Short answer: As of October 2026, the four highest-scoring roofing contractors in the Eau Claire, WI metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score are Orange Roofing (73.4), REO Roofing (73.3), Superior Roofing & Restoration (70.4), Chippewa Valley Exteriors (63.5). Every one holds a manufacturer certification that can be verified independently, every rating below has been corroborated against at least one source outside the certification registry, and no company paid to appear here.
The Roofing Brief scored 4 certified roofing contractors serving the Eau Claire metro on a published, reproducible formula, then researched each of the top four individually to confirm its record. On 15 May 2025 Eau Claire took the largest hail in its county’s record, four-inch stones near US 35, and the city’s own permit data shows what followed: 3,158 exterior permits that year, about 13 times normal, pulled by 206 different contractors against 44 the year before. Wisconsin has no roofing licence, so after a storm like that the permit record is one of the few checks a homeowner has. Four certified firms appear in the directory for the Chippewa Valley, all four based in the metro, and all four are ranked.
What an Eau Claire roof is up against
Wisconsin has no roofing licence and no roofing trade exam. To pull a permit on a one- or two-family home a contractor must hold a Dwelling Contractor certification, a business credential renewed yearly, and hold or employ a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, whose code-stated purpose is proof of continuing education (SPS 305.31 and 305.315). A contractor using a bond under $25,000 gets a restricted certification. An owner who lives in the home can pull their own permit.
The City of Eau Claire requires a permit to reroof, at a flat $35 for a house in 2026, doubled if work starts before the permit is issued; jobs under 200 square feet are exempt, and only state-certified contractors may take out permits. Chippewa Falls charges $4 per $1,000 of value with a $20 minimum. Eau Claire’s public permit portal lets anyone search permits by address or contractor without an account, so you can see whether a roof was permitted and how much work a roofer does in the city.
Under Wis. Stat. 100.65 a contractor may not promise to pay or rebate your deductible, must give you a boldface insurance question and a detachable cancellation notice, and must let you cancel before midnight of the third business day after a written denial of all or part of your claim. Wisconsin’s dwelling code requires an ice dam barrier on shingle roofs over heated space at slopes of 4:12 or less, at least four nails per strip shingle unless the maker says otherwise, and no new layer over two existing ones.
Across 2016 to 2025 Chippewa and Eau Claire counties logged 53 hail reports, 38 of an inch or larger, 82 thunderstorm wind reports and 14 tornadoes, with $3.48 million of recorded damage, $3.0 million of it from one EF3 near Albertville on 24 September 2019, the first September EF3 in Wisconsin since 2002. In the December 2021 derecho an EF2 took the roofs off about six homes in Stanley. The metro’s median home was built in 1978, and 45.6 percent of homes in the city of Eau Claire are rented.
The 4 best roofers in Eau Claire, WI
Scored 2026-10-07. The metro mean rating used as the Bayesian prior for Eau Claire is 4.9, across a pool of 4 certified contractors.
| Rank | Company | TRB Score | Certification | Rating (reviews) | Adjusted | In business since | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange Roofing | 73.4 | Certified | 5.0 (119) | 4.97 | 2018 | Chippewa Falls, WI |
| 2 | REO Roofing | 73.3 | Certified | 5.0 (77) | 4.961 | not published | Altoona, WI |
| 3 | Superior Roofing & Restoration | 70.4 | Certified | 4.9 (52) | 4.9 | not published | Eau Claire, WI |
| 4 | Chippewa Valley Exteriors | 63.5 | Certified | 4.7 (33) | 4.82 | not published | Chippewa Falls, WI |
1. Orange Roofing: TRB Score 73.4
Orange Roofing is based in Chippewa Falls, WI, in business since 2018, led by Clay Ollanketo, owner; Lindsey Ollanketo, co-owner, BBB accredited since 2 August 2018, A+ rating, no complaints closed in three years, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 12 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 38.8 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 15.0 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 7.6 | 10 |
| Total | 73.4 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Accredited since August 2018 with an A+ rating; business started January 2018; owners Clay and Lindsey Ollanketo; no complaints closed in three years.. BBB business profile
- 195 permits under Orange Roofing LLC from 2020 to October 2026, 192 of them residential exterior work, in every year since 2020, including 52 in 2025.. City of Eau Claire permit portal
- Member directory lists Orange Roofing LLC, Clay Ollanketo, a member since 2019.. Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association
What they actually do. Residential roof replacement, hail and wind storm restoration, siding and gutters.
Why it ranks here. A Chippewa Falls roofer founded in 2018 by Clay and Lindsey Ollanketo, with a perfect 5.0 across 119 GAF reviews, the deepest record in the pool. Its founding year agrees between BBB and its own site, it has been BBB accredited since its first year with no complaints, and it belongs to the local home builders’ association. Its strongest evidence is the city’s own permit record: 195 permits in Eau Claire since 2020, almost all reroofs, spread across every year rather than concentrated after one storm, which shows a steady local business.
Best fit for: Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls homeowners who want a roofing-first local firm with a permit trail in the city going back years.
What we would want clarified. It holds GAF’s entry Certified tier and no other manufacturer credential, and the business is eight years old. 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 (715) 577-5958, 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. REO Roofing: TRB Score 73.3
REO Roofing is based in Altoona, WI, led by Randy Oster, owner, BBB no BBB profile found, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.
Certifications held: Certified (GAF), Owens Corning Preferred Contractor. 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 | 12 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 38.4 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 13.7 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 9.2 | 10 |
| Total | 73.3 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Listed in Altoona as an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, membership 241596.. Owens Corning contractor locator
- Says Randy Oster founded REO Roofing in 2023 after storm-restoration work in Denver, Austin and the Southeast from 2013; service area Eau Claire, Altoona, Chippewa Falls and surrounding areas.. Company website
What they actually do. Asphalt shingle and metal roofing, storm and hail assessments, and siding.
Why it ranks here. An Altoona firm about three miles from Eau Claire, with a perfect 5.0 across 77 GAF reviews and Owens Corning Preferred status confirmed on Owens Corning’s own locator. Its owner spent about a decade in travelling storm-restoration work before founding the company, by its own account in 2023, and it names Eau Claire, Altoona and Chippewa Falls as its territory. We found no BBB profile and no city permits under the REO name; the city does show 128 exterior permits since 2025 for a contractor with matching initials and surname, which may be this firm but cannot be confirmed from initials.
Best fit for: Homeowners who want a young firm with two manufacturer credentials and storm-claim experience.
What we would want clarified. A very young business with no BBB record, a founding year that rests on its own site, and an owner whose background is in travelling storm work; ask for its Dwelling Contractor numbers and local references from before the 2025 storm. 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 (715) 214-7810, 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. Superior Roofing & Restoration: TRB Score 70.4
Superior Roofing & Restoration is based in Eau Claire, WI, led by Tom L. Beetch, owner, Not accredited; A+ rating; no complaints closed in three years, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.
Certifications held: Certified (GAF), Owens Corning Preferred Contractor. 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 | 12 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 36.0 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 12.4 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 10.0 | 10 |
| Total | 70.4 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- A+ rating, not accredited, business started July 2019, owner Tom L. Beetch, no complaints closed in three years.. BBB business profile
- Listed in Eau Claire as an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, membership 231643.. Owens Corning contractor locator
- 228 permits under its name, 225 of them residential exterior work: 21 in 2024, 171 in 2025 and 35 in 2026; in 2025 it pulled more residential exterior permits than any other named contractor in the city.. City of Eau Claire permit portal
What they actually do. Residential reroofing, storm and hail restoration, and some multi-building and commercial roofing.
Why it ranks here. The only ranked firm based in the city of Eau Claire, with a second office in Wausau, 52 GAF reviews averaging 4.9 and Owens Corning Preferred status. It was the busiest named roofer in Eau Claire after the May 2025 hail, with 171 permits that year against 21 the year before, so it has more recent local jobs than any firm here. Its record is clean, though the business dates only from 2019 by BBB’s account. Its website still carries template placeholder text, a Pennsylvania service line, an 888-888-5555 number and a Philadelphia address, alongside its real Eau Claire details.
Best fit for: City of Eau Claire homeowners who want the local firm with the most recent reroof experience in town.
What we would want clarified. Its 2025 volume was eight times its 2024 volume, so ask about crew capacity and who installs; it is not BBB accredited, and its website’s placeholder text is worth a question. 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 (715) 598-1501, 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. Chippewa Valley Exteriors: TRB Score 63.5
Chippewa Valley Exteriors is based in Chippewa Falls, WI, led by Jim Russell and Jeffrey J. Helmuth, co-owners, BBB accredited since 25 January 2017, A+ rating, no complaints closed in three years, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.
Certifications held: Certified (GAF), Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor. 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 | 12 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 32.8 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 11.0 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 7.6 | 10 |
| Total | 63.5 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Accredited since January 2017 with an A+ rating; LLC founded December 2015; co-owners Jim Russell and Jeffrey J. Helmuth; no complaints; a second location in Hudson.. BBB business profile
- Listed in Lake Hallie at Owens Corning’s top tier, Platinum Preferred, membership 220949, with 44 reviews averaging 4.91.. Owens Corning contractor locator
- The Chippewa Falls office serves Chippewa Falls, Bloomer, Eau Claire, Rice Lake, Altoona, Menomonie, Dunn County and Lake Hallie; a Hudson office opened in 2024. Publishes Wisconsin credential 011600046-DC.. Company website, Areas Served
What they actually do. Roofing, siding, windows and doors, gutters, storm restoration, and multifamily and commercial exteriors.
Why it ranks here. A Lake Hallie exterior contractor, now trading as CV Exteriors, that holds Owens Corning’s top Platinum tier alongside its GAF listing and a clean BBB accreditation since 2017. Its service area names Eau Claire, Altoona and Chippewa Falls, and it publishes its Wisconsin credential number. Its website says it has served western Wisconsin since 1948, but BBB records the LLC as founded in 2015 and we found nothing documenting a predecessor, so we record no founding year. City records show it mostly as an exterior contractor on new homes, with only a handful of city reroof permits, so its reroofing is likely concentrated outside Eau Claire’s limits.
Best fit for: Chippewa Falls, Lake Hallie and rural-county homeowners who want Owens Corning’s top tier and a firm that also handles windows and siding.
What we would want clarified. Its 4.7 rating across 33 GAF reviews is the lowest of the four, its 1948 founding claim is undocumented, and it has few reroof permits inside the city of Eau Claire. 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 (715) 723-6320, 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 Eau Claire
Four certified firms are ranked here. These five are based in the metro with an Owens Corning credential or a long BBB record, and most show up in the city’s permit records. They are not scored and we are not recommending them. We excluded one firm for an F rating and another that markets itself as a homeowner’s insurance advocate.
| Company | Verified credential |
|---|---|
| Yakesh Roofing & Siding | Owens Corning Preferred on Meadow Lane in Eau Claire, with 223 GuildQuality reviews averaging 4.93; trading since 1997; city permits under its name go back to 1993, and it was among the top three reroofers in the city each year from 2020 to 2024. |
| Rock & Tait Exteriors | BBB accredited since 2006 at A+, trading since 2002 on Melby St in Eau Claire; 201 city residential exterior permits, 137 of them in 2025; no complaints. |
| Bertrang Roofing & Siding | Owens Corning Preferred in Fairchild, Eau Claire County, trading since 1975, with city permits back to 1990. The website Owens Corning lists for it now serves an unrelated lead-generation page, so contact it through its BBB file. |
| C.S. Construction | Owens Corning Preferred on N Hastings Way in Eau Claire, with 210 GuildQuality reviews averaging 4.5; trading since 2005; also does insulation and interior remodelling. |
| TF Exteriors | Owens Corning Preferred and BBB accredited since 2018 at A+, on Western Ave in Eau Claire; a metal roofing specialist with its own sheet metal shop. |
The 38 inch-plus hail reports behind an Eau Claire 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 2 counties of the Eau Claire, WI statistical area over ten years, with the dates, the stone sizes and the towns they landed on. Over that decade the metro logged 53 hail reports, 82 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports and 14 tornadoes. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $3.5 million; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.
The biggest hail to fall on Eau Claire in a decade
| Date | Stone size | Reported near | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2025 | 4.0 in | Eau Claire | Eau Claire |
| 28 July 2023 | 3.0 in | Bloomer | Chippewa |
| 15 May 2025 | 2.75 in | Altoona | Eau Claire |
| 15 May 2025 | 2.25 in | Eau Claire | Eau Claire |
| 15 May 2025 | 2.0 in | Cleghorn | Eau Claire |
| 15 May 2025 | 2.0 in | Chippewa | Chippewa |
The largest stone on record for this metro fell on 15 May 2025 near Eau Claire, 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 74 knots, about 85 mph, near Wilson on 21 May 2024. 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 EF3 near Albertville on 24 September 2019.
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 21 May 2024 event near Wilson, reproduced verbatim:
A portion of the roof was blown off a house. A garage door of a large machine shed was blown off. A smaller shed across the road was damaged. About two dozen trees were broken or knocked over, northeast of where the tornado had dissipated. There was no apparent path nor was there any sign of convergent damage.
A roof in this metro is built against events like that one, as recorded by the agency that recorded it rather than by a contractor selling the repair.
When it happens. Severe weather reports cluster in May (43), June (32), July (31). The worst years on record were 2021 (29), 2024 (19), 2025 (19). If you are scheduling non-urgent work in Eau Claire, 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. Hail is not the governing risk in Eau Claire. Weight your decision toward wind rating, ventilation and flashing detail rather than paying extra for impact-rated shingles.
The May 2025 hail, and the permit wave after it
On the late afternoon of 15 May 2025 a strong line of storms moved northeast through western Wisconsin. In Eau Claire County it dropped hail up to four inches across, reported near US 35 between Eau Claire and Altoona along with damage to siding. Two rounds fell on the south side near Golf Road, the largest a 2.75-inch stone at the WQOW studio at about 4:18 pm, and 2.25-inch hail came down on the northeast side along North Crossing.
It was the largest hail in Eau Claire County’s Storm Events record, which holds 124 county hail reports going back to 1980; the previous largest was 2.5 inches, in April 2002. That one afternoon produced five of the seven hail reports of two inches or more logged in the two counties in a decade.
The city’s permit portal shows the aftermath. Eau Claire issued 3,158 Residential Building Exterior permits in 2025, the category it uses for shingle and metal reroofs as well as siding, against 171 to 286 a year from 2020 to 2024, about 13 times the average. Monthly permits went from 41 in May to 487 in June and 704 in July and stayed above 400 a month into October. By early October 2026 another 715 had been issued, still about three times a normal year.
The number of firms changed as much as the volume. In 2024, 44 differently named contractors pulled these permits in the city; in 2025, 206 did. Some were local roofers stretched by demand, and some were crews that came in after the storm. The portal also shows which firms actually work here: among the ranked firms below, Orange Roofing has 195 city permits since 2020, and Superior Roofing & Restoration pulled more residential exterior permits in 2025 than any other named contractor in the city.
That makes the portal the Eau Claire homeowner’s best tool. Before you sign, search the roofer’s name to see how long it has worked in the city and whether its jobs carry permits. After the work, search your own address to confirm the permit was pulled. And if the roof is insurance-funded, remember that Wisconsin bars any deal on your deductible and gives you three business days to cancel after a denial.
The 2025 hail and the permit record in Eau Claire
| Item | Figure or rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Largest hail, 15 May 2025 | 4.0 inches near US 35, Eau Claire to Altoona | NWS Twin Cities via NOAA NCEI |
| Previous county record | 2.5 inches, 18 April 2002 | NOAA NCEI Storm Events, from 1980 |
| Residential exterior permits, City of Eau Claire, 2025 | 3,158 | City of Eau Claire permit portal |
| Same permits, 2020 to 2024 | 171 to 286 a year | City of Eau Claire permit portal |
| Contractors pulling them, 2024 and 2025 | 44 and 206 | City of Eau Claire permit portal |
| Residential reroof permit fee, Eau Claire | $35 flat; doubled if work starts first | City of Eau Claire 2026 fee schedule |
| Albertville EF3, 24 September 2019 | About 150 mph; 29 homes; $3.0 million | NWS Twin Cities via NOAA NCEI |
| Permit credential | Dwelling Contractor plus Qualifier | Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.31 |
| Cancellation after a claim denial | Before midnight of the third business day | Wis. Stat. 100.65 |
| Renter-occupied homes, City of Eau Claire | 45.6 percent | ACS 2020 to 2024, B25003 |
Source: NWS episode narratives and NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (Chippewa and Eau Claire counties, bulk files); City of Eau Claire permit portal, building permit guidance and 2026 fee schedule; City of Chippewa Falls fee schedule; Wis. Stat. 100.65 and 101.654; Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305.31, 305.315, 321.02 and 321.28; Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association; Owens Corning contractor locator; BBB business profiles; US Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024.
What to verify before an Eau Claire contractor starts
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.
How deep the Eau Claire certified market really is
4 certified roofing contractors serve the principal cities of the Eau Claire, WI statistical area, of which 0 hold the top President’s Club tier. The pool carries 281 customer reviews between them at a mean rating of 4.9. The statistical area had a 2024 population of 176,153, a change of 2.42% against the 2020 census base, per the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates.
How these Eau Claire rankings were produced
Every contractor in the Eau Claire, WI 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 4 certified contractors, of whom 0 hold President’s Club standing and 0 Master Elite, against a metro mean rating of 4.9. The top four were then researched individually against Better Business Bureau records, state licence registers and manufacturer directories. Where that research turned up something awkward it is on the page, and no placement was paid for.
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.
Questions Eau Claire homeowners ask
Who is the best roofer in Eau Claire, WI?
Orange Roofing of Chippewa Falls, WI scores highest in the Eau Claire metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score, at 73.4 out of 100 as of October 2026. It holds Certified certification with a 5.0 rating across 119 reviews. Highest-scoring is not the same as best fit for your specific job, and the three companies behind it score within 9.9 points.
How many certified roofing contractors serve Eau Claire?
4 contractors on the GAF certification registry serve the principal cities of the Eau Claire, WI statistical area as of October 2026, of which 0 hold President’s Club status.
How much damaging hail does Eau Claire get?
The Eau Claire, WI statistical area recorded 38 hail reports of 1 inch or larger and 7 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 four.
What was the worst hailstorm in Eau Claire in the last ten years?
The largest hailstone logged by the National Weather Service in the Eau Claire, WI statistical area between 2016 and 2025 measured 4.0 inches, reported near Eau Claire on 15 May 2025. 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 53 hail reports. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $3.5 million; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.
When is the worst time of year for roof damage in Eau Claire?
Severe-weather reports in the Eau Claire, WI statistical area cluster in May, June, July, on the NOAA record for 2016 to 2025. Outside those months local crews are not triaging storm damage, so lead times are shorter and scheduling is easier.
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 Eau Claire?
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.
The May 2025 hail, and the permit wave after it?
On the late afternoon of 15 May 2025 a strong line of storms moved northeast through western Wisconsin. In Eau Claire County it dropped hail up to four inches across, reported near US 35 between Eau Claire and Altoona along with damage to siding. Two rounds fell on the south side near Golf Road, the largest a 2.75-inch stone at the WQOW studio at about 4:18 pm, and 2.25-inch hail came down on the northeast side along North Crossing.
Is Eau Claire a hard market to find a good roofer in?
On 15 May 2025 Eau Claire took the largest hail in its county’s record, four-inch stones near US 35, and the city’s own permit data shows what followed: 3,158 exterior permits that year, about 13 times normal, pulled by 206 different contractors against 44 the year before. Wisconsin has no roofing licence, so after a storm like that the permit record is one of the few checks a homeowner has. Four certified firms appear in the directory for the Chippewa Valley, all four based in the metro, and all four are ranked.
Is wind or hail the bigger risk to a roof in Eau Claire?
Wind, by a wide margin. The Eau Claire, WI statistical area logged 82 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports against 38 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.
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 La Crosse, WI, about 70 miles from Eau Claire
- Best roofers in Rochester, MN, about 74 miles from Eau Claire
- Best roofers in Minneapolis, MN, about 87 miles from Eau Claire
- Best roofers in Appleton, WI, another WI metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Madison, WI, another WI metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Oshkosh, WI, a metro of comparable size
- Best roofers in Muskegon, MI, a metro of comparable size
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 Eau Claire, 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.