Short answer: As of October 2026, the five highest-scoring roofing contractors in the Missoula, MT metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score are Fisher Family Construction (80.7), Ridgeline Roofing (79.7), Jared Langley Roofing & Remodel (78.6), A&B Roofing (64.4), Ivan’s Roofing & Construction (62.3). All of them carry a verifiable manufacturer certification, every rating here was cross-checked against an independent record, and no money changed hands for any placement.
The Roofing Brief scored 8 certified roofing contractors serving the Missoula metro on a published, reproducible formula, then researched each of the top five individually to confirm its record. Missoula’s roof risk is wind, and it arrives as disasters: the 24 July 2024 derecho blew 80 to 100 mph for minutes, damaged shingles or siding on more than a hundred homes and left many waiting two months for a roofer, and the 17 December 2025 windstorm gusted to 88 mph in the Bitterroot. Both became federal disasters. Every city reroof needs a $281 permit and an ice barrier, and Montana’s contractor licence, new in 2026, has no exam.
Quick picks for Missoula:
- Fisher Family Construction: best overall (TRB Score 80.7). Verified services: roof replacement, roof repair, metal roofing, commercial roofing, storm damage work, siding, gutters.
- Ridgeline Roofing: best small residential specialist (TRB Score 79.7). Verified services: roof replacement, roof repair, inspections and maintenance.
- Jared Langley Roofing & Remodel: most-reviewed local firm (TRB Score 78.6). Verified services: metal roofing, storm damage work, roof repair.
- A&B Roofing: best for winter snow removal (TRB Score 64.4). Verified services: roof replacement, roof repair, gutters, snow and ice removal.
- Ivan’s Roofing & Construction: best for roof and siding together (TRB Score 62.3). Verified services: roof replacement, roof repair, siding, commercial roofing.
The conditions a Missoula roof has to be specified for
Since 1 January 2026 Montana requires a construction contractor licence from the Department of Labor and Industry for roofing work, replacing the old registration. There is no exam, no bond and no homeowner recovery fund, and the department says it does not judge workmanship. Jobs under $2,500 and one-person firms with no employees are exempt, so a solo roofer may legally hold only an exemption certificate, which GAF’s directory sometimes shows as a licence number.
The City of Missoula requires a building permit for a reroof, a flat $281 under the fee schedule in force since 1 October 2026, and exempts only minor patching under 10 by 10 feet with no new underlayment. The city builds to a 105 mph design wind speed and a 30 psf minimum roof snow load, and Montana’s amendment makes an ice barrier at the eaves mandatory statewide. Firms working in the city also need a city Contractor Business License.
Outside city limits Montana’s building code does not apply to houses unless the local government adopts it, so Missoula’s city page sends rural owners to the Missoula County Building Division. The 2024 code cycle takes effect in the city on 1 January 2027, and applications follow the code in force on the day they are submitted.
Montana has no law against a roofer rebating your insurance deductible and no special right to cancel a storm-claim contract; the only cancellation right is three business days after an uninvited door-to-door sale over $25. The state insurance commissioner warns that hail claims on roofs 10 to 15 years old may be paid at actual cash value, and that a 5 percent wind and hail deductible on a $325,000 home is $16,250.
The 5 best roofers in Missoula, MT
Scored 2026-10-12. The metro mean rating used as the Bayesian prior for Missoula is 4.838, across a pool of 8 certified contractors.
| Rank | Company | TRB Score | Certification | Rating (reviews) | Adjusted | In business since | Based in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fisher Family Construction | 80.7 | Master Elite | 5.0 (74) | 4.934 | 2009 | Florence, MT |
| 2 | Ridgeline Roofing | 79.7 | Master Elite | 5.0 (24) | 4.89 | not published | Missoula, MT |
| 3 | Jared Langley Roofing & Remodel | 78.6 | Master Elite | 4.7 (119) | 4.741 | not published | Missoula, MT |
| 4 | A&B Roofing | 64.4 | Certified | 4.7 (106) | 4.744 | not published | Lolo, MT |
| 5 | Ivan’s Roofing & Construction | 62.3 | Certified | 5.0 (6) | 4.855 | not published | Missoula, MT |
1. Fisher Family Construction: best overall (TRB Score 80.7)
Fisher Family Construction is based in Florence, MT, in business since 2009, led by Ivan Fisher, owner, BBB accredited since 26 June 2025, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 37.4 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 13.5 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 5.8 | 10 |
| Total | 80.7 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Fisher Family Construction LLC holds construction contractor licence CCP-CCL-LIC-0229800, active to 18 October 2028, at a Stevensville address.. Montana DLI licence register
- Accredited since June 2025 with an A+ rating; business started 2009; owner Ivan Fisher; service area includes Missoula County; no complaints.. BBB business profile
- Founded in 2009 by Ivan and Martha Fisher, who moved to the Bitterroot in 2007; service area page names Missoula, Lolo, Frenchtown, East Missoula and Seeley Lake.. Company website
What they actually do. Residential reroofing and repair, metal roofing, commercial roofing, storm and insurance claim help, siding and gutters.
Services we could verify: roof replacement, roof repair, metal roofing, commercial roofing, storm damage work, siding, gutters.
Why it ranks here. The top-scoring firm, a Master Elite roofer with 74 GAF reviews averaging 5.0. It is based in Florence in the Bitterroot, about 17 miles south of Missoula and outside the two-county metro, but its own service area page and its BBB profile both name Missoula County and its towns. BBB and its site agree on a 2009 start.
Best fit for: Homeowners in south Missoula, Lolo and the Bitterroot side of the valley who want a Master Elite roofing-first family firm.
What we would want clarified. It is based outside the metro, and its BBB accreditation dates only from June 2025. 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 (406) 519-4528, 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. Ridgeline Roofing: best small residential specialist (TRB Score 79.7)
Ridgeline Roofing is based in Missoula, MT, led by Derrick G. Smith, owner, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 35.6 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 10.1 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 10.0 | 10 |
| Total | 79.7 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- The licence number on GAF’s listing resolves to CCP-CCL-LIC-0246186, held by Derrick G Smith Roofing LLC in Missoula, active to 15 November 2026; the record carries no Ridgeline trade name.. Montana DLI licence register
- A locally owned residential roofer serving Missoula; the owner says he has more than 20 years of residential roofing, starting on his father’s crew in the mid 1990s.. Company website
What they actually do. Residential roof replacement, repair and inspections.
Services we could verify: roof replacement, roof repair, inspections and maintenance.
Why it ranks here. A Master Elite roofer based in Missoula with 24 GAF reviews averaging 5.0, run by its owner. The licence is held in the name Derrick G Smith Roofing LLC, which we matched through the number on GAF’s listing. Two unrelated firms on the register also use the Ridgeline name, one in Bozeman and one in Stevensville, and the only Montana BBB profile called Ridgeline Roofing belongs to the Bozeman firm, not this one.
Best fit for: Missoula homeowners who want a small Master Elite residential specialist with the owner on the job.
What we would want clarified. It has no BBB profile, and its licence expires on 15 November 2026, so confirm renewal and that the contract names Derrick G Smith Roofing LLC. 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 (406) 626-9152, 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. Jared Langley Roofing & Remodel: most-reviewed local firm (TRB Score 78.6)
Jared Langley Roofing & Remodel is based in Missoula, MT, led by Jared Langley, president, Not accredited, not rated, no complaints, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.
| Score component | Points | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Certification tier | 24 | 35 |
| Adjusted rating | 29.6 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 15.0 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 10.0 | 10 |
| Total | 78.6 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Jared Langley Enterprises Inc holds construction contractor licence CCP-CCL-LIC-0012986, active to 28 August 2027; the number matches GAF’s listing.. Montana DLI licence register
- Not accredited and not rated for lack of information; file opened 2006; alternate names include Langley Restoration and Langley Construction; no complaints.. BBB business profile
- Says the business began as a one-man roofing firm and later grew into custom homes and commercial building; serves Missoula, Hamilton and nearby areas.. Company website
What they actually do. Asphalt shingle and metal roofing, storm damage repair, remodelling and custom building.
Services we could verify: metal roofing, storm damage work, roof repair.
Why it ranks here. The most-reviewed firm in the pool, a Master Elite roofer with 119 GAF reviews averaging 4.7. Roofing is still its first service and its trading name, but the business now also builds custom homes and commercial buildings, so it is broader than a roofing specialist. Its site says 1986 while BBB records a later start, so we give no year. It is not related to Bozeman’s Langley Roofing.
Best fit for: Owners who want roofing combined with other storm repairs or remodelling from one firm, and buyers who value the largest review base in Missoula.
What we would want clarified. BBB has too little information to rate it, and on 12 October 2026 its homepage showed an unrelated weight-loss line that looks like stray or injected content, so check you are on the real site. 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 (406) 540-1496, 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. A&B Roofing: best for winter snow removal (TRB Score 64.4)
A&B Roofing is based in Lolo, MT, led by Andrew Haycook, president, BBB accredited since 26 April 2017, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.
Certifications held: Certified (GAF), Owens Corning Preferred. 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 | 29.8 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 14.6 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 8.0 | 10 |
| Total | 64.4 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- A & B Construction Co dba A & B Roofing Co holds construction contractor licence CCP-CCL-LIC-0150244, active to 29 February 2028.. Montana DLI licence register
- Accredited since April 2017 with an A+ rating; business started and incorporated December 2004; service area Missoula and Ravalli counties; no complaints.. BBB business profile
- Listed in Lolo as an Owens Corning Preferred contractor.. Owens Corning contractor locator
What they actually do. Residential reroofing and repair, gutters and roof snow removal.
Services we could verify: roof replacement, roof repair, gutters, snow and ice removal.
Why it ranks here. A Lolo roofer seven miles south of Missoula with 106 GAF reviews averaging 4.7, the only ranked firm holding both GAF and Owens Corning credentials, and the longest BBB accreditation of the five. BBB dates the business to December 2004, but we found no second source for the year. Some reviews describe permanent exterior lighting work, but its register name and BBB category are roofing.
Best fit for: Homeowners in Lolo and south Missoula who want a long-accredited firm with two manufacturer credentials, and anyone needing winter snow removal.
What we would want clarified. It holds GAF’s base Certified tier rather than Master Elite. 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 (406) 315-7930, 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. Ivan’s Roofing & Construction: best for roof and siding together (TRB Score 62.3)
Ivan’s Roofing & Construction is based in Missoula, MT, led by Ivan Pasyuk, owner, Not accredited, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.
Certifications held: Certified (GAF), Owens Corning Preferred. 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 | 34.2 | 40 |
| Review corpus depth | 6.1 | 15 |
| Metro proximity | 10.0 | 10 |
| Total | 62.3 | 100 |
Independently corroborated:
- Ivans Roofing and Construction LLC holds construction contractor licence CCP-CCL-LIC-0159655, active to 21 April 2028.. Montana DLI licence register
- Not accredited, A+; business started May 2011; roofing, carpentry and siding for homes, new construction and light commercial; no complaints.. BBB business profile
- Listed in Missoula as an Owens Corning Preferred contractor.. Owens Corning contractor locator
What they actually do. Reroofing and tear-offs, roof repair, siding, soffits and fascia, light commercial.
Services we could verify: roof replacement, roof repair, siding, commercial roofing.
Why it ranks here. A Missoula roofing and siding contractor licensed to 2028 and listed by both GAF and Owens Corning, with a clean BBB file since 2011. It is not related to Fisher Family Construction, whose owner is also named Ivan. Sources give slightly different Missoula street addresses.
Best fit for: Missoula homeowners replacing roof and siding together who want a firm on two manufacturer lists.
What we would want clarified. It has only six GAF reviews and no website, so there is little public track record to check. 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 (406) 519-3898, 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 licensed Missoula roofers
These Missoula firms hold active Montana contractor licences and Owens Corning Preferred status but are not in GAF’s directory, so they are not scored or ranked.
| Company | Verified credential |
|---|---|
| Independent Roofing Inc | Licence CCP-CCL-LIC-0207247, active to March 2028; Owens Corning Preferred with 68 reviews averaging 4.97; metal, cedar shake, shingle and commercial roofing. |
| Western Montana Roofing (CLW Construction LLC) | Licence CCP-CCL-LIC-0277512, active to September 2028; Owens Corning Preferred; BBB accredited since March 2025 at A, no complaints; started in October 2024. |
Roof replacement and repair in Missoula, MT
Short answer: In Missoula, start with Fisher Family Construction, a Master Elite roofing-first family firm; Ridgeline Roofing, a small residential specialist; Jared Langley Roofing & Remodel, the most-reviewed firm; A&B Roofing for winter snow removal; or Ivan’s Roofing & Construction to replace roof and siding together. The rule that matters most: every reroof inside the City of Missoula needs a flat $281 building permit and an ice barrier at the eaves.
Wind, not hail, is Missoula’s main roof risk. The 24 July 2024 derecho blew 80 to 100 mph for a couple of minutes, damaged shingles or siding on more than a hundred homes and left many waiting two months for a roofer. On 17 December 2025 a winter windstorm gusted to 88 mph at Stevensville airport and 61 mph at Missoula airport, and on 15 November 2021 winds ripped part of a roof off in Upper Miller Creek. Hail is real but secondary: 25 county hail reports in the decade, all an inch or larger, topped by 2.5 inches near Frenchtown on 8 July 2022. Of the hail and thunderstorm wind reports, 37 fell in July and August.
The City of Missoula requires a building permit for a reroof, a flat $281 under the fee schedule in force since 1 October 2026, and exempts only minor patching under 10 by 10 feet with no new underlayment. The city builds to a 105 mph design wind speed and a 30 psf minimum roof snow load, and Montana’s amendment makes an ice barrier at the eaves mandatory statewide. After a storm, the city’s storm damage permit route lets like-for-like repairs start once an application marked STORM DAMAGE is submitted, but the repair must meet the 105 mph and ice barrier criteria. Outside city limits, rural owners go to the Missoula County Building Division.
Since 1 January 2026 Montana requires a construction contractor licence for roofing work, with no exam, no bond and no homeowner recovery fund. Jobs under $2,500 and one-person firms with no employees are exempt, so check the record type: an exemption certificate starts ICP-ICEC-REG. Montana has no law against a roofer rebating your deductible and no special right to cancel a storm-claim contract; the only cancellation right is three business days after an uninvited door-to-door sale over $25. The insurance commissioner warns that hail claims on roofs 10 to 15 years old may be paid at actual cash value.
Fisher Family Construction, based in Florence about 17 miles south, does residential reroofing and repair, metal and commercial roofing, siding and gutters. Ridgeline Roofing handles residential replacement, repair and inspections, but its licence expires on 15 November 2026, so confirm renewal. Jared Langley Roofing & Remodel offers asphalt and metal roofing and storm damage repair alongside remodelling. A&B Roofing in Lolo does reroofing, repair, gutters and roof snow removal. Ivan’s Roofing & Construction does reroofing, tear-offs, repair and siding, but has only six GAF reviews.
| Rule | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State contractor licence | Construction contractor licence from the Department of Labor and Industry since 1 January 2026; no exam or bond; jobs under $2,500 and one-person firms with no employees are exempt. | MCA 37-45-201 |
| City reroof permit | Required for a reroof, a flat $281; only minor patching under 10 by 10 feet with no new underlayment is exempt. | City of Missoula fee schedule |
| Design criteria | 105 mph design wind speed; 30 psf minimum roof snow load; ice barrier at the eaves mandatory statewide. | City of Missoula; Montana code amendment |
| City business licence | Firms working in the city need a Contractor Business License. | City of Missoula |
| Cancellation right | Three business days after an uninvited door-to-door sale over $25; no special right to cancel a storm-claim contract and no ban on deductible rebates. | Montana law |
| 25 percent rule | None. Where the IRC applies, a replacement is torn off to the deck and a recover is not allowed over a water-soaked or deteriorated roof, slate or tile, or two existing layers. | 2024 IRC R908.3 and R908.4; MCA 50-60-102 |
Related guides: the 25% roofing rule in Montana 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.
25 inch-plus hail reports and 22 wind reports over Missoula
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 Missoula, MT statistical area over ten years, with the dates, the stone sizes and the towns they landed on. Over that decade the metro logged 25 hail reports, 22 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports and 0 tornadoes. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $4.3 million; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.
The biggest hail to fall on Missoula in a decade
| Date | Stone size | Reported near | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 July 2022 | 2.5 in | Frenchtown | Missoula |
| 8 July 2022 | 2.0 in | Missoula | Missoula |
| 8 July 2022 | 1.75 in | Clearwater Junction | Missoula |
| 10 August 2019 | 1.75 in | St Regis | Mineral |
| 10 August 2019 | 1.75 in | St Regis | Mineral |
| 9 July 2022 | 1.5 in | Missoula | Missoula |
The largest stone on record for this metro fell on 8 July 2022 near Frenchtown, measured at 2.5 inches. That is hen-egg sized. Two inches is the threshold at which insurers expect functional damage and full replacement claims.
Wind. The strongest thunderstorm gust logged in the metro was 70 knots, about 81 mph, near Lolo Hot Spgs on 24 July 2024. Asphalt shingles begin lifting at roughly 67 mph when they are correctly nailed, and considerably below that when they are not.
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 24 July 2024 event near Lolo Hot Spgs, reproduced verbatim:
A state of emergency was declared by both the Missoula County Commission Chair and Missoula Mayor because of the unprecedented wind damage that occurred. The 80 to 100 mph winds brought thousands of trees down across the county. It wasn’t just a quick gust, but rather high winds that lasted for a couple of minutes. This led to power and transmission poles breaking in half and triggering power outages that lasted for up to a week after, affecting close to 40,000 customers, many of which had to toss out spoiled food. One utility reported 80 power poles were broken across their service area with 42 of those knocked down or shattered along Mullan Road, located approximately 7 miles west of…
That is the kind of damage a roof in this metro has to be specified against, described by the agency that recorded it rather than by a contractor selling the repair.
When it happens. Severe weather reports cluster in July (21), August (16), June (5). The worst years on record were 2022 (11), 2024 (9), 2016 (5). If you are scheduling non-urgent work in Missoula, 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 Missoula. Weight your decision toward wind rating, ventilation and flashing detail rather than paying extra for impact-rated shingles.
Two hurricane-force wind disasters in 17 months, and what they mean for Missoula roofs
The National Weather Service office in Missoula called the 24 July 2024 storm a rare derecho, with 80 to 100 mph winds that lasted for a couple of minutes rather than a single gust. Its storm record says more than a hundred homes had shingle or siding damage and many could not get roofers to fix it until two months later. Close to 40,000 customers lost power for up to a week, 80 power poles broke, and about 1,000 city trees were uprooted or snapped.
NOAA attaches $4.0 million of property damage to that one event, 92 percent of all hail and thunderstorm wind damage recorded in Missoula and Mineral counties from 2016 to 2025. FEMA declared it major disaster DR-4813 for Missoula and Powell counties in August 2024, but for public assistance only, so private roof repairs fell to owners and their insurers.
Seventeen months later, on 17 December 2025, a winter windstorm brought gusts of 88 mph at Stevensville airport and 61 mph at Missoula airport, cut power to about 7,000 Missoula County customers and caused $307,000 of damage in the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys zone. It became major disaster DR-4902 in April 2026. Because NOAA filed it under the forecast zone rather than the county, county storm counts miss it and understate Missoula’s wind exposure; so do the 15 November 2021 winds that ripped part of a roof off in Upper Miller Creek.
Hail is real but secondary: 25 county hail reports in the decade, all an inch or larger, topped by 2.5 inches near Frenchtown on 8 July 2022. Of the 47 hail and thunderstorm wind reports, 37 fell in July and August. The houses are older than Bozeman’s, with 45 percent of metro homes built before 1980, and 53 percent of homes in the city are rented.
After a storm, Missoula’s standing storm damage permit route lets like-for-like repairs start as soon as an application marked STORM DAMAGE is submitted, with inspectors checking most work in the field. A permit is still needed unless the repair is minor patching under 10 by 10 feet, the repair must meet today’s 105 mph and ice barrier criteria, and after the 2024 derecho the wait for a roofer ran to two months, so tarp the roof first and check the firm’s state licence record before signing.
Missoula’s recent wind and hail record
| Date | Event | Where | Recorded detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 2024 | Derecho, 80 to 100 mph | Missoula County | 100+ homes with shingle or siding damage; $4.0 million; FEMA DR-4813 |
| 17 Dec 2025 | Winter windstorm, 88 mph gust | Stevensville airport; 61 mph at Missoula | About 7,000 customers out; $307,000; FEMA DR-4902 |
| 15 Nov 2021 | High wind | Upper Miller Creek | Part of a roof ripped off |
| 1 Feb 2020 | High wind, 75 mph | Missoula valley; 96 mph on Mount Sentinel | Zone record |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Hail, 2.5 inches | Near Frenchtown and Wye | Largest hail of the decade |
| 2016 to 2025 | Hail and thunderstorm wind | Missoula and Mineral counties | 25 hail and 22 wind reports; $4.35 million |
Source: NWS Missoula storm narratives and NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (Missoula and Mineral counties and the Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys zone, 2016 to 2025, our recount); FEMA declarations DR-4813 and DR-4902; MCA 37-45, 30-14-502 to 504 and 50-60-102; Montana DLI licence register, 12 October 2026; City of Missoula permit, fee, design criteria and storm damage pages; Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance; Owens Corning contractor locator; BBB business profiles; US Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024.
How to check a Missoula roofer in ten minutes
Licensing is required in MT. Since 1 January 2026 Montana requires a construction contractor licence from the Department of Labor and Industry for anyone in the business of installing or repairing roofing (MCA 37-45-201). It replaced the old contractor registration, and there is no exam or roofing-specific licence.
The licence requires proof of workers’ compensation compliance. Two exemptions matter: jobs under $2,500 in total, and independent contractors with no employees, whatever the job size, so a one-person roofer may legitimately hold only an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate. Cities and counties cannot add their own contractor licence or bond, but they can require a general business licence: Missoula, for example, issues a Contractor Business License to construction firms working in the city. Unprofessional conduct carries penalties of up to $5,000.
Check here: Montana DLI construction contractor record search. Licence numbers look like CCP-CCL-LIC-0000000; an exemption certificate starts ICP-ICEC-REG, so check the record type, not just that a number exists. The department polices fraud, misrepresentation and worker classification but does not judge workmanship, so check warranties, references and the contractor’s insurance separately.
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.
Who else is certified in Missoula
8 certified roofing contractors serve the principal cities of the Missoula, MT statistical area, of which 0 hold the top President’s Club tier. The pool carries 409 customer reviews between them at a mean rating of 4.838. The statistical area had a 2024 population of 127,741, a change of 4.31% against the 2020 census base, per the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates.
How these Missoula rankings were produced
Every contractor in the Missoula, MT 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 8 certified contractors, of whom 0 hold President’s Club standing and 3 Master Elite, against a metro mean rating of 4.838. The top five were then researched individually against Better Business Bureau records, state licence registers and manufacturer directories. Good and bad findings are published together, and no contractor paid for a place here.
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: 2026-10-12. Corrections go to the editor and are actioned on verification.
The questions that come up most in Missoula
Who is the best roofer in Missoula, MT?
Fisher Family Construction of Florence, MT scores highest in the Missoula metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score, at 80.7 out of 100 as of October 2026. It holds Master Elite certification with a 5.0 rating across 74 reviews. Highest-scoring is not the same as best fit for your specific job, and the four companies behind it score within 18.4 points.
What is the 25% rule for roofing in Montana?
Montana has no 25 percent roof rule. Where the International Residential Code applies, a roof replacement must be torn off to the deck and a recover is not allowed over a water-soaked or deteriorated roof, slate or tile, or two existing layers. By statute the state code does not apply to homes with fewer than five units unless the local government has made it applicable, so check with your local building department.
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Missoula?
Yes, inside city limits. The City of Missoula charges a flat $281 for a reroof permit and exempts only minor patching under 10 by 10 feet with no new underlayment. Outside the city, the Missoula County Building Division is the place to ask.
Who does roof repair in Missoula?
Ridgeline Roofing, Jared Langley Roofing & Remodel, A&B Roofing and Ivan’s Roofing & Construction all list roof repair, and Fisher Family Construction of Florence does reroofing and repair across Missoula County. After a storm, Missoula’s storm damage permit route lets like-for-like repairs start once an application marked STORM DAMAGE is submitted.
Does insurance have to match my roof in Montana?
There is no statute or rule, but Montana Commissioner advisory memoranda from 2003 and 2009 state the agency position that damaged materials must be replaced with similar quality, kind, texture and color for a reasonable match. If that is unavailable, the existing materials must be replaced to achieve a match.
How many certified roofing contractors serve Missoula?
8 contractors on the GAF certification registry serve the principal cities of the Missoula, MT statistical area as of October 2026, of which 0 hold President’s Club status.
How much damaging hail does Missoula get?
The Missoula, MT statistical area recorded 25 hail reports of 1 inch or larger and 2 of 2 inches or larger between 2016 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Events Database. The largest hailstone reported measured 2.5 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 Missoula in the last ten years?
The largest hailstone logged by the National Weather Service in the Missoula, MT statistical area between 2016 and 2025 measured 2.5 inches, reported near Frenchtown on 8 July 2022. That is hen-egg sized. Two inches is the threshold at which insurers expect functional damage and full replacement claims. Across the decade the metro recorded 25 hail reports. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $4.3 million; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.
When is the worst time of year for roof damage in Missoula?
Severe-weather reports in the Missoula, MT statistical area cluster in July, August, June, on the NOAA record for 2016 to 2025. Scheduling discretionary work away from that window tends to get you a better crew and a faster start, because nobody is juggling emergency callouts.
Do roofers need a licence in MT?
Since 1 January 2026 Montana requires a construction contractor licence from the Department of Labor and Industry for anyone in the business of installing or repairing roofing (MCA 37-45-201). It replaced the old contractor registration, and there is no exam or roofing-specific licence. The licence requires proof of workers’ compensation compliance. Two exemptions matter: jobs under $2,500 in total, and independent contractors with no employees, whatever the job size, so a one-person roofer may legitimately hold only an Independent Contractor Exemption Certificate. Cities and counties cannot add their own contractor licence or bond, but they can require a general business licence: Missoula, for example, issues a Contractor Business License to construction firms working in the city. Unprofessional conduct carries penalties of up to $5,000.
What should I check before hiring a roofer in Missoula?
Licence numbers look like CCP-CCL-LIC-0000000; an exemption certificate starts ICP-ICEC-REG, so check the record type, not just that a number exists. The department polices fraud, misrepresentation and worker classification but does not judge workmanship, so check warranties, references and the contractor’s insurance separately.
Two hurricane-force wind disasters in 17 months, and what they mean for Missoula roofs?
The National Weather Service office in Missoula called the 24 July 2024 storm a rare derecho, with 80 to 100 mph winds that lasted for a couple of minutes rather than a single gust. Its storm record says more than a hundred homes had shingle or siding damage and many could not get roofers to fix it until two months later. Close to 40,000 customers lost power for up to a week, 80 power poles broke, and about 1,000 city trees were uprooted or snapped.
Is Missoula a hard market to find a good roofer in?
Missoula’s roof risk is wind, and it arrives as disasters: the 24 July 2024 derecho blew 80 to 100 mph for minutes, damaged shingles or siding on more than a hundred homes and left many waiting two months for a roofer, and the 17 December 2025 windstorm gusted to 88 mph in the Bitterroot. Both became federal disasters. Every city reroof needs a $281 permit and an ice barrier, and Montana’s contractor licence, new in 2026, has no exam.
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 Coeur d’Alene, ID, about 142 miles from Missoula
- Best roofers in Bozeman, MT, another MT metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Billings, MT, another MT metro on the same formula
- Best roofers in Wenatchee, WA, a metro of comparable size
- Best roofers in Elizabethtown, KY, a metro of comparable size
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 Missoula, MT: 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.