Pricing guide
What roofing costs in Des Moines
Des Moines houses come in a few standard shapes — the east-side ranch, the Beaverdale bungalow, the Ankeny two-story, the Glen Oaks hip roof — and each has a fairly predictable price. This page prices them, then explains why two quotes on the same house can be $4,000 apart. Typical ranges, not a quote. If you're asking what a new roof costs in Des Moines, start with the table below.
The short version
- A repair visit: $300–$1,500
- An architectural shingle roof, torn off and rebuilt: $450–$750 per square (100 sq ft)
- Most Des Moines homes: $9,000–$20,000
- Standing-seam steel: two to three times shingles
Replacement cost by the kind of house you have
Roof replacement cost in Des Moines tracks the house type more than the square footage on the listing, because pitch, dormers and layers matter as much as size. Our roof replacement cost guide goes deeper; this table is the quick version.
| The house | Roof | Architectural shingles | Standing-seam steel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s east-side or Urbandale ranch, one plain gable, 1,000 sq ft | 14 – 17 squares | $9,000 – $12,000 | $17,000 – $30,000 |
| 1920s–40s Beaverdale or Drake bungalow, steep, a dormer, often two layers, 1,400 sq ft | 18 – 22 squares | $10,000 – $16,000 | $22,000 – $40,000 |
| 2000s Ankeny, Waukee or Grimes two-story, 1,800 sq ft | 22 – 28 squares | $11,000 – $20,000 | $27,000 – $50,000 |
| 2010s Johnston or Jordan Creek two-story with a cut-up roof, 2,400 sq ft | 28 – 34 squares | $14,000 – $25,000 | $34,000 – $60,000 |
| Glen Oaks or Woodland Hills hip roof with several dormers, 3,500 sq ft | 40 – 55 squares | $20,000 – $38,000 | $48,000 – $95,000 |
- 1950s ranch, plain gable$9,000–$12,000
- 1920s–40s bungalow, steep$10,000–$16,000
- 2000s suburban two-story$11,000–$20,000
- 2010s two-story, cut-up roof$14,000–$25,000
- Large hip roof with dormers$20,000–$38,000
Typical ranges, not a quote.
Those shingle prices include tear-off, synthetic underlayment, ice-and-water membrane at the eaves to Iowa's code line and in every valley, new flashing and boots, ridge vent, the permit and cleanup. Anything that leaves one of those out is not comparable.
Repair prices
| Job | Des Moines range |
|---|---|
| Pipe boot with surrounding shingles | $250 – $450 |
| Wind-lifted or missing shingles, small area | $300 – $800 |
| Ice dam steam removal | $400 – $1,000 |
| Skylight flashing kit | $400 – $900 |
| Dormer or wall step flashing | $450 – $1,100 |
| Valley re-lay with membrane | $500 – $1,200 |
| Ridge vent cut into an existing roof | $500 – $900 |
| Chimney step and counter-flashing | $600 – $1,500 |
| Emergency tarp after a storm | $300 – $700 |
| Decking, per 4x8 sheet | $90 – $150 |
- Pipe boot$250–$450
- Wind-lifted shingles, small area$300–$800
- Emergency tarp$300–$700
- Ice dam steam removal$400–$1,000
- Skylight flashing kit$400–$900
- Dormer or wall step flashing$450–$1,100
- Valley re-lay with membrane$500–$1,200
- Ridge vent cut in$500–$900
- Chimney step and counter-flashing$600–$1,500
Typical ranges, not a quote.
On a roof past 18 years, a repair bill approaching $2,500 is the point to ask for the replacement numbers next to it.
Shingle, Class 4, or steel
| Material | Per square | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Three-tab shingle | about 15% under architectural | Not recommended for Iowa wind |
| Architectural shingle, Class H/F wind rating | $450 – $750 | The standard metro roof |
| Class 4 impact-rated architectural | add $30 – $80 | Resists dime-to-quarter hail; ask your agent about a discount |
| Exposed-fastener steel panel | $700 – $1,200 | Acreages, outbuildings, simple gables |
| Standing-seam steel | $1,100 – $1,800 | Fifty-year roof; no more hail claims |
Why two quotes on the same house differ by $4,000
The house is a 1930s bungalow in Beaverdale with a steep roof and two layers of shingles. One quote is $11,500 and one is $15,800. Neither roofer is lying; they are pricing different jobs.
The lower quote probably assumes one layer and no decking work, uses felt instead of synthetic underlayment, runs ice-and-water membrane one course instead of to the code line, reuses the chimney flashing, and either leaves the permit out or didn't check that the pitch needs staging. The higher one has looked in the attic, seen the plank decking with two-inch gaps, priced sheeting it over at $1,500–$3,000, added $1,000–$2,500 for the second layer's labor and dump fees, added 10–20% for the pitch, and put a per-sheet allowance for rot on the page.
The same thing happens in the suburbs for different reasons: a Johnston two-story with four valleys, two skylights and a chimney chase is a day more flashing work than the same square footage under a plain gable, and a lot near Sherman Hill with no place to park a trailer costs labor that a Waukee driveway doesn't.
Lines that should be on the page
A roof estimate Des Moines homeowners can compare has all of these: tear-off, not roof-over; underlayment type; ice-and-water membrane to 24 inches inside the wall line and in valleys; a named shingle product and wind rating; six nails per shingle; a decking allowance per sheet; new flashing; ventilation; the permit; and both warranties in years. Our guide on what a roof replacement costs in Des Moines goes line by line, getting a roof estimate in Des Moines, Iowa covers the repair-or-replace call, and questions to ask a Des Moines roofing contractor covers the conversation around it.
New roof cost in Des Moines: a worked example
Take an 1,800 sq ft two-story with 25 squares of roof. At $450–$750 per square, the shingle roof comes to about $11,250–$18,750. Add four sheets of decking at $90–$150 each, roughly $360–$600, and the total is about $11,610–$19,350. A second layer to strip would add $1,000–$2,500 on top. That is how the ranges in the tables above are built, and it is the same arithmetic you can use to check any quote. Ask the contractor for the square count and the per-square price, and the rest of the page should add up.
Ways to keep the cost down without cutting corners
- Fix small problems early. A $300 pipe boot in October is cheaper than the drywall, insulation and decking it would ruin by spring.
- Get two or three written quotes and compare them line by line, not just by the total.
- Pick the shingle line before the color. The mid-range architectural lines from the big manufacturers are the value point; premium designer lines cost more for looks, not for a tougher roof.
- Combine jobs. Gutters, ventilation and decking repairs cost less while the roof is already open than as separate visits later.
- Ask about Class 4 savings. If your insurer discounts impact-rated shingles, the extra $30–$80 per square may pay itself back.
- Don't buy on price alone. The cheapest quote that leaves out membrane or flashing is the most expensive roof you will own.
Who pays
If hail or wind did it, your insurer pays replacement cost or actual cash value minus the deductible; the storm damage page explains how claims work and why an offer to cover your deductible is a red flag worth checking with your insurer. If the roof simply wore out, roof financing in Des Moines runs through manufacturer-backed programs at 12–60 months, and a home equity line is usually cheaper on a $15,000 roof. Ask for the numbers on both and decide on your own schedule.
Services
Roof Repair
Leaks at flashing, boots and valleys, wind-lifted shingles, soft decking — how they are found from the attic, what they cost, and what a good repair includes. Most jobs $300–$1,500.
Roof Repair →Roof Replacement
What a full tear-off should include: decking check, synthetic underlayment, ice-and-water at the eaves, wind-rated shingles. $9,000–$20,000 on most homes.
Roof Replacement →Storm Damage & Claims
Hail, derecho and wind damage documented from the roof, tarped if needed, and written up in a scope your adjuster can follow, and how to spot deductible games.
Storm Damage & Claims →Ice Dam Repair
Steam removal of the dam, repair of the damage underneath, and the attic air-sealing and ventilation work that stops it coming back next January.
Ice Dam Repair →Roof Inspection
A walked inspection with photos and a written report — for buying a house, filing a claim, or finding out how many winters the roof has left.
Roof Inspection →Questions roofers get asked
What does a new roof cost on an 1,800 sq ft house in Des Moines?
Plan on 22–28 squares, which is $11,000–$20,000 in architectural shingles with a full tear-off and $27,000–$50,000 in standing-seam steel. A plain gable on a ranch-style layout sits at the low end; a two-story with dormers, valleys and a steep pitch reaches the high end.
When is a repair a waste of money?
When the roof is past about 18 years and the problems are spread out — granule loss on every slope, hail bruises on more than one, two layers already up, or a third repair in two years. A single pipe boot or valley on a 12-year-old roof is always a repair. Between those, ask for both prices.
Is a roofing estimate free?
Repair and replacement estimates through this site are free and in writing, from the roof and the attic, not the driveway. A formal inspection report for a real estate transaction typically runs $150–$300; ask whether it is credited if you hire the same contractor. A roofer who charges to quote a replacement is charging you to sit through a pitch.
Need roof work in Des Moines?
Call for a free estimate. Mon–Sat 7am–7pm.