FAMILY-OWNED · SINCE 1979 MADISON, WI · CENTERVILLE, IA LIC. DC-080900045
24/7 STORM LINE (608) 909-9109
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Roofing FAQ · Common Questions Answered

Roofing questions? Straight answers.

Cost, insurance claims, timelines, warranties, repair versus replacement, every question we hear most, answered honestly in one place. Search it, or jump to a topic below.

47yrs
Family-Owned
<2%
GAF Master Elite
4.9★
80 Google Reviews
$0
Inspection Cost
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Getting Started

Inspections & first steps
Is the roof inspection really free?+
Yes. Our roof inspection is free, with no obligation. We assess the full roof, document everything with photos, and give you a written summary, whether or not you decide to hire us. We respond to inspection requests within 2 hours during business hours. Book a free inspection →
How do I know if I even need a new roof?+
Common signs include granules collecting in your gutters, cracked, curled, or missing shingles, ceiling stains, and daylight or leaks in the attic. But many problems are invisible from the ground, so the only reliable way to know is a professional inspection. We'll tell you honestly whether you need a repair, a replacement, or nothing yet.
Do you charge for an estimate?+
No. Inspections and written estimates are free and itemized, you see every material and labor line, not a vague square-footage number, and we explain each one before anything is signed. There's no cost and no pressure.
What areas do you serve?+
We're based in Madison, WI with a field office in Centerville, IA, and serve homeowners across Wisconsin and southern Iowa, including Dane County and Appanoose County. Family-owned and operating since 1979. Madison roofing →
How soon can you start?+
Repairs are typically scheduled within 24 to 48 hours of estimate approval, and most full replacements within 2 to 3 weeks. For active leaks and storm emergencies, our line is answered 24/7 and we dispatch the same day to tarp and secure.

Roofing & Repairs

Repair, replace, materials
Do I need a repair or a full replacement?+
It depends on whether the damage is localized and how much life the roof has left. Most leak calls are a targeted repair, a flashing, a valley, a few shingles. We recommend replacement only when patching would just delay the inevitable: a roof near end of life, repeated leaks, or decking rot. We're honest either way. Roof repair →
Why doesn't the leak line up with the stain on my ceiling?+
Because water rarely drops straight down. It enters at a failure point, flashing, a cracked pipe boot, a failed valley, then travels along the decking and rafters before soaking through the ceiling somewhere else. We trace the water path back to the true entry point instead of patching above the stain.
Can you really replace a roof in a single day?+
For most homes, yes. A typical residential replacement, full tear-off, decking inspection, ice and water shield, underlayment, GAF shingles, and cleanup, is completed in a single day by our own crew. Larger or steeper roofs, or significant decking repairs, can add time, which we tell you upfront. Roof replacement →
Do you tear off the old roof or go over it?+
We do a full tear-off to the bare decking, not a layover. Going over an old roof hides decking rot and commonly voids the system warranty. Tearing off lets us inspect and replace bad decking and install the full waterproofing system the way GAF requires.
What shingles do you install?+
As a GAF Master Elite contractor we install the full GAF Timberline line. Timberline HDZ is the most popular for the balance of cost, durability, and warranty; UHDZ steps up the dimensional look and algae protection; and Camelot II is a designer slate-look option. We walk every option and color at your estimate.
Why do I keep getting ice dams?+
Ice dams are usually a ventilation problem. Inadequate ridge and soffit venting lets attic heat melt rooftop snow, which refreezes at the cold eaves and forces water under the shingles. We repair the leak and address the underlying ventilation and ice-and-water-shield gaps so it stops recurring. Attic ventilation →

Storm & Insurance

Claims, hail, adjusters
Does insurance cover hail and wind damage?+
Most standard policies cover storm damage to roofing, siding, and gutters from hail and wind. Coverage depends on policy type: RCV covers full replacement minus your deductible, while ACV factors in depreciation. We review your policy summary during the inspection and explain what it means before you file. Insurance claims help →
Will I only pay my deductible?+
On most covered claims with a Replacement Cost Value policy, yes, you pay your deductible and we bill the insurer for the approved scope. On an ACV policy, depreciation applies and we document the full scope so recoverable depreciation can be claimed after the work. We confirm your specific policy before you file.
Do you handle the whole insurance claim?+
Yes. We inspect and document the damage, prepare the claim report in the format adjusters use, attend the adjuster meeting in person, reconcile the approved scope, file supplements for anything missed, and complete the work. Your part is short: book the inspection, file the claim, and pay your deductible. Our insurance partners →
What if my claim was denied or underpaid?+
A denial often traces to incomplete documentation or damage not clearly tied to a storm. We re-inspect, document properly, and can file a supplemental claim for items the first scope missed. We'll walk you through your options so you know where you stand, no pressure.
How long do I have to file a claim?+
Policies typically allow about 12 months from the storm event. After that window, damage that should have been covered becomes your cost. Unrepaired damage also compounds into decking rot that insurers often won't cover, since it's then treated as maintenance neglect. The sooner it's documented, the better.
Are you a public adjuster?+
No. We're your roofing contractor. We document damage, provide a professional scope and estimate, and coordinate with your insurer as the contractor doing the work. We are not Iowa public adjusters and don't offer public adjusting services (Iowa Code §522C). What we provide is expert documentation and advocacy for a complete, accurate scope.

Cost & Financing

Pricing & payment
What does a new roof cost?+
Most residential replacements run $8,500 to $18,000, with a typical 1,800 sq ft home on GAF Timberline HDZ around $12,000 to $15,000. Your exact figure depends on size, pitch, existing layers, decking condition, ventilation, and flashing, all confirmed at your free inspection. If it's a covered insurance claim, you typically pay only your deductible.
What drives the price up or down?+
The main factors are roofing squares (size), pitch and slope complexity, the number of existing layers to remove, decking condition, ventilation upgrades, and flashing replacements. We give you an itemized estimate so you can see exactly what each part costs, no vague lump sums.
Do you offer financing?+
Yes. We offer financing through our lending partners so cash flow doesn't delay a roof that needs replacing. Terms are explained clearly at your estimate, with no surprises. Financing options →
Do I need multiple estimates before filing a claim?+
Most insurers don't require multiple contractor estimates for storm claims. Your adjuster provides their estimate and your contractor reconciles that scope during the claim. We review the adjuster's estimate and make sure the approved scope is complete before any work begins.

Warranties

Coverage & transfer
What warranty comes with my roof?+
Two. The GAF System Plus warranty covers materials and the system for 50 years, non-prorated, and our lifetime craftsmanship guarantee covers the installation itself. You get both in writing, the manufacturer stands behind the product, we stand behind the work. Our warranties →
Why can't every roofer offer the 50-year warranty?+
GAF only allows its Master Elite contractors to register the System Plus warranty, and fewer than 2% of US roofers qualify. A standard installer is limited to the prorated manufacturer warranty whose value shrinks as the roof ages. We're the only Master Elite contractor in Madison. GAF Master Elite →
Does the warranty transfer if I sell my home?+
Yes. The System Plus warranty is transferable to a subsequent owner within GAF's terms, a genuine asset when you list your home. We register the warranty with GAF after installation and keep your records on file to make a transfer simple.
What could void my roof warranty?+
The most common cause is installation by a non-certified contractor, since the System Plus warranty only exists when a Master Elite contractor installs and registers it. Other frequent causes are layovers over old shingles instead of a full tear-off, and inadequate attic ventilation. We avoid all three by default.

About Buckshot

Who we are
Do you use subcontractors?+
Never. Every crew member who touches your roof is a Buckshot employee. The same people who inspect and quote your roof install it, supervised by the same foreman, and the workmanship warranty is ours, in writing. Your roof is never handed off to a crew we don't manage.
How long have you been in business?+
Buckshot is family-owned and has been operating since 1979, that's 47 years of Midwest roofing. A warranty is only as good as the company behind it, so longevity matters: the name on your warranty will still be here when you need it. About us →
Are you licensed and insured?+
Yes. We're licensed (WI Lic. DC-080900045) and fully insured, and we hold GAF Master Elite, FORTIFIED, BBB A+, NRCA, WRCA, UASRC, InterNACHI, and IICRC credentials, all independently verifiable. See our credentials →
What makes you different from other roofers?+
Three things, concretely: we're the only GAF Master Elite contractor in Madison (so we can offer the 50-year warranty), we never subcontract (the crew that quotes your roof builds it), and we attend the adjuster meeting in person on insurance claims, the step most contractors skip and the one that most decides your claim outcome.
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Call (608) 909-9109Back to topReviews
WI Lic. DC-080900045GAF Master EliteInsured
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4.9 stars across 80 verified reviews.

Read all Buckshot customer reviews →

★★★★★

You could not even tell they had been there, except that I had a new roof. I didn't even find a nail.

Rusty McLain · Google
★★★★★

Ryan walked us through the whole process. He dealt with the insurance company, showed up for a free quote, and the job was scheduled quickly after.

Victoria Johnson · Google
★★★★★

The help they provided with the paperwork and insurance company was amazing and much appreciated.

Deanna Allen · Google
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Services & Storm

Roof Replacement →Full tear-off · GAF · single day Roof Repair →Leaks · flashing · ice dams Insurance Claims Help →First call to final check 24/7 Emergency Repairs →Leaks · storm · fallen trees

Trust & Company

Our Warranties →GAF 50-yr + craftsmanship Insurance Partners →5 carrier programs GAF Master Elite →Top 2% nationwide
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Book a no-cost, no-obligation inspection and we'll give you an honest written assessment of your roof, whether that's a repair, a replacement, or nothing yet. GAF Master Elite, family-owned since 1979, our own crews on every job.

Book my free inspection →Call (608) 909-9109

Answers on this page are general information and not a quote or a warranty document; specific terms, coverage, pricing, and outcomes vary by roof, policy, carrier, and product. We are not Iowa public adjusters, nor do we offer public adjusting services. Iowa Code §522C. WI Lic. DC-080900045 · GAF Master Elite Certified · Family-Owned Since 1979.

Questions?(608) 909-9109