Short answer: As of September 2026, the five highest-scoring roofing contractors in the Madison, WI metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score are The Badger Company (93.8), Ridge Top Exteriors, Inc. (91.9), Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC (89.6), Heins Contracting (89.3), Isthmus Roofing (81.6). Each holds a certification we verified on the manufacturer’s own register, every rating was corroborated elsewhere, and placement on this page is not for sale.
The Roofing Brief scored 11 certified roofing contractors serving the Madison metro on a published, reproducible formula, then researched each of the top five individually to confirm its record. Madison takes 224 damaging-hail reports of an inch or larger a decade and has a certified pool with unusual quality at the top: the four highest-scoring contractors all hold GAF’s President’s Club tier and all four clear 89 points. Wisconsin’s regulation is the weak link. The state requires a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential, which involves a twelve-hour course and renewal every two years, but no trade examination testing whether anyone can actually install a roof. Manufacturer certification therefore does most of the work here. What sets this metro apart is review volume: three of the five below carry review counts in the high hundreds or above a thousand, which is rare outside metros three times this size.
Quick picks for Madison:
- The Badger Company: best overall (TRB Score 93.8). Verified services: siding, windows, gutters.
- Ridge Top Exteriors, Inc.: most-reviewed local firm (TRB Score 91.9). Verified services: commercial roofing, siding, gutters, windows.
- Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC: best for western Dane and Sauk County (TRB Score 89.6). Verified services: siding, gutters.
- Heins Contracting: best for commercial buildings (TRB Score 89.3). Verified services: commercial roofing, siding, windows, gutters.
- Isthmus Roofing: best for Fitchburg and Verona (TRB Score 81.6). Verified services: commercial roofing, siding.
What a Madison roof is up against
Dane County and its neighbours take real hail. NOAA holds 287 hail reports over the decade, 224 of them an inch or larger and 25 at two inches or more, with 3-inch stones near the Green County airport in April 2020 and 2.75-inch hail at Attica in April 2025. Add 250 severe wind reports, including an 87-knot event near Linden in August 2016, and 30 tornadoes. May and July are the peak months, and 2024 and 2025 were the two busiest years in the record.
Winter decides how a Madison roof ages. The city averages more than 50 inches of snow, and ice dams form on north-facing slopes most Februaries, so ice-barrier underlayment at the eaves, a cold and well-ventilated attic, and gutters that are clear before the first thaw are what prevent the recurring winter leak. Contractors here should be quoting the ventilation and the membrane as a system, not as add-ons.
Wisconsin’s credential is administrative rather than technical. Anyone pulling a building permit for work on one and two-family homes must hold Dwelling Contractor certification from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, and the company must hold or employ a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, which takes a twelve-hour course and periodic renewal. There is no trade examination behind it, so the credential confirms that someone sat a course and carries insurance, not that they can install a roof.
The City of Madison requires a permit to replace roofing, with only small repairs below a modest value exempt, and the surrounding municipalities in Dane, Columbia, Green and Iowa counties each run their own inspection offices. Because the state credential proves so little, the useful checks here are the permit, the certification tier and the review record, and this metro has unusually deep review histories to read.
The 5 best roofers in Madison, WI
Scored 2026-09-20. The metro mean rating used as the Bayesian prior for Madison is 4.755, across a pool of 11 certified contractors.
| Rank | Company | TRB Score | Certification | Rating (reviews) | Adjusted | In business since | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Badger Company | 93.8 | President’s Club | 5.0 (299) | 4.965 | not published | Waunakee, WI |
| 2 | Ridge Top Exteriors, Inc. | 91.9 | President’s Club | 4.8 (1,352) | 4.798 | not published | Madison, WI |
| 3 | Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC | 89.6 | President’s Club | 4.9 (814) | 4.892 | not published | Sauk City, WI |
| 4 | Heins Contracting | 89.3 | President’s Club | 4.8 (401) | 4.795 | 2015 | Madison, WI |
| 5 | Isthmus Roofing | 81.6 | Master Elite | 5.0 (220) | 4.955 | not published | Fitchburg, WI |
1. The Badger Company: best overall (TRB Score 93.8)
The Badger Company is based in Waunakee, WI, Not BBB accredited, and holds President’s Club standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 35 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 38.6 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 11.9 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 8.3 | 10 |
| Total | 93.8 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- BBB profile on record; the company is not accredited. BBB
- Listed with GuildQuality, which surveys customers directly rather than collecting volunteered reviews. GuildQuality
- Roofing, siding, windows and gutters across Dane County. Company
What they actually do. Roofing, siding, windows and gutters across the Madison metro.
Services we could verify: siding, windows, gutters.
Why it ranks here. A clean 5.0 across 299 registry reviews with President’s Club certification and GuildQuality participation, so its feedback is solicited from every customer rather than volunteered by the pleased ones.
Best fit for: Waunakee, Middleton and the northern Dane County suburbs.
What we would want clarified. Not BBB accredited, so there is no complaint record to read. In a state with no roofing exam, that removes one of the few external checks available. Ask for the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential and the certificate of insurance from the insurer directly. 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) 850-6282, 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. Ridge Top Exteriors, Inc.: most-reviewed local firm (TRB Score 91.9)
Ridge Top Exteriors, Inc. is based in Madison, WI, BBB accredited, A+ rating, and holds President’s Club standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 35 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 31.9 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 15.0 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 10.0 | 10 |
| Total | 91.9 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- A+ rated BBB accredited business. BBB
- Listed with GuildQuality, which surveys customers directly. GuildQuality
- Listed on HomeAdvisor with a review history. HomeAdvisor
What they actually do. Residential and light commercial roofing, siding, gutters, gutter guards and windows.
Services we could verify: commercial roofing, siding, gutters, windows.
Why it ranks here. 1,352 registry reviews is the deepest evidence base in this batch and one of the deepest in the entire programme, from an A+ accredited business based in Madison itself with GuildQuality participation. At that sample size a 4.8 is a far stronger claim than a 5.0 from fifty.
Best fit for: Madison city homeowners wanting the largest verifiable record in the metro.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (608) 200-3445, 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. Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC: best for western Dane and Sauk County (TRB Score 89.6)
Frey Construction & Home Improvement, LLC is based in Sauk City, WI, BBB accredited since 14 October 1999, A+ rating, and holds President’s Club standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 35 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 35.7 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 13.9 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 5.0 | 10 |
| Total | 89.6 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- A+ rated and accredited since 14 October 1999, a 27-year unbroken record. BBB
- 1,039 reviews recorded on an independent aggregator. Reviews
What they actually do. Roofing, siding, seamless gutters, gutter protection and insulation, plus interior remodelling.
Services we could verify: siding, gutters.
Why it ranks here. 814 registry reviews corroborated by more than a thousand elsewhere, and 27 years of unbroken A+ accreditation, the longest continuous complaint record in the Madison pool by more than a decade. Accreditation lapses when complaints go unanswered, so an unbroken run since 1999 is itself the evidence.
Best fit for: Homeowners weighting a very long uninterrupted record, and western Dane and Sauk County properties.
What we would want clarified. Twenty miles from the metro centre. 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) 643-7914, 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. Heins Contracting: best for commercial buildings (TRB Score 89.3)
Heins Contracting is based in Madison, WI, in business since 2015, BBB accredited since 12 January 2017, A+ rating, and holds President’s Club standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 35 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 31.8 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 12.5 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 10.0 | 10 |
| Total | 89.3 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- A+ rated and accredited since 12 January 2017, business started 12 August 2015. BBB
- 4.8 across 435 reviews. Birdeye
- BuildZoom score of 110, the top 4 per cent of Wisconsin licensed contractors. BuildZoom
What they actually do. Residential and commercial roofing, siding, windows and gutters.
Services we could verify: commercial roofing, siding, windows, gutters.
Why it ranks here. 401 registry reviews at 4.8, corroborated at 4.8 across 435 reviews on a second platform, with a BuildZoom ranking in the top 4 per cent of the state. Three sources agreeing on the same number is worth more than one source with a higher one.
Best fit for: Madison city homeowners, and commercial buildings.
Verify the certification yourself on the GAF registry listing. The number carried on that listing is (608) 732-9063, 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. Isthmus Roofing: best for Fitchburg and Verona (TRB Score 81.6)
Isthmus Roofing is based in Fitchburg, WI, BBB accredited since 26 January 2023, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 38.2 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 11.2 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 8.2 | 10 |
| Total | 81.6 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- A+ rated and accredited since 26 January 2023, with no complaints reported. BBB
- A clean 5.0 across 178 reviews. Birdeye
- Listed with GuildQuality, which surveys customers directly. GuildQuality
What they actually do. Residential and commercial roofing and siding across the Madison metro.
Services we could verify: commercial roofing, siding.
Why it ranks here. A clean 5.0 across 220 registry reviews, corroborated at 5.0 across 178 reviews elsewhere, with a zero-complaint BBB record and GuildQuality participation. Seven miles from the metro centre.
Best fit for: Fitchburg, Verona and the southern Madison suburbs.
What we would want clarified. Master Elite rather than President’s Club, and BBB accreditation only since 2023, so the formal record is short even though it is spotless. 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) 949-4053, 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.
Roof replacement and repair in Madison, WI
Short answer: In Madison, start with The Badger Company for Waunakee, Middleton and northern Dane County; Ridge Top Exteriors for the deepest review record; Frey Construction for a long unbroken record in western Dane and Sauk County; Heins Contracting for city homes and commercial buildings; and Isthmus Roofing for Fitchburg and Verona. The rule that matters most: Madison requires a permit to replace roofing, and only a certified Dwelling Contractor with a Qualifier can pull it.
Madison takes real hail. NOAA holds 287 hail reports over the decade for Dane County and its neighbours, 224 of them an inch or larger and 25 at two inches or more, with 3-inch stones near the Green County airport in April 2020 and 2.75-inch hail at Attica in April 2025. Add 250 severe wind reports, including an 87-knot event near Linden in August 2016, and 30 tornadoes. May and July are the peak months, and 2024 and 2025 were the two busiest years in the record.
Winter decides how a Madison roof ages. The city averages more than 50 inches of snow, and ice dams form on north-facing slopes most Februaries, so ice-barrier underlayment at the eaves, a cold and well-ventilated attic and clear gutters are what prevent the recurring winter leak. The Uniform Dwelling Code requires ice dam protection on shingle and shake roofs only where the slope is 4:12 or less over heated space or an attached garage, so on steeper roofs it is a choice to write into the quote. Under SPS 321.28(6) a new covering may not go over a water soaked or deteriorated roof, wood shake, slate or tile, or two or more existing layers.
The City of Madison requires a permit to replace roofing, with only small repairs below a modest value exempt, and surrounding municipalities run their own inspection offices. Wisconsin has no roofing licence; anyone pulling a permit on a one- or two-family home needs Dwelling Contractor certification, and the company must hold or employ a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, but neither involves a trade exam. Under Wis. Stat. 100.65 a contractor may not promise to pay or rebate your deductible or negotiate your claim, 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.
Ridge Top Exteriors, based in Madison, has 1,352 registry reviews at 4.8 and does residential and light commercial roofing, siding, gutters and windows. Heins Contracting, also in Madison, covers residential and commercial roofing. Frey Construction in Sauk City has been BBB accredited without a break since 1999, but is twenty miles from the metro centre. Isthmus Roofing in Fitchburg has a clean 5.0 across 220 reviews and no complaints, though its accreditation dates only from 2023. The Badger Company has a 5.0 across 299 reviews but is not BBB accredited, so ask for its Qualifier credential and insurance certificate.
| Rule | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor credential | Dwelling Contractor certification plus a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier to pull a permit on a one- or two-family home; 12-hour course, no trade exam; an owner-occupant may pull their own permit. | Wisconsin DSPS |
| Insurance or bond | General liability of at least $250,000 per occurrence or a surety bond of at least $5,000; a contractor relying on a bond under $25,000 may not take a job larger than the bond. | Wisconsin DSPS |
| Reroof permit | Required by the City of Madison to replace roofing; only small repairs below a modest value are exempt. | City of Madison |
| Recover limits | No new covering over a water soaked or deteriorated roof, over wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or over two or more layers. | SPS 321.28(6) |
| Ice dam protection | Required on shingle and shake roofs only where the slope is 4:12 or less over heated space or an attached garage, at least 30 inches up the slope and 12 inches past the inner face of the wall. | Uniform Dwelling Code |
| Insurance-claim contracts | No deductible rebates or claim negotiation; cancellation within three business days of a written denial; forfeiture of $500 to $1,000 per violation. | Wis. Stat. 100.65 |
| 25 percent rule | Wisconsin has no 25 percent roof rule. | SPS 321.28(6) |
Related guides: roof replacement cost in Wisconsin; the 25% roofing rule in Wisconsin and every other state; how to decide between roof repair and replacement; how to read and compare a roof replacement quote; how to compare roof repair quotes; what homeowners insurance covers on a roof.
What 3.0 inch hail does to a Madison 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 4 counties of the Madison, WI statistical area over ten years, with the dates, the stone sizes and the towns they landed on. Over that decade the metro logged 287 hail reports, 250 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports and 30 tornadoes. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $9.6 million; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.
The biggest hail to fall on Madison in a decade
| Date | Stone size | Reported near | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 April 2020 | 3.0 in | Green | Green |
| 18 April 2025 | 2.75 in | Attica | Green |
| 7 April 2020 | 2.5 in | Clarno | Green |
| 7 August 2021 | 2.5 in | Highland | Iowa |
| 15 May 2017 | 2.5 in | Windsor | Dane |
| 18 April 2025 | 2.5 in | Albion | Dane |
The largest stone on record for this metro fell on 7 April 2020 near Green, measured at 3.0 inches. That is baseball sized, comfortably past the point where a roof is written off rather than repaired.
Wind. The strongest thunderstorm gust logged in the metro was 87 knots, about 100 mph, near Linden on 4 August 2016. Asphalt shingles begin lifting at roughly 67 mph when they are correctly nailed, and considerably below that when they are not.
Tornadoes. 30 tornadoes touched down in these counties over the decade, the strongest rated EF1 near Stearns on 28 June 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 4 August 2016 event near Hollandale, reproduced verbatim:
Trees and power lines down along highway 191 and Long Valley Road. Long Valley Road was closed with approximately 30 trees down.
That is what the specification has to anticipate here, written up by the agency that recorded it rather than by a contractor selling the repair.
When it happens. Severe weather reports cluster in May (118), July (111), June (103). The worst years on record were 2025 (98), 2024 (97), 2022 (76). If you are scheduling non-urgent work in Madison, 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. At 224 damaging-hail reports in ten years, impact resistance in Madison is a specification question, not an upsell. Ask every contractor you shortlist to quote a UL 2218 Class 4 impact-rated shingle alongside the standard option, and ask your insurer whether a Class 4 roof earns a premium discount, because many carriers offer one in high-hail territory.
The checks worth making in Madison
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.
Since 1 November 2022 the Dwelling Contractor certificate itself requires new applicants to complete a 12-hour approved course in accounting, lien law, ethics and business practice, and it needs general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence or a surety bond of at least $5,000, plus workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance where required; a contractor relying on a bond under $25,000 may not take a job larger than the bond. The Qualifier renews every two years on 12 hours of continuing education. 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 credential verification. 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 or less over heated space or an attached garage, 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.
For what a full replacement costs across Wisconsin, including state labor rates and permit rules, see our Wisconsin roof replacement cost guide.
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 many certified roofers Madison actually has
11 certified roofing contractors serve the principal cities of the Madison, WI statistical area, of which 6 hold the top President’s Club tier. The pool carries 4,854 customer reviews between them at a mean rating of 4.755. The statistical area had a 2024 population of 707,606, a change of 3.94% against the 2020 census base, per the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates.
How these Madison rankings were produced
Every contractor in the Madison, 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 11 certified contractors, of whom 6 hold President’s Club standing and 5 Master Elite, against a metro mean rating of 4.755. The top five were then researched individually against Better Business Bureau records, state licence registers and manufacturer directories. The findings are printed above whether they flatter the contractor or not, and nobody paid to appear.
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: September 2026. Scoring run: 2026-09-20. Corrections go to the editor and are actioned on verification.
Madison roofing questions, answered
Who is the best roofer in Madison, WI?
The Badger Company of Waunakee, WI scores highest in the Madison metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score, at 93.8 out of 100 as of September 2026. It holds President’s Club certification with a 5.0 rating across 299 reviews. Highest-scoring is not the same as best fit for your specific job, and the four companies behind it score within 12.2 points.
What is the 25% rule for roofing in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has no 25 percent roof rule. The Uniform Dwelling Code sets reroofing limits in SPS 321.28(6), barring a new covering over a water soaked or deteriorated roof, over wood shake, slate or tile, or over two or more layers. The code covers one and two family homes begun on or after June 1, 1980, and does not apply to older homes or to repairs unless your municipality adopts it for that work.
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Madison?
Yes. The City of Madison requires a permit to replace roofing, with only small repairs below a modest value exempt. Surrounding municipalities in Dane, Columbia, Green and Iowa counties run their own inspection offices, and the contractor pulling the permit must hold Dwelling Contractor certification and have a Qualifier.
Who does commercial roofing in Madison?
Heins Contracting, a Madison President’s Club firm with 401 registry reviews at 4.8, does residential and commercial roofing. Ridge Top Exteriors does residential and light commercial roofing, and Isthmus Roofing in Fitchburg covers residential and commercial roofing across the metro.
How do I know if a roofer in Madison is good?
Wisconsin’s credential confirms a course and insurance rather than skill, so check both the Dwelling Contractor certification and the Qualifier on the DSPS credential verification tool, then lean on certification tier and review depth. Several Madison firms are listed with GuildQuality, which surveys customers directly, and BBB records add a complaint history where the firm is accredited.
How many certified roofing contractors serve Madison?
11 contractors on the GAF certification registry serve the principal cities of the Madison, WI statistical area as of September 2026, of which 6 hold President’s Club status.
How much damaging hail does Madison get?
The Madison, WI statistical area recorded 224 hail reports of 1 inch or larger and 25 of 2 inches or larger between 2016 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Events Database. The largest hailstone reported measured 3.0 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 Madison in the last ten years?
The largest hailstone logged by the National Weather Service in the Madison, WI statistical area between 2016 and 2025 measured 3.0 inches, reported near Green on 7 April 2020. That is baseball sized, comfortably past the point where a roof is written off rather than repaired. Across the decade the metro recorded 287 hail reports. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $9.6 million; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.
When is the worst time of year for roof damage in Madison?
Severe-weather reports in the Madison, WI statistical area cluster in May, July, June, on the NOAA record for 2016 to 2025. If the work can wait, booking outside that window usually buys you shorter lead times and more of the contractor’s attention.
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. Since 1 November 2022 the Dwelling Contractor certificate itself requires new applicants to complete a 12-hour approved course in accounting, lien law, ethics and business practice, and it needs general liability insurance of at least $250,000 per occurrence or a surety bond of at least $5,000, plus workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance where required; a contractor relying on a bond under $25,000 may not take a job larger than the bond. The Qualifier renews every two years on 12 hours of continuing education. 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 Madison?
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 or less over heated space or an attached garage, 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.
Is Madison a hard market to find a good roofer in?
Madison takes 224 damaging-hail reports of an inch or larger a decade and has a certified pool with unusual quality at the top: the four highest-scoring contractors all hold GAF’s President’s Club tier and all four clear 89 points. Wisconsin’s regulation is the weak link. The state requires a Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credential, which involves a twelve-hour course and renewal every two years, but no trade examination testing whether anyone can actually install a roof. Manufacturer certification therefore does most of the work here. What sets this metro apart is review volume: three of the five below carry review counts in the high hundreds or above a thousand, which is rare outside metros three times this size.
Roofer rankings for other metros
The Roofing Brief scores certified roofing contractors in U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas on the same formula.
- Best roofers in Janesville, WI, about 35 miles from Madison
- Best roofers in Rockford, IL, about 60 miles from Madison
- Best roofers in Milwaukee, WI, about 74 miles from Madison
- Best roofers in Oshkosh, WI, another WI metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Racine, WI, another WI metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Winston-Salem, NC, a metro of comparable size
- Best roofers in Poughkeepsie, NY, a metro of comparable size
- Best roofers in La Crosse, WI, also scored, about 103 miles away
See the full index of 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 Madison, WI: The Roofing Brief Contractor Score.” Published September 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.