Get matched with top roofers in Butterfield, MN

If you're looking for a dependable and affordable option for garage roofing, asphalt shingles offer a durable way to blend a detached garage in with the surrounding residential aesthetic. If you're looking for a more durable and protective option because you're storing expensive equipment in your garage, consider metal roofs that perform well against snow, ice, hail, and heavy rains.

A roof's ability to handle snow depends on its strength and the snow's weight, as wet snow is much heavier than dry, fluffy snow. While designs in snowy regions often allow for 35 to 50 pounds per square foot, a general guideline is that a typical roof can withstand about four feet of fresh snow, two feet of packed snow, or just one inch of ice. Factors like the roof's age, slope, and support structure also affect its capacity; newer, sloped roofs generally hold more weight than older, flat ones. Ice and ice dams add significant, dangerous weight. Because capacity varies, it is best to contact a professional roofing contractor or the original builder to determine the maximum snow load for your specific home.

Ideally, you shouldn’t pay your roofer upfront unless you’re special-ordering materials. However, anything between 10% and 15% of the project’s cost is reasonable to pay upfront. Avoid making a final payment until after the roof gets completed.

Roofing estimates and inspections are not the same thing. Roofing inspections (whether done with a drone or by the traditional method) help you find any damage or defects on a roof. You will pay a set fee for a roofing inspection and use it to get certification or to determine whether repair or replacement is necessary. Beware of unsolicited contractors coming to your home and offering a so-called free roof inspection—these are often scams.

Roofing estimates, on the other hand, are typically free and offered by a roofing company hoping to earn your business. Some roofing estimates are performed with drones, while other companies will still opt to send people up onto the roof. Either way, the estimate is for roof repair or replacement costs the company wants you to hire them for.