Roof Replacement in Urbandale, IA
Is the roof on your Urbandale, IA home starting to show its age? Roof Replacement Des Moines IA connects homeowners with one independent local roofer at no cost. We don't roof, quote or sign contracts ourselves. The roofer visits for a free inspection and leaves you a written estimate.
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Roof Replacement Help in Urbandale
Urbandale sits about 5 miles west-northwest of downtown Des Moines and spreads across Polk and Dallas counties in Iowa. It began as a streetcar suburb and is now home to Living History Farms. The Census counted 45,580 residents in 2020 and estimates 48,570 for July 2025.
Here, 78.1% of homes are owner-occupied, the highest rate of the five towns on this site. Most roofing decisions here are made by people who live under the roof and plan to stay, so a clear written estimate matters.
Urbandale Houses and the Roofs on Them
The median owner-occupied home in Urbandale is valued at $335,500, again the top figure among our five towns (Census, 2020–2024). Households average 2.64 people across 22.53 square miles of land, a town built mostly around family houses.
Across Polk County, the median home was built around 1974, and roughly one in six dates from before 1940. In Urbandale, that often means older ranch-style houses a few streets from much newer two-story homes. Older roofs here may hide worn decking or tired flashing, which the roofer checks before suggesting repair or replacement.
Roof Services in Urbandale
- Whole-roof replacement. At the end of a roof's life, the roofer tears it off and installs fresh underlayment, flashing and covering. Learn more about full roof replacement.
- Wind and hail repairs. Urbandale had roof damage from the 2020 derecho. A roofer can document storm damage for your files, while you and your insurer work out the claim. Visit storm and hail damage.
- Steel roofing. Long-term owners sometimes ask about standing seam or exposed-fastener steel. The metal roof replacement page explains the trade-offs.
- Asphalt shingles. Most Urbandale roofs use shingles, and impact-resistant Class 4 lines are an optional upgrade. Compare them under shingle roof replacement.
- Smaller fixes. A single drip near a chimney may only need new flashing. Read about roof repair before deciding.
The Derecho and Other Urbandale Storms
The August 10, 2020 derecho hit Urbandale hard. A personal weather station just west of town measured an 85 mph gust at 11:00 am, the highest metro reading on the National Weather Service list. Twelve minutes later, the NWS logged trees down and damage to roofs in Urbandale, and at 11:16 am a fence blew over at 128th and Douglas.
Polk County was included in the federal disaster declaration for the derecho (FEMA-4557-DR), and again for the May 2024 storms (FEMA-4784-DR), when an EF-2 tornado crossed the county between Polk City and Ankeny. Those declarations covered past storms and are not a source of roof money today. A check after a rough spring or summer is sensible.
Who Issues Urbandale Building Permits
Urbandale handles its own permits through Building Inspections at 3600 86th Street, open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. The direct line is 515-278-3935. The city's permit categories don't spell out whether a re-roof needs one, so phone the office before any work begins.
The new City of Des Moines re-roof permit, starting January 1, 2027, applies inside Des Moines, not in Urbandale. If your lot sits outside city limits on the Polk County side, call Polk County Building Services at 515-286-3352. In every case, your roofer is the one who arranges any permit the job calls for.
Urbandale Roof Price Ranges
| Cost row | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa re-roof, average | about $6,160 (range $4,794–$15,779) | This Old House, 2026 |
| Iowa architectural shingles, per sq ft | about $5.95 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Iowa Class 4 impact-resistant shingles, per sq ft | about $5.50–$7.50 | AskDoss, 2026 |
| Iowa exposed-fastener steel, per sq ft | about $8.00 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Iowa standing-seam steel, per sq ft | about $12.40 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
Treat these as Iowa-wide reference points rather than Urbandale prices. A two-story house, a steep pitch, rotted decking or a material upgrade will move your figure. Only the roofer's written, itemized estimate reflects your actual home. To get a feel for your own range first, the roof cost calculator takes about a minute, and the cost guide explains what drives the numbers.
Help That Knows Urbandale
- Built for owners. With most Urbandale homes owner-occupied, you get one inspection and a written estimate to read at home, without a sales visit from a crowd of firms.
- Check before you sign. Ask the roofer for its Iowa contractor registration number and confirm it with the state at 515-242-5871. That confirms state sign-up only, not workmanship.
- Get it in writing. Ask for proof of insurance, manufacturer and labor warranties, references, a local address and a contract that lists every item.
- One number to call. Reach us at (515) 555-0172. You pay nothing for the referral, though a roofer may pay this site a fee.
See If Urbandale Is Covered
Urbandale addresses, including ZIP code 50322, are inside our service area. Enter your street below to make sure, then try the five-step quiz for a quick read on whether your roof leans toward repair or replacement.
What Urbandale Homeowners Ask
Who do I call about a roofing permit in Urbandale?
Call Urbandale Building Inspections at 515-278-3935, weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm. The city doesn't publish a clear re-roof rule, so asking first is the safe step. Des Moines' permit requirement that begins January 1, 2027 doesn't reach Urbandale addresses. Your roofer usually makes this call and handles the paperwork.
Did the 2020 derecho damage roofs in Urbandale?
Yes. The National Weather Service recorded trees down and damage to roofs in Urbandale on August 10, 2020, plus an 85 mph gust just west of town. If your roof was patched after that storm rather than replaced, an inspection can show how those repairs are holding up today.
My house is on the Dallas County side. Does that matter?
Inside city limits, Urbandale's own Building Inspections office handles permits, whichever county your lot is in. The county matters only for addresses outside town, such as unincorporated Polk County (515-286-3352). Either way, the roofer confirms the right office before scheduling work.
Is it worth replacing an older ranch roof all at once?
It depends on the decking, the layers already on the roof and how widespread the wear is, which a roofer checks on site. If one area is failing, a repair may hold for years; if wear is everywhere, replacement usually makes more sense.
Will Class 4 shingles lower my insurance bill?
Some insurers give a discount for impact-resistant roofs and some don't, and the amount varies. Call your agent and ask before you choose. Class 4 shingles are optional in Urbandale, so you can have the roofer price them next to standard architectural shingles.
More Towns in the Area
Urbandale borders West Des Moines, IA to the south. Farther northeast lies Ankeny, IA, and east of Des Moines is Altoona, IA.
Your Urbandale Roof, Inspected Free
Fill in the short form or call (515) 555-0172. We pass your details to one independent Urbandale-area roofer for a free inspection and written estimate, with no charge and no obligation to hire.