Short answer: As of October 2026, the five highest-scoring roofing contractors in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score are Riverland Exteriors (80.3), Ledegar Roofing Company (79.6), First American Roofing & Siding (79.1), Ace of All Trades (59.6), Kliscz Contracting (49.0). Each is certified by a manufacturer whose register we checked by hand, each rating has been tested against a source outside that register, and nobody bought a place on this page.
The Roofing Brief scored 5 certified roofing contractors serving the La Crosse metro on a published, reproducible formula, then researched each of the top five individually to confirm its record. On 2 June 2020 hail of golf-ball size and larger fell on Holmen, and NWS recorded that between 4,000 and 5,000 homes had roof damage, close to the village’s entire housing stock, with $45.5 million of damage. In April 2026 baseball hail did the same to Westby. La Crosse sits across the Mississippi from Minnesota, so the metro runs under two licensing regimes. Six certified firms appear in the directory; one advertises the claim handling Wisconsin law forbids and lets its Minnesota licence lapse, so five are ranked, with a family roofer founded in 1908 among them.
The conditions a La Crosse roof has to be specified for
Wisconsin has no roofing licence. Under Wis. Stat. 101.654 and its administrative code, nobody may pull a permit for a one- or two-family home without a Dwelling Contractor certification, backed by $250,000 of liability insurance or a bond, and a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, an education credential of 12 hours of coursework renewed every two years. An owner living in the home may pull their own permit. The metro’s third county, Houston County, Minnesota, is different: Minnesota requires a state licence to contract for residential roofing at all, and four of the ranked firms hold one.
Wis. Stat. 100.65 governs insurance-funded roofing. A contractor may not promise to pay or rebate your deductible, and may not represent you or negotiate your claim, or advertise that it will; with your consent it may discuss the damage and submit its estimate to the insurer. You may cancel until the end of the third business day after the insurer’s written denial of all or part of the claim, with refunds due within ten days. Each violation carries a forfeiture of $500 to $1,000.
The City of La Crosse requires a permit for a reroof, at a flat $75 that includes plan review, and triple if work starts first. The application asks for the underlayment, the number of existing layers and the slope, and requires the contractor’s Dwelling Contractor and Qualifier numbers; inspections follow after the underlayment and flashing and on completion. Whenever more than a quarter of a roof covering is replaced within a year, the whole roof must meet the code. The Uniform Dwelling Code requires ice dam protection on low-slope shingle roofs over heated space, bars a third layer, and sets a 30 psf snow load here.
Across 2016 to 2025 La Crosse, Vernon and Houston counties logged 104 hail reports, 11 of two inches or more, the largest a four-inch softball near West Salem on 28 July 2023, plus 182 thunderstorm wind reports and 14 tornadoes, with $51.6 million of recorded damage, 92 percent of it from the Holmen storm. The metro’s median home was built in 1977; the city of La Crosse’s dates from 1965, and 53.9 percent of the city’s homes are rented.
The 5 best roofers in La Crosse, WI
Scored 2026-10-07. The metro mean rating used as the Bayesian prior for La Crosse is 4.667, across a pool of 5 certified contractors.
| Rank | Company | TRB Score | Certification | Rating (reviews) | Adjusted | In business since | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverland Exteriors | 80.3 | Master Elite | 5.0 (124) | 4.904 | not published | Holmen, WI |
| 2 | Ledegar Roofing Company | 79.6 | Master Elite | 4.9 (112) | 4.828 | 1908 | La Crosse, WI |
| 3 | First American Roofing & Siding | 79.1 | Master Elite | 4.8 (292) | 4.781 | not published | Onalaska, WI |
| 4 | Ace of All Trades | 59.6 | Certified | 5.0 (27) | 4.784 | 2018 | Holmen, WI |
| 5 | Kliscz Contracting | 49.0 | Certified | 5.0 (6) | 4.702 | not published | Viroqua, WI |
1. Riverland Exteriors: TRB Score 80.3
Riverland Exteriors is based in Holmen, WI, led by Ryan Johnson, owner, Not accredited; A+ rating; no complaints in three years, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 36.2 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 12.8 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 7.4 | 10 |
| Total | 80.3 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- A+ rating, not accredited, business start November 2016, no complaints; service area La Crosse County.. BBB business profile
- Residential building contractor licence BC768307 since April 2020, no enforcement flag.. Minnesota DLI register
What they actually do. Hail and wind damage roof replacement, residential and commercial roofing, siding and gutters.
Why it ranks here. The top score in the pool: Master Elite certification and a perfect 5.0 across 124 reviews from a Holmen storm-restoration roofer with service pages for La Crosse, Onalaska, West Salem and La Crescent, Minnesota, and a Minnesota licence for the Houston County side.
Best fit for: Hail replacements in Holmen and Onalaska.
What we would want clarified. It works across five states and markets help through the insurance claims process; Wisconsin law bars a roofer from negotiating your claim, so keep that in your own hands. It is not BBB accredited. Wisconsin’s credential search was unreachable, so confirm its Dwelling Contractor numbers on the permit. Certification tier and reviews are unverified. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (608) 792-3013, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
2. Ledegar Roofing Company: TRB Score 79.6
Ledegar Roofing Company is based in La Crosse, WI, in business since 1908, led by Alex, Zeke and Regan Koonce, owners since 2023, Not accredited; A+ rating; no complaints in three years, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 33.1 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 12.5 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 10.0 | 10 |
| Total | 79.6 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Founded in 1908 by John Ledegar in his garage; on Miller Street for more than 50 years; ownership passed within the Koonce family at the end of 2022.. Company history page
- A+ rating, not accredited, business start November 1908, no complaints.. BBB business profile
- Residential roofer licence RR549409 since 2005, no enforcement flag.. Minnesota DLI register
What they actually do. Commercial and residential roofing, chimney repair, roof snow removal and maintenance.
Why it ranks here. One of the oldest roofing companies in the programme: founded in La Crosse in 1908, with BBB and its own history agreeing, Master Elite certification, a 4.9 across 112 reviews, and a stated practice of full tear-off, new underlayment and replacement of rotten decking on every residential estimate.
Best fit for: Older La Crosse houses, chimneys and roof snow removal.
What we would want clarified. It does a large commercial book as well as homes, and ownership passed to the next generation of the family at the end of 2022. It is not BBB accredited. Certification tier and reviews are unverified. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (608) 785-0901, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
3. First American Roofing & Siding: TRB Score 79.1
First American Roofing & Siding is based in Onalaska, WI, led by Dallas Werner, owner and president; Amy Werner, co-owner (BBB), BBB accredited since 15 June 2007, A+ rating, no complaints in three years, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
Certifications held: Master Elite (GAF), Focus on Energy Trade Ally. Certification by more than one manufacturer is uncommon and requires meeting each programme’s separate standards for insurance, training and track record.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 31.2 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 15.0 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 8.8 | 10 |
| Total | 79.1 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Accredited since 15 June 2007 with an A+ rating, business start April 2005, no complaints.. BBB business profile
- Residential building contractor licence BC699603 since 2015, no enforcement flag.. Minnesota DLI register
- 13 surveyed customers, all of 11 respondents would recommend, with jobs in Onalaska, Holmen, La Crosse, La Crescent and West Salem.. GuildQuality
What they actually do. Roofing, siding, windows, gutters, ice dam removal and insulation.
Why it ranks here. An Onalaska family firm with the deepest review base in the pool, a 4.8 across 292, the longest BBB accreditation, since 2007, and Master Elite certification. Its owner, a National Guard veteran, also offers roof snow and ice dam removal.
Best fit for: Homeowners who want an established, accredited local firm, and ice dam problems.
What we would want clarified. Its founding year rests on BBB alone. Wisconsin’s credential search was unreachable, so confirm its Dwelling Contractor numbers on the permit. Certification tier and reviews are unverified. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (608) 783-3101, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
4. Ace of All Trades: TRB Score 59.6
Ace of All Trades is based in Holmen, WI, in business since 2018, led by Shane Collins, President and founder, BBB accredited since 4 February 2021, A+ rating, no complaints in three years, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 12 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 31.3 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 8.8 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 7.4 | 10 |
| Total | 59.6 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Accredited since 4 February 2021 with an A+ rating, business start March 2018, no complaints; roofing, siding, gutters, windows and storm restoration.. BBB business profile
- Residential building contractor licence BC792515 since 2022, no enforcement flag.. Minnesota DLI register
What they actually do. Residential roofing in asphalt and metal, storm work, siding, gutters and low-slope coatings.
Why it ranks here. A roofing-led Holmen firm founded in 2018, with the date agreeing across BBB and its own site, a perfect 5.0 across 27 reviews, and a service area across La Crosse, Trempealeau, Vernon, Houston and Winona counties.
Best fit for: Holmen homeowners who want a local owner-run firm.
What we would want clarified. Its insurance page invites you to let it be your advocate on roof damage claims; Wisconsin law lets a roofer discuss damage and submit an estimate but not negotiate your claim, so keep that role yourself. Its review base is moderate. Certification tier and reviews are unverified. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (608) 792-3009, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
5. Kliscz Contracting: TRB Score 49.0
Kliscz Contracting is based in Viroqua, WI, led by Trevor Kliscz, owner, BBB accredited since 30 April 2026, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 12 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 28.1 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 5.1 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 3.8 | 10 |
| Total | 49.0 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Accredited since 30 April 2026 with an A+ rating, business start 2017; a roofing, siding and gutter contractor focused on storm repair; service area Vernon County.. BBB business profile
- Kliscz Contracting Corp., restored to good standing, Viroqua.. Wisconsin corporate record via OpenCorporates
What they actually do. Roofing, siding, gutters and storm repair.
Why it ranks here. A small Vernon County roofer in Viroqua, close to Westby, with a perfect 5.0 across six reviews.
Best fit for: Vernon County homeowners after the 2026 Westby hail.
What we would want clarified. The thinnest record we rank here: six reviews, no website, a BBB accreditation that began on 30 April 2026, two weeks after the Westby storm, and evidence of work in Vernon County only. It holds no Minnesota licence. Certification tier and reviews are unverified. We publish this because a ranking that only prints the flattering findings is an advertisement, not an assessment.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (608) 295-5692, which is the registry’s contact line and is often a directory tracking number rather than the contractor’s own: take the number from the company’s own website and compare the two.
Other roofers serving La Crosse
Five certified firms are ranked here. These two are based in the metro with an Owens Corning credential and a Minnesota licence. They are not scored and we are not recommending them.
| Company | Verified credential |
|---|---|
| Great River Roofing | Owens Corning network member on Saint Andrew Street, La Crosse; Minnesota residential licence BC692829 since 2015; BBB A+, not accredited. |
| Next Level Xteriors LLC | Owens Corning network member in Holmen; BBB accredited at A+ under storm damage repair; its Minnesota licence was issued only in September 2026. |
What 4.0 inch hail does to a La Crosse roof
Aggregate hail counts tell you very little about a specific roof. These are the individual events: every severe-weather report logged by the National Weather Service across the 3 counties of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN statistical area over ten years, with the dates, the stone sizes and the towns they landed on. Over that decade the metro logged 104 hail reports, 182 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports and 14 tornadoes. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $51.6 million; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.
The biggest hail to fall on La Crosse in a decade
| Date | Stone size | Reported near | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 July 2023 | 4.0 in | Neshbonoc Lake | La Crosse |
| 28 July 2023 | 3.0 in | West Salem | La Crosse |
| 28 July 2023 | 2.75 in | Bangor | La Crosse |
| 28 July 2023 | 2.75 in | West Salem | La Crosse |
| 28 July 2023 | 2.75 in | Holmen | La Crosse |
| 2 June 2020 | 2.5 in | New Amsterdam | La Crosse |
The largest stone on record for this metro fell on 28 July 2023 near Neshbonoc Lake, measured at 4.0 inches. That is grapefruit sized. Stones that big destroy asphalt shingles outright, dent metal, crack tile and routinely total roofs across whole neighbourhoods.
Wind. The strongest thunderstorm gust logged in the metro was 70 knots, about 81 mph, near Westby on 11 August 2023. Asphalt shingles begin lifting at roughly 67 mph when they are correctly nailed, and considerably below that when they are not.
Tornadoes. 14 tornadoes touched down in these counties over the decade, the strongest rated EF1 near West Salem Arpt on 6 March 2017.
What the National Weather Service wrote about it
The NWS logs a written account of each severe-weather episode. This is its description of the 11 August 2023 event near Westby, reproduced verbatim:
An NWS Storm Survey estimated 80 mph wind gusts near Westby with extensive damage that included many snapped maple trees.
That account is the design case for a roof here, and it comes from the agency that recorded it rather than by a contractor selling the repair.
When it happens. Severe weather reports cluster in July (96), June (71), May (59). The worst years on record were 2017 (57), 2021 (40), 2022 (36). If you are scheduling non-urgent work in La Crosse, the months outside that window are when crews are least stretched and least likely to be triaging emergency callouts ahead of your job.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, county-level detail files 2016 to 2025, filtered to the counties of this statistical area by The Roofing Brief. Damage figures are as reported to the NWS and undercount insured losses.
What to do with this. La Crosse sees enough damaging hail that a Class 4 impact-rated shingle is worth pricing, though not automatically worth buying. Get both quotes and weigh the premium against any insurance discount.
Holmen, 2 June 2020
On the afternoon of 2 June 2020 hail between one and two and a half inches fell on Holmen, most of it, NWS noted, golf-ball size or larger. The federal storm record states that between 4,000 and 5,000 homes sustained roof damage, and puts the damage at $45.5 million. The Census Bureau counts 4,797 housing units in the village of Holmen, so the estimate approaches its entire housing stock, though it may include homes just outside the village line. The same storm hit New Amsterdam with 2.5-inch hail and left more than 6,600 customers without power.
Holmen keeps getting hit: golf-ball hail in May 2022, 2.75-inch hail in July 2023, two-inch hail in September 2024. The July 2023 storm also produced the decade’s largest stone, a four-inch softball near Neshbonoc Lake by West Salem, and eight of the metro’s eleven reports of hail two inches or larger.
Then, on 14 April 2026, wind-driven baseball hail struck Westby in Vernon County. NOAA’s preliminary 2026 record, citing the county’s emergency managers, says roughly 1,100 homes there had roof, window and siding damage, and puts the damage at $26.7 million; NWS logged 2.75-inch stones that broke a patrol car’s windshield. Those figures may still be revised.
Storms like these bring roofers who market claim help. Wisconsin’s law is specific: a contractor may submit its estimate and discuss the damage with your consent, but may not negotiate your claim or advertise that it will, and you may cancel within three business days of a denial. Inside La Crosse, the permit brings two inspections, one of them of the underlayment and flashing before they are covered.
For a homeowner in Holmen or Westby that turns into practical checks: insist on the permit and both inspections, keep the claim in your own hands, and ask whether an impact-rated shingle makes sense on a roof likely to see hail again.
Holmen’s hail and the rules on a La Crosse reroof
| Item | Figure or rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Holmen hail, 2 June 2020 | 4,000 to 5,000 homes with roof damage; $45.5 million | NWS La Crosse via NOAA NCEI |
| Housing units in Holmen village | 4,797 | ACS 2020 to 2024 |
| Largest stone, 2016 to 2025 | 4.0 inches, near West Salem, 28 July 2023 | NOAA NCEI Storm Events |
| Westby hail, 14 April 2026 | About 1,100 homes damaged; $26.7 million (preliminary) | NOAA NCEI preliminary 2026 file |
| Contractor credential | Dwelling Contractor certification plus Qualifier | Wis. Stat. 101.654; SPS 305.31 |
| Claim negotiation or advertising it | Prohibited | Wis. Stat. 100.65(8) |
| Cancellation after a denial | Three business days | Wis. Stat. 100.65(5) |
| La Crosse reroof permit | $75 flat; two inspections; triple if late | La Crosse fee schedule and permit form |
| Minnesota side | State residential licence required | Minn. Stat. 326B.805 |
| Renter share, City of La Crosse | 53.9 percent | ACS 2020 to 2024, B25003 |
Source: NWS La Crosse narratives in the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, including the preliminary 2026 file; Wis. Stat. 100.65 and 101.654; Wisconsin Uniform Dwelling Code SPS 321 and SPS 305; City of La Crosse permit application and municipal code; Minn. Stat. 326B.802 and 326B.805; Minnesota DLI register; BBB business profiles; US Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024.
Before you sign anything in La Crosse
Licensing is required in WI. Wisconsin does not issue a roofing-specific licence, but anyone pulling a building permit for work on a one- or two-family dwelling must hold a Dwelling Contractor certification from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, and the company must also hold or employ a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. An owner who lives in the home may pull their own permit.
The Qualifier credential requires at least 12 hours of an approved course in dwelling construction, with course tests, and renews every two years on 12 hours of continuing education; the code describes its purpose as proof of continuing education. The business certification requires general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence or a surety bond: $25,000 for an unrestricted certification, while a smaller bond, down to $5,000, limits the contractor to jobs no larger than the bond. Under Wis. Stat. 100.65 a contractor may not promise to pay or rebate your insurance deductible, may not negotiate your claim for you, and must give you a cancellation form; you may cancel within three business days of a written denial of all or part of the claim. Each violation carries a forfeiture of $500 to $1,000.
Check here: Wisconsin DSPS Dwelling Contractor information. Ask for both credentials: a Dwelling Contractor certification without a Qualifier cannot legally pull your permit. The Uniform Dwelling Code requires ice dam protection on shingle and shake roofs only where the slope is 4:12 slope or less over heated space, running at least 30 inches up the slope and 12 inches past the inner face of the wall, so on steeper roofs it is a choice, not a rule.
Four checks to run before you sign anything, in any state.
- Verify certification at the source. Use the GAF verification tool rather than trusting a badge image on a company website.
- Get the certificate of insurance from the insurer, not the contractor, and confirm general liability and workers compensation are both active on the day work starts.
- Confirm who pulls the permit. If a contractor asks you to pull it as the homeowner, that moves liability onto you. Decline.
- Get warranty terms in writing before any deposit, and check the manufacturer warranty being promised actually requires the certification tier the contractor holds.
What the rest of the La Crosse field looks like
5 certified roofing contractors serve the principal cities of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN statistical area, of which 0 hold the top President’s Club tier. The pool carries 561 customer reviews between them at a mean rating of 4.667. The statistical area had a 2024 population of 170,763, a change of 0.25% against the 2020 census base, per the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates.
How these La Crosse rankings were produced
Every contractor in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN pool was scored out of 100 on four published components: certification tier, a Bayesian adjusted rating, review depth and distance from the metro centre. In this metro that meant scoring 5 certified contractors, of whom 0 hold President’s Club standing and 3 Master Elite, against a metro mean rating of 4.667. The top five were then researched individually against Better Business Bureau records, state licence registers and manufacturer directories. Anything unflattering that research surfaced appears above alongside the rest, and no company bought its position.
Set aside in La Crosse. A contractor that would otherwise have scored into the top five was removed for the reason stated. The score is computed from public data, but where the research pass finds evidence undermining an input to that score, the score is set aside.
- Heritage Xteriors, which scored 41.7: Excluded. Its website advertises working with your insurance company on your behalf to get everything you are entitled to from your claim, which reads against Wis. Stat. 100.65(8), which bars a contractor from advertising to represent or negotiate for a homeowner on a roof claim; that is our reading of its wording, not an agency finding. It also still displays a Minnesota roofer licence that the state register shows expired on 31 March 2026, and its 3.3 rating is the lowest in the pool.
The full method, the weightings, what the GAF certification tiers actually mean, who is eligible to be ranked and what we do not claim are all set out on our roofer ranking methodology page. Last updated: October 2026. Scoring run: 2026-10-07. Corrections go to the editor and are actioned on verification.
Common questions about roofers in La Crosse
Who is the best roofer in La Crosse, WI?
Riverland Exteriors of Holmen, WI scores highest in the La Crosse metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score, at 80.3 out of 100 as of October 2026. It holds Master Elite certification with a 5.0 rating across 124 reviews. Highest-scoring is not the same as best fit for your specific job, and the four companies behind it score within 31.3 points.
How many certified roofing contractors serve La Crosse?
5 contractors on the GAF certification registry serve the principal cities of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN statistical area as of October 2026, of which 0 hold President’s Club status.
How much damaging hail does La Crosse get?
The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN statistical area recorded 69 hail reports of 1 inch or larger and 11 of 2 inches or larger between 2016 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Events Database. The largest hailstone reported measured 4.0 inches.
Did any contractor pay to appear on this list?
No. The Roofing Brief takes no placement fees, no lead fees and no affiliate commission from any roofing contractor. Ranking comes entirely from the published formula applied to public registry data, followed by an individual research pass on the top five.
What was the worst hailstorm in La Crosse in the last ten years?
The largest hailstone logged by the National Weather Service in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN statistical area between 2016 and 2025 measured 4.0 inches, reported near Neshbonoc Lake on 28 July 2023. That is grapefruit sized. Stones that big destroy asphalt shingles outright, dent metal, crack tile and routinely total roofs across whole neighbourhoods. Across the decade the metro recorded 104 hail reports. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $51.6 million; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.
When is the worst time of year for roof damage in La Crosse?
Severe-weather reports in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN statistical area cluster in July, June, May, on the NOAA record for 2016 to 2025. Booking non-urgent roof work outside those months usually means shorter lead times, because local crews are not simultaneously triaging storm callouts.
Do roofers need a licence in WI?
Wisconsin does not issue a roofing-specific licence, but anyone pulling a building permit for work on a one- or two-family dwelling must hold a Dwelling Contractor certification from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, and the company must also hold or employ a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. An owner who lives in the home may pull their own permit. The Qualifier credential requires at least 12 hours of an approved course in dwelling construction, with course tests, and renews every two years on 12 hours of continuing education; the code describes its purpose as proof of continuing education. The business certification requires general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence or a surety bond: $25,000 for an unrestricted certification, while a smaller bond, down to $5,000, limits the contractor to jobs no larger than the bond. Under Wis. Stat. 100.65 a contractor may not promise to pay or rebate your insurance deductible, may not negotiate your claim for you, and must give you a cancellation form; you may cancel within three business days of a written denial of all or part of the claim. Each violation carries a forfeiture of $500 to $1,000.
What should I check before hiring a roofer in La Crosse?
Ask for both credentials: a Dwelling Contractor certification without a Qualifier cannot legally pull your permit. The Uniform Dwelling Code requires ice dam protection on shingle and shake roofs only where the slope is 4:12 slope or less over heated space, running at least 30 inches up the slope and 12 inches past the inner face of the wall, so on steeper roofs it is a choice, not a rule.
Holmen, 2 June 2020?
On the afternoon of 2 June 2020 hail between one and two and a half inches fell on Holmen, most of it, NWS noted, golf-ball size or larger. The federal storm record states that between 4,000 and 5,000 homes sustained roof damage, and puts the damage at $45.5 million. The Census Bureau counts 4,797 housing units in the village of Holmen, so the estimate approaches its entire housing stock, though it may include homes just outside the village line. The same storm hit New Amsterdam with 2.5-inch hail and left more than 6,600 customers without power.
Is La Crosse a hard market to find a good roofer in?
On 2 June 2020 hail of golf-ball size and larger fell on Holmen, and NWS recorded that between 4,000 and 5,000 homes had roof damage, close to the village’s entire housing stock, with $45.5 million of damage. In April 2026 baseball hail did the same to Westby. La Crosse sits across the Mississippi from Minnesota, so the metro runs under two licensing regimes. Six certified firms appear in the directory; one advertises the claim handling Wisconsin law forbids and lets its Minnesota licence lapse, so five are ranked, with a family roofer founded in 1908 among them.
Is wind or hail the bigger risk to a roof in La Crosse?
Wind, by a wide margin. The La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN statistical area logged 182 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports against 69 hail reports of an inch or more between 2016 and 2025. Wind damage shows up at the rake, ridge and edge rather than across the field of the roof, so the fastening schedule and edge detail matter more here than the impact rating of the shingle.
Why is Heritage Xteriors not on this list?
Excluded. Its website advertises working with your insurance company on your behalf to get everything you are entitled to from your claim, which reads against Wis. Stat. 100.65(8), which bars a contractor from advertising to represent or negotiate for a homeowner on a roof claim; that is our reading of its wording, not an agency finding. It also still displays a Minnesota roofer licence that the state register shows expired on 31 March 2026, and its 3.3 rating is the lowest in the pool..
Roofer rankings for other metros
The Roofing Brief scores certified roofing contractors in the 400 largest U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas on the same formula.
- Best roofers in Rochester, MN, about 64 miles from La Crosse
- Best roofers in Eau Claire, WI, about 70 miles from La Crosse
- Best roofers in Madison, WI, about 103 miles from La Crosse
- Best roofers in Oshkosh, WI, another WI metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Janesville, WI, another WI metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Idaho Falls, ID, a metro of comparable size
- Best roofers in Homosassa Springs, FL, a metro of comparable size
- Best roofers in Cedar Rapids, IA, also scored, about 131 miles away
See the full index of all 400 metro roofer rankings, or read how to find and vet a roofing contractor anywhere in the country.
Cite this analysis
The Roofing Brief. “Best Roofers in La Crosse, WI: The Roofing Brief Contractor Score.” Published October 2026. Inputs: GAF certification registry; NOAA Storm Events Database 2016-2025; U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 population estimates; Better Business Bureau and independent review-platform records for each ranked contractor.