Best Roofers in Wausau, WI: 5 Certified Contractors, Scored and Verified

Short answer: As of October 2026, the five highest-scoring roofing contractors in the Wausau, WI metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score are A-Rite Exteriors (85.7), Feltz Construction (62.3), Oakwood Exteriors (60.8), Dun-Rite Exteriors (57.3), Kulp’s of Stratford (51.4). 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 6 certified roofing contractors serving the Wausau metro on a published, reproducible formula, then researched each of the top five individually to confirm its record. Wausau is snow country: 64 inches a year, snow on the ground 112 days, and roofs designed for 40 pounds per square foot. Yet Wisconsin’s code requires ice dam protection only on shingle roofs of 4:12 pitch or shallower, and seven in ten homes in the city predate the state’s dwelling code altogether. Wisconsin licenses no roofers, though it does certify the contractor who pulls a permit. Nine certified firms appear in the directory; three are excluded, a home builder, an apartments business and a roofer serving only Lincoln County, and the top five of the rest are ranked.

The conditions a Wausau roof has to be specified for

Wisconsin has no roofing licence. Instead, anyone who pulls a building permit for work on a one- or two-family home must hold a Dwelling Contractor certificate from the state, renewed yearly, backed by a $5,000 bond or $250,000 of liability insurance plus workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance where required. Since November 2022 the certificate also needs a 12-hour approved course. A contractor relying on a bond under $25,000 may not take a job worth more than the bond. Owners pulling permits for their own homes are exempt.

Wisconsin Stat. 100.65 covers every roof replacement on a house: the roofer may not promise to pay or rebate your deductible, must ask in writing whether the job relates to an insurance claim and give you a cancellation form, and may not negotiate your claim. If your insurer denies all or part of the claim you may cancel before the end of the third business day after the written denial. Each violation carries a forfeiture of $500 to $1,000.

The City of Wausau charges a flat $70 inspection fee for roofing on a one- or two-family home, tripled if work starts first, and issues permits for Schofield and Rib Mountain addresses for 10 percent extra. Marathon County sits in the state’s heavier snow zone, where roofs must be designed for 40 psf. Ice dam protection, sheet metal or a membrane reaching 30 inches up the slope and 12 inches past the wall, is required only on shingle or shake roofs of 4:12 or less over heated space or an attached garage.

Across 2016 to 2025 Marathon County logged 58 hail reports, the largest 3 inches at Poniatowski in July 2024, 75 thunderstorm wind reports and 12 tornadoes, with $707,000 of recorded damage. Forecast-zone rows add 25 winter storms, 11 heavy snow events and a blizzard, including the April 2018 storm that buried Wausau and Weston under 20.5 inches. The city’s median home was built in 1963, and 42.4 percent of its homes are rented.

The 5 best roofers in Wausau, WI

Scored 2026-10-09. The metro mean rating used as the Bayesian prior for Wausau is 4.422, across a pool of 6 certified contractors.

Rank	Company	TRB Score	Certification	Rating (reviews)	Adjusted	In business since	Based in
1	A-Rite Exteriors	85.7	President’s Club	4.8 (118)	4.688	2002	Schofield, WI
2	Feltz Construction	62.3	Certified	5.0 (128)	4.838	not published	Stevens Point, WI
3	Oakwood Exteriors	60.8	Certified	4.9 (158)	4.785	2007	Stevens Point, WI
4	Dun-Rite Exteriors	57.3	Master Elite	4.3 (27)	4.379	not published	Weston, WI
5	Kulp’s of Stratford	51.4	Master Elite	4.3 (11)	4.4	1985	Stratford, WI

1. A-Rite Exteriors: best overall (TRB Score 85.7)

A-Rite Exteriors is based in Schofield, WI, in business since 2002, led by Bryan Londerville, president and owner, BBB accredited since 18 November 2025, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds President’s Club standing on the GAF certification registry.

Certifications held: President’s Club (GAF), Owens Corning Platinum 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	35	35
Adjusted rating	27.5	40
Review corpus depth	14.1	15
Metro proximity	9.1	10
Total	85.7	100

Independently corroborated:

• A-Rite Construction and Roofing: accredited since November 2025 with an A+ rating; business started 2002, LLC formed 2008; owner Bryan J. Londerville; service area includes Marathon County; no complaints.. BBB business profile
• Listed as an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, the top tier, on Ross Ave in Schofield.. Owens Corning contractor locator
• A Rite Construction and Roofing LLC, entity A057964, restored to good standing.. Wisconsin DFI record via OpenCorporates
• Wausau roofing contractor with roofing as its primary focus, plus gutters, siding, windows, attic insulation and ice dam removal across central Wisconsin.. Company website

What they actually do. Roof replacement and repair, storm claims, gutters, siding, windows, attic insulation and ice dam removal.

Services we could verify: roof replacement, roof repair, storm damage work, gutters, siding, windows, snow and ice removal.

Why it ranks here. The top-scoring firm and the only one at both GAF’s President’s Club and Owens Corning’s top Platinum Preferred tier, based in Schofield just south of Wausau, with 118 GAF reviews averaging 4.8. BBB dates it to 2002. Its attic insulation and ice dam work address the metro’s defining roof problem.

Best fit for: Wausau homeowners with ice dam history who want roof, ventilation and insulation handled together.

What we would want clarified. Its BBB accreditation is new, from November 2025, and its state company record was restored to good standing after a lapse. 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) 675-2239, 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. Feltz Construction: best for Mosinee and southern Marathon County (TRB Score 62.3)

Feltz Construction is based in Stevens Point, WI, led by Rick Feltz, president and co-owner, Not accredited, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.

Score component	Points	Max
Certification tier	12	35
Adjusted rating	33.5	40
Review corpus depth	14.4	15
Metro proximity	2.4	10
Total	62.3	100

Independently corroborated:

• Not accredited, A+; business started 1979, LLC formed 2017; co-owners Rick and Ernie Feltz; service area includes Marathon County; no complaints.. BBB business profile
• Feltz Construction LLC, entity F056005, restored to good standing.. Wisconsin DFI record via OpenCorporates
• Family firm serving greater Portage County for more than 50 years; service area within 50 miles naming Wausau and Mosinee; roofing, siding, soft washing and exterior repair.. Company website

What they actually do. Residential reroofing, siding, soft washing, exterior repair and insulation.

Services we could verify: roof replacement, siding.

Why it ranks here. A family roofer from Stevens Point, about 30 miles south and outside the metro, with a perfect 5.0 across 128 GAF reviews. Its site names Wausau and Mosinee in its service area. Its site says since 1971 while BBB says 1979, so we give no year.

Best fit for: Southern Marathon County homeowners, nearer Mosinee, who want a long-running family firm.

What we would want clarified. It is a Portage County business first, holds GAF’s entry Certified tier and is not BBB accredited. 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) 347-1717, 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. Oakwood Exteriors: best for metal roofs (TRB Score 60.8)

Oakwood Exteriors is based in Stevens Point, WI, in business since 2007, led by Jordan Kurszewski, president, BBB accredited since 28 February 2011, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds Certified standing on the GAF certification registry.

Score component	Points	Max
Certification tier	12	35
Adjusted rating	31.4	40
Review corpus depth	15.0	15
Metro proximity	2.4	10
Total	60.8	100

Independently corroborated:

• Accredited since February 2011 with an A+ rating; business started 2007, LLC formed 2011; president Jordan J. Kurszewski; service area includes Marathon County; asphalt, standing seam and stone-coated steel roofing; no complaints.. BBB business profile
• Oakwood Exteriors LLC, entity O027026, restored to good standing.. Wisconsin DFI record via OpenCorporates
• Roofing contractor in Stevens Point; steep-slope, metal and commercial roofing and exteriors.. Company website

What they actually do. Asphalt shingle, standing seam metal and stone-coated steel roofing, siding, windows and spray foam insulation.

Services we could verify: metal roofing, commercial roofing, siding, windows.

Why it ranks here. A roofing-first firm from Plover, about 30 miles south and outside the metro, with 158 GAF reviews averaging 4.9, the deepest base after the leader, and BBB accreditation since 2011 with no complaints. BBB lists Marathon County in its service area, though its website markets Stevens Point.

Best fit for: Homeowners considering standing seam or stone-coated steel, which shed heavy snow.

What we would want clarified. It is based outside the metro, its own site does not name Wausau, and it holds GAF’s entry Certified tier. 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) 432-8202, 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. Dun-Rite Exteriors: best for roof with windows or siding (TRB Score 57.3)

Dun-Rite Exteriors is based in Weston, WI, led by Gloria Fenhaus, president, BBB accredited since 9 August 2010, A+ rating, one complaint in three years, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.

Score component	Points	Max
Certification tier	24	35
Adjusted rating	15.2	40
Review corpus depth	9.9	15
Metro proximity	8.3	10
Total	57.3	100

Independently corroborated:

• Dun-Rite of Wausau, Inc.: accredited since August 2010 with an A+ rating; incorporated 1991, with the brand dated to 1950; service area Marathon County. One complaint from July 2025, about promises of local service, is marked resolved by the customer.. BBB business profile
• Dun-Rite of Wausau, Inc., entity D023227, incorporated.. Wisconsin DFI record via OpenCorporates
• Located in Weston; roofing, windows and siding; displays 2024 Best of Marathon County awards.. Company website

What they actually do. Roofing, windows, siding, gutters, doors, decking and awnings.

Services we could verify: windows, siding, gutters.

Why it ranks here. The longest-established firm based inside the metro, a Weston company incorporated in 1991 under a brand BBB dates to 1950, with Master Elite status and BBB accreditation since 2010. Windows and siding are as prominent as roofing. Two unrelated Dun-Rite firms trade in Tomahawk and Antigo, so check the name.

Best fit for: Wausau and Weston homeowners replacing a roof alongside windows or siding.

What we would want clarified. Its 4.3 rating from 27 reviews is among the lowest here, and BBB records one complaint, resolved, in three years. 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) 359-6930, 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. Kulp’s of Stratford: best for church and historic roofs (TRB Score 51.4)

Kulp’s of Stratford is based in Stratford, WI, in business since 1985, led by Shawn Bellendorf, majority owner, Not accredited, A+ rating, no complaints, and holds Master Elite standing on the GAF certification registry.

Score component	Points	Max
Certification tier	24	35
Adjusted rating	16.0	40
Review corpus depth	7.4	15
Metro proximity	4.1	10
Total	51.4	100

Independently corroborated:

• Not accredited, A+; business started June 1985, LLC formed 1997; related businesses include an insulation division and Marathon Metals; service area Marathon County; no complaints. BBB still lists Robert Kulp as president.. BBB business profile
• Founded in 1985 as Kulp’s Coatings; added spray foam and a sheet metal sister company in 2001; serves commercial, industrial, church and residential clients; names Shawn Bellendorf as majority owner and John Kulp as president.. Company website, about and team
• Kulp’s of Stratford, LLC, entity K027124, restored to good standing, registered agent Shawn Bellendorf.. Wisconsin DFI record via OpenCorporates

What they actually do. Commercial low-slope and residential steep-slope roofing, metal roofing and cladding, church and historic roofs, spray foam and custom sheet metal.

Services we could verify: commercial roofing, flat and low-slope roofing, metal roofing.

Why it ranks here. A Stratford roofing contractor in western Marathon County, founded in 1985, with BBB and its own history agreeing, and Master Elite status. It runs its own sheet metal shop and a large commercial and church practice; residential steep-slope roofing is one crew among several. Its ownership has moved beyond the founding family.

Best fit for: Western Marathon County homeowners, or owners of older or church-style buildings needing custom metal work.

What we would want clarified. It has only 11 GAF reviews averaging 4.3, and BBB’s management listing is out of date; ask which crew handles residential jobs. 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) 687-3368, 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 based in Wausau

Five certified firms are ranked here, three of them based in Portage County to the south. These two are based in Wausau or Schofield with an Owens Corning credential. We could not check any firm’s Dwelling Contractor certificate because the state’s search was unreachable. They are not scored and we are not recommending them.

Company	Verified credential
Badger Roofing of Wisconsin	Owens Corning Preferred on E Hamilton St in Wausau; BBB accredited since 2024 at A+, trading since 1962 according to BBB, no complaints.
CW Custom Exteriors.com LLC	Owens Corning Preferred; BBB A+, not accredited, trading since 2019, service area Marathon County, one complaint in three years; shingle, metal and TPO roofing.

Roof replacement and repair in Wausau, WI

Short answer: In Wausau, start with A-Rite Exteriors of Schofield for roof, ventilation and insulation work on homes with ice dam history, Feltz Construction for southern Marathon County, Oakwood Exteriors for standing seam or stone-coated steel, Dun-Rite Exteriors for a roof alongside windows or siding, and Kulp’s of Stratford for older or church-style buildings. The rule that matters most: whoever pulls the permit needs a Wisconsin Dwelling Contractor certificate.

Snow shapes most roof decisions in Wausau. The airport averages 64.3 inches a year, Marathon County roofs must be designed for 40 pounds per square foot, and the April 2018 blizzard left 20.5 inches on Wausau and Weston. Ice dams are the repeat problem: heat escaping through the attic melts snow that refreezes at the cold eaves and backs water under the shingles. The city’s median home was built in 1963 and 69.3 percent of its housing predates the 1980 dwelling code, so thin insulation and poor ventilation are common. Hail is the storm risk: 58 reports in the decade, the largest 3 inches at Poniatowski in July 2024, plus 12 tornadoes.

Wisconsin has no 25 percent roof rule. Under SPS 321.28(6) a new covering may not go over one that is water soaked or deteriorated, that is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or that already has two or more layers, though the Uniform Dwelling Code covers homes begun on or after June 1, 1980. Ice dam protection reaching 30 inches up the slope and 12 inches past the wall is required only on shingle or shake roofs of 4:12 or less, so on steeper roofs ask for it. The City of Wausau charges a flat $70 inspection fee for roofing on a one or two family home, tripled if work starts first.

Wisconsin licenses no roofers, but anyone pulling a permit for a one or two family home needs a Dwelling Contractor certificate, renewed yearly, backed by a $5,000 bond or $250,000 of liability insurance, and since November 2022 a 12-hour course. Wis. Stat. 100.65 covers every roof replacement on a house: the roofer may not promise to pay or rebate your deductible or negotiate your claim, and must ask in writing whether the job relates to a claim and give you a cancellation form. If the insurer denies all or part of the claim you may cancel before the end of the third business day after the written denial.

A-Rite Exteriors is the only firm at both GAF’s President’s Club and Owens Corning’s Platinum Preferred tier, and handles replacement, repair, storm claims, attic insulation and ice dam removal. Oakwood Exteriors, from Plover, installs standing seam and stone-coated steel, which shed heavy snow. Feltz Construction of Stevens Point has a 5.0 rating across 128 GAF reviews and does residential reroofing. Dun-Rite Exteriors of Weston is the longest-established firm inside the metro, with windows and siding as prominent as roofing. Kulp’s of Stratford runs its own sheet metal shop and a large commercial low-slope and church practice; ask which crew handles residential jobs.

Replacing a roof in Wausau: the rules that apply

Rule	What applies	Source
Contractor credential	Anyone pulling a permit on a one or two family home needs a Dwelling Contractor certificate, renewed yearly, with a $5,000 bond or $250,000 liability insurance and, since November 2022, a 12-hour course; owners pulling permits for their own homes are exempt.	Wis. Stat. 101.654; Wisconsin DSPS
Roofing permit fee	Flat $70 inspection fee for roofing on a one or two family home, tripled if work starts first; Schofield and Rib Mountain permits issued for 10 percent extra.	City of Wausau 2026 fee schedule
Recover limits	No new covering over one that is water soaked or deteriorated, wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or already two or more layers.	Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321.28(6)
Ice dam protection	Sheet metal or self-adhering membrane at least 30 inches up from the edge and 12 inches past the inside of the wall, only on shingle or shake roofs of 4:12 or less over heated space or an attached garage.	Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321.28(4)
Snow design load	40 psf in Marathon County (Zone 1).	Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321.02
Insurance-related contracts	No promise to pay or rebate the deductible, no negotiating the claim, written claim question and cancellation form required; cancel by the end of the third business day after a written denial; $500 to $1,000 forfeiture per violation.	Wis. Stat. 100.65
25 percent rule	Wisconsin has no 25 percent roof rule.	Uniform Dwelling Code, SPS 321.28

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.

The 35 inch-plus hail reports behind a Wausau 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 1 county of the Wausau, WI statistical area over ten years, with the dates, the stone sizes and the towns they landed on. Over that decade the metro logged 58 hail reports, 75 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports and 12 tornadoes. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $706,000; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.

The biggest hail to fall on Wausau in a decade

Date	Stone size	Reported near	County
13 July 2024	3.0 in	Poniatowski	Marathon
13 July 2024	2.0 in	Stratford	Marathon
15 May 2025	1.75 in	Rothschild	Marathon
19 July 2025	1.75 in	Granite Hgts	Marathon
24 October 2023	1.75 in	Knowlton	Marathon
15 May 2025	1.25 in	Schofield	Marathon

The largest stone on record for this metro fell on 13 July 2024 near Poniatowski, 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 70 knots, about 81 mph, near Mann on 9 April 2017. Asphalt shingles begin lifting at roughly 67 mph when they are correctly nailed, and considerably below that when they are not.

Tornadoes. 12 tornadoes touched down in these counties over the decade, the strongest rated EF2 near Colby on 15 May 2025.

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 17 May 2017 event near Stratford, reproduced verbatim:

Thunderstorm downburst winds downed at least a dozen trees and heavily damaged a barn in western Marathon County. The downburst winds also carried a carport more than 200 feet.

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 (48), June (33), May (25). The worst years on record were 2021 (24), 2025 (18), 2024 (17). If you are scheduling non-urgent work in Wausau, 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 Wausau. Weight your decision toward wind rating, ventilation and flashing detail rather than paying extra for impact-rated shingles.

Snow country with a low-slope-only ice dam rule

Wausau’s airport averages 64.3 inches of snow a year, with at least an inch on the ground for 112 days and 163 nights at or below freezing. Marathon County sits in Zone 1 of Wisconsin’s roof-load map, where roofs must carry 40 pounds per square foot of snow against 30 in the south of the state. From 13 to 15 April 2018 a historic late-season storm brought blizzard conditions and 20.5 inches to Wausau and Weston.

Snow load is one problem; ice dams are the other. When heat escaping through the attic melts snow that refreezes at the cold eaves, water backs up under the shingles. Wisconsin’s code answers that with SPS 321.28(4), which requires sheet metal or a self-adhering membrane at least 30 inches up from the edge and 12 inches past the inside of the wall, but only on shingle or shake roofs pitched at 4:12 or shallower. On a steeper roof the membrane is the roofer’s or the owner’s choice.

Most Wausau houses were also built before the code existed. The dwelling code’s design rules took effect on 1 June 1980; in the city 69.3 percent of housing predates that, and the median house dates from 1963. Older homes often have the thin attic insulation and poor ventilation that cause ice dams in the first place.

The local market sells around the problem: the top-ranked firm lists ice dam removal as a service line. Removal treats the symptom; the fix is at the eaves and in the attic. At $70, a Wausau roofing permit is cheap relative to the eaves detail it lets an inspector see.

For a Wausau homeowner the request is simple whatever the pitch: ice and water membrane at the eaves past the warm wall line, and an attic insulation and ventilation check before the new roof goes on. Ask too for the roofer’s Dwelling Contractor certificate if it is pulling the permit.

Wausau’s snow and the rules on a reroof

Item	Figure or rule	Source
Average annual snowfall	64.3 inches	NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals, Wausau ASOS
Days with an inch or more of snow on the ground	111.8 a year	NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals
April 2018 blizzard	20.5 inches in Wausau and Weston	NWS Green Bay via NOAA NCEI
Roof snow design load, Marathon County	40 psf (Zone 1)	Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321.02
Ice dam protection required	Only shingle or shake roofs of 4:12 or less	SPS 321.28(4)
Homes built before 1980, City of Wausau	69.3%	ACS 2020 to 2024, B25034
Wausau roofing inspection fee	$70; tripled if work starts first	City of Wausau 2026 fee schedule
Contractor credential	Dwelling Contractor certificate; 12-hour course	Wis. Stat. 101.654
Cancellation after claim denial	Three business days	Wis. Stat. 100.65
Largest hail, 2016 to 2025	3.0 inches, Poniatowski, 13 July 2024	NOAA NCEI Storm Events

Source: NWS Green Bay episode narratives and NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (Marathon County and zone WIZ030); NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals; Wis. Stat. 101.654 and 100.65; Wis. Admin. Code SPS 305 and 321; City of Wausau 2026 fee schedule; Wisconsin DFI records via OpenCorporates; Owens Corning contractor locator; BBB business profiles; US Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024.

What to verify before a Wausau 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.

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.

1. Verify certification at the source. Use the GAF verification tool rather than trusting a badge image on a company website.
2. 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.
3. Confirm who pulls the permit. If a contractor asks you to pull it as the homeowner, that moves liability onto you. Decline.
4. 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 Wausau

6 certified roofing contractors serve the principal cities of the Wausau, WI statistical area, of which 1 hold the top President’s Club tier. The pool carries 463 customer reviews between them at a mean rating of 4.422. The statistical area had a 2024 population of 139,091, a change of 0.75% against the 2020 census base, per the U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates.

How these Wausau rankings were produced

Every contractor in the Wausau, 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 6 certified contractors, of whom 1 hold President’s Club standing and 2 Master Elite, against a metro mean rating of 4.422. 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.

Set aside in Wausau. Contractors that would otherwise have scored into the top five were removed for the reason stated. The score is computed from public data, but where the research pass finds evidence undermining an input to that score, the score is set aside.

• Dan-Bee Roofing LLC, which scored 38.9: Excluded on service area. A Tomahawk roofer in Lincoln County, outside the metro, whose BBB service area is Lincoln County only; we found no website or other statement that it serves Marathon County.
• Denyon Homes Inc, which scored 35.0: Excluded on core trade. A Weston residential home builder of master-planned neighbourhoods, not a reroofing contractor.
• SC Swiderski LLC, which scored 32.5: Excluded on core trade. BBB classifies the Mosinee business under apartments, not roofing, and records three complaints in three years.

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: 2026-10-09. Corrections go to the editor and are actioned on verification.

Wausau roofing questions, answered

Who is the best roofer in Wausau, WI?

A-Rite Exteriors of Schofield, WI scores highest in the Wausau metro on The Roofing Brief Contractor Score, at 85.7 out of 100 as of October 2026. It holds President’s Club certification with a 4.8 rating across 118 reviews. Highest-scoring is not the same as best fit for your specific job, and the four companies behind it score within 34.3 points.

What is the 25% rule for roofing in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has no 25 percent roof rule. The Uniform Dwelling Code’s reroofing limits in SPS 321.28(6) bar a new covering over one that is water soaked or deteriorated, that is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, or that already has two or more layers. The code covers one and two family homes begun on or after June 1, 1980.

Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Wausau?

The City of Wausau charges a flat $70 inspection fee for roofing on a one or two family home, and the fee is tripled if work starts first. The city also issues permits for Schofield and Rib Mountain addresses for 10 percent extra. Whoever pulls the permit, unless it is the owner, needs a Dwelling Contractor certificate.

Who handles ice dams in Wausau?

A-Rite Exteriors of Schofield, the top-ranked firm, lists ice dam removal and attic insulation alongside roof replacement and repair. Removal treats the symptom; the fix is ice and water membrane at the eaves and an attic insulation and ventilation check before the new roof goes on.

Can I cancel a roofing contract in Wisconsin if my insurance claim is denied?

Yes. Under Wis. Stat. 100.65, if your insurer denies all or part of the claim you may cancel before the end of the third business day after the written denial. The roofer must give you a cancellation form and may not promise to pay or rebate your deductible.

How many certified roofing contractors serve Wausau?

6 contractors on the GAF certification registry serve the principal cities of the Wausau, WI statistical area as of October 2026, of which 1 hold President’s Club status.

How much damaging hail does Wausau get?

The Wausau, WI statistical area recorded 35 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 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 Wausau in the last ten years?

The largest hailstone logged by the National Weather Service in the Wausau, WI statistical area between 2016 and 2025 measured 3.0 inches, reported near Poniatowski on 13 July 2024. That is baseball sized, comfortably past the point where a roof is written off rather than repaired. Across the decade the metro recorded 58 hail reports. Reported property damage from hail, severe wind and tornado over that decade totalled $706,000; flood and winter-storm losses are counted separately and are not included.

When is the worst time of year for roof damage in Wausau?

Severe-weather reports in the Wausau, WI statistical area cluster in July, June, May, 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 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 Wausau?

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.

Snow country with a low-slope-only ice dam rule?

Wausau’s airport averages 64.3 inches of snow a year, with at least an inch on the ground for 112 days and 163 nights at or below freezing. Marathon County sits in Zone 1 of Wisconsin’s roof-load map, where roofs must carry 40 pounds per square foot of snow against 30 in the south of the state. From 13 to 15 April 2018 a historic late-season storm brought blizzard conditions and 20.5 inches to Wausau and Weston.

Is Wausau a hard market to find a good roofer in?

Wausau is snow country: 64 inches a year, snow on the ground 112 days, and roofs designed for 40 pounds per square foot. Yet Wisconsin’s code requires ice dam protection only on shingle roofs of 4:12 pitch or shallower, and seven in ten homes in the city predate the state’s dwelling code altogether. Wisconsin licenses no roofers, though it does certify the contractor who pulls a permit. Nine certified firms appear in the directory; three are excluded, a home builder, an apartments business and a roofer serving only Lincoln County, and the top five of the rest are ranked.

Is wind or hail the bigger risk to a roof in Wausau?

Wind, by a wide margin. The Wausau, WI statistical area logged 75 severe thunderstorm and high wind reports against 35 hail reports of an inch or more between 2016 and 2025. Wind damage shows up at the rake, ridge and edge rather than across the field of the roof, so the fastening schedule and edge detail matter more here than the impact rating of the shingle.

Why is Dan-Bee Roofing LLC not on this list?

Excluded on service area. A Tomahawk roofer in Lincoln County, outside the metro, whose BBB service area is Lincoln County only; we found no website or other statement that it serves Marathon County..

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 Appleton, WI, about 78 miles from Wausau
• Best roofers in Oshkosh, WI, about 84 miles from Wausau
• Best roofers in Green Bay, WI, about 87 miles from Wausau
• Best roofers in Eau Claire, WI, about 91 miles from Wausau
• Best roofers in La Crosse, WI, another WI metro on the same formula
• Best roofers in Sheboygan, WI, another WI metro on the same formula
• Best roofers in Bismarck, ND, a metro of comparable size
• Best roofers in Harrisonburg, VA, 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 Wausau, 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.