete tear-off to the bare deck, damaged sheathing replaced and photographed, and a written price that does not move after the shingles come off.
We work out of Tomahawk and cover Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Marathon counties — lake homes, year-round residences, cabins, pole buildings and small commercial roofs.
When you need roof replacement
Shingles are curling, cupping or losing granules
Granules in the gutters and shingle edges lifting off the deck mean the mat underneath is drying out. Once that starts across a whole slope, patching buys months, not years.
You are repairing the same leak twice
One flashing failure is a repair. Leaks appearing in new places each season usually mean the underlayment has given up and the roof is past its service life.
The deck feels soft underfoot
Spongy sheathing means moisture has been sitting in the roof assembly. That is a tear-off conversation, because the damage is under the shingles, not on them.
Ice dams every single winter
Recurring eave ice is a ventilation and insulation problem as much as a roofing one. A replacement is the natural moment to correct intake, exhaust and ice-and-water coverage together.
What a Roof Masters replacement includes
Everything comes off. We do not install over an existing layer — layovers hide rot, trap heat, shorten shingle life and void most manufacturer warranties. With the deck exposed we walk it, mark anything soft or delaminated, replace it, and photograph it so you can see what you paid for.
Then the assembly goes back together in order: new drip edge, ice-and-water shield at the eaves and up every valley, synthetic underlayment across the remaining deck, new pipe boots, new step flashing where the roof meets a wall, and the shingle or metal system you chose. Old flashing does not get reused.
Ventilation is corrected as part of the job. If soffit intake does not match ridge exhaust, the deck bakes in July and sweats in January. We measure the net free area and fix the imbalance rather than selling it back to you later.
What a new roof costs in northern Wisconsin
Price is driven by square footage, pitch, how many layers come off, the number of valleys, dormers and penetrations, and the system you select. A single-story ranch and a steep lake home with three dormers are genuinely different jobs, and any contractor quoting them off a phone call is guessing.
Our estimates are itemized — tear-off, decking allowance, underlayment, roofing material, flashing, ventilation, disposal and labor listed separately — so you can compare bids line by line instead of comparing one bottom number to another.
If you want a rough range before you call, our roof cost calculator walks through the same variables we use on site.
Timing a replacement in the Northwoods
Our installation season runs roughly from spring thaw through late fall, and the calendar fills earliest for lake properties where owners want work finished before or after the season. Shingles seal best in warm weather; metal can be installed later in the year.
If your roof is failing in February, we stabilize it and schedule the full replacement for the first workable window rather than rushing a tear-off in conditions that compromise the install.
Your options
Architectural asphalt shingles
The most common choice here. Good wind ratings, wide color selection, straightforward repairs, and manufacturer-certified installs on GAF, CertainTeed and Owens Corning systems.
Standing-seam metal
Concealed fasteners, long service life, and it sheds snow instead of holding it. Popular on cabins, lake homes and any roof where access for future work is difficult.
Exposed-fastener metal panel
A cost-effective metal option for garages, pole buildings, outbuildings and simple rooflines.
Low-slope membrane
For flat and low-pitch sections — porch roofs, additions, and small commercial buildings — where shingles cannot drain properly.
How the work goes
- 1
1. Free on-roof inspection
We get on the roof, not just in the driveway. Decking, flashing, valleys, ventilation and attic conditions all get looked at.
- 2
2. Written, itemized estimate
Photos of what we found and a line-item price. Take as long as you need with it — there is no expiring discount.
- 3
3. Scheduling and material selection
You pick the system and color; we order material and give you a realistic install window.
- 4
4. Tear-off and install
Property protected, everything stripped to the deck, repairs made, new assembly installed. Most homes finish in one to three days.
- 5
5. Cleanup and walkthrough
Magnet sweep of the grounds, debris hauled, and a final walkthrough before we hand over warranty paperwork.
Roof Replacement questions we hear
How long does a roof replacement take?
Most homes are torn off and re-roofed in one to three working days. Larger lake homes, steep pitches and complex rooflines take longer, and we give you the realistic window before we start.
Do you ever install over an existing roof?
No. We tear off to the deck on every replacement so rotted sheathing gets found and replaced, and so the new system carries its full manufacturer warranty.
Do I need to be home during the work?
No. Plenty of our lake-home and seasonal customers are hundreds of miles away. We document the job with photos and stay in contact throughout.
What happens if you find rotted decking?
We replace it, photograph it, and bill it against the decking allowance already itemized in your estimate — so there is no surprise change order.
How long should a new roof last here?
Service life depends on the system, the ventilation behind it and the exposure. Correct ventilation and proper eave detailing matter more to longevity in this climate than the shingle brand on the wrapper.
Roof Replacement by town
See how we handle roof replacement in your community across the Northwoods.
Free inspection, written estimate
We look at the whole roof, show you photos of what we find, and give you an itemized price in writing. No pressure.