After a big hail or wind storm rolls through Central Iowa, your driveway fills up with door-knockers overnight. Some are honest local roofers. Many are out-of-state crews chasing the storm who’ll be three states away by the time your roof leaks. Choosing the right Des Moines roofing company is the single decision that determines whether your roof lasts 25 years or fails in two — so it’s worth slowing down and doing it right.

I’m Scott, owner of Hutch Unlimited Roofing here in Grimes. I’ve inspected hundreds of roofs across Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Waukee, Urbandale, Johnston, Clive, and Altoona. Below is the exact checklist I’d give my own family before they hired anyone — including us.

What should I check before hiring a roofer in Des Moines?

Before you sign anything, run every roofer past this checklist. A trustworthy company will happily hand over all of it. A storm-chaser will dodge, stall, or push you to sign “today only.”

• Proof of insurance — general liability AND workers’ compensation, dated and current.
• A real local address in the Des Moines metro, not a P.O. box or an out-of-state phone number.
• Verified reviews on Google and a Better Business Bureau profile.
• Written warranties — both the manufacturer’s and the roofer’s own workmanship warranty.
• A detailed written estimate that lists materials, brand, scope, and price — not a napkin number.
• Time in business — a track record you can actually check.

Is a roofing license required in Iowa?

Iowa does not issue a state “roofing contractor license” the way some states do, but every legitimate contractor doing business here must be registered with the Iowa Division of Labor if they perform more than $2,000 of work per year. That registration is free to verify. Ask any roofer for their Iowa Contractor Registration number and confirm it — a company that can’t or won’t provide one is a red flag.

Registration isn’t the same as insurance, though, which is where most homeowners get caught. Always ask for both.

Why insurance matters more than almost anything

If a worker is hurt on your roof and the company has no workers’ compensation coverage, that liability can land on you as the homeowner. And if an uninsured crew damages your home or a neighbor’s property, you may have no recourse. Require two documents, in writing:

• General liability insurance — covers property damage caused during the job.
• Workers’ compensation — covers injuries to the crew on your property.

Don’t just take a verbal “yeah, we’re insured.” Ask for a current certificate of insurance (COI) — a real company can email one in minutes.

Local roofer vs. out-of-state storm-chaser: how do I tell them apart?

Central Iowa’s hail and wind seasons attract traveling crews that swarm neighborhoods, sign as many contracts as they can, do fast work, collect the insurance check, and leave. When your roof leaks two winters later, the phone number is disconnected and your “warranty” is worthless.

Hutch Unlimited has been locally owned and operating in the Des Moines metro since 2021. Our office is at 2407 NE 12th St in Grimes — you can literally drive by it. That permanence is the whole point of hiring local: we’re here when you need the warranty honored.

How do I check a roofing company’s reviews and BBB rating?

Reviews are the fastest way to separate real contractors from fly-by-night crews. Here’s how to read them like a pro:

1. Check the count, not just the score. A 5.0 rating from 3 reviews means little. Look for a strong average across a meaningful number — for reference, we’re at 5.0 stars from 57 Google reviews.
2. Read the recent ones. Are people praising cleanup, communication, and how the crew handled surprises? Those details reveal how a company actually operates.
3. Look up the Better Business Bureau profile. A BBB A+ rating (which Hutch Unlimited holds) tells you the company resolves issues rather than ignoring them.
4. Watch for patterns in complaints. One bad review is life. A pattern of “never came back to fix it” is a warning.

What warranties should a Des Moines roofer offer?

There are two different warranties, and a good roofer gives you both — in writing:

• Manufacturer’s warranty — covers the shingles or metal panels themselves against defects (often 25–50 years, depending on the product). This only holds up if the roof is installed to spec.
• Workmanship warranty — the roofer’s own guarantee on the installation and labor. This is the one that actually protects you against leaks from bad install work — and it’s only as good as the company standing behind it.

This is exactly why a company’s longevity matters. A workmanship warranty from a crew that vanishes after storm season isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

Why should I always get a written estimate?

A proper written estimate protects you from surprise charges and tells you whether the roofer actually knows what they’re doing. A real Des Moines roofing estimate should spell out:

• The full scope (tear-off vs. overlay, decking inspection, underlayment, flashing, ventilation).
• The exact material and brand — not just “architectural shingles.”
• A clear price and payment schedule.
• Cleanup and magnetic nail sweep of your yard.

Rough Des Moines-area pricing (all figures are estimates — every roof is different, and only an on-site inspection gives a real number):

If storm damage is involved, a good local roofer will also help you navigate your insurance claim — an area where experience with Iowa adjusters genuinely pays off.

Red flags to walk away from

• Demands a large cash deposit or full payment up front.
• Pressures you to sign “today only” or to sign an insurance-assignment form on the spot.
• Won’t provide a certificate of insurance or Iowa registration number.
• No local address, no BBB profile, and thin or no reviews.
• Offers to “waive your deductible” — that’s insurance fraud, and it puts you at risk.

Choosing well isn’t complicated — it’s just about slowing down long enough to verify. If you want a local, insured, BBB A+ team that’ll still be here to honor its warranty, learn more about our work as a roofing company in Des Moines, IA, or get a fast estimate below.