Dubuque, Iowa · Driftless river bluffs · Tri-state region

Dubuque roofing built for bluffs and hard winters

A roof in Dubuque fights ice at the eaves, wind off the Mississippi, and the steep, detailed pitches of a historic river town. Buckshot has built for all three for more than forty years, a family owned GAF Master Elite roofer with our own crews and a written plan before anyone climbs on.

Or call, Mon-Sat

(608) 909-9109

Own crews

never subcontracted

Licensed

and insured

Free inspection

written scope

Book a free roof inspection

Tell us where the home is and what you are seeing. A Dubuque-area project manager gets back to you.

Free and no obligation. Rather talk now, call (608) 909-9109.

40+ yrs

Family owned

Top 2%

GAF Master Elite

4.9 ★

Google rating

24/7

Storm response

The problems Dubuque roofs face most · 01 / 08

The most common roof problems in Dubuque

Ranked by what we get called for most, and each one tied straight to work our crews do, so you know who to call and for what.

Ice dams on the older homes

Hard freeze and thaw swings, plus weak attic ventilation on the city’s older brick houses, let melt refreeze at the eave and push water back under the shingles. This is the number one winter call in Dubuque.

Ice dam & winter work

plus ventilation fix

Storm, hail and wind damage

Eastern Iowa takes hail and straight-line wind every warm season. The damage is easy to miss from the ground, so owners get underpaid or skip a claim they were owed.

Storm & hail

insurance claim help

Aging and worn-out roofs

Much of Dubuque sits on roofs older than the current owner knows. Curling shingles, grit in the gutters and repeat leaks all mean the roof is near the end.

Roof replacement

and repair

Steep, complex historic rooflines

The homes in the Cathedral, Langworthy and Jackson Park districts carry steep pitches, dormers and deep valleys where flashing detail matters more than speed, and where rushed work leaks.

Detailed replacement

flashing and valleys

Bluff wind and overwhelmed gutters

Wind off the river peels shingle edges on the hillside streets, and heavy bluff runoff overruns undersized gutters until water finds the fascia and the foundation.

Roof repair

siding & gutters

Why a Dubuque roof works harder

02 / 08

What causes roof damage in Dubuque

Dubuque is not a flat-lot town. It climbs the limestone bluffs of the Driftless country where the Mississippi cut the land instead of a glacier smoothing it. That shape, and the winters that come with it, decide what a roof here has to survive.

Ice at the eaves is the leak most Dubuque owners fight. Cold-season melt runs off a warm roof, refreezes where the eave sits over open air, and the ice dam that forms drives water back up under the shingles. On the older brick homes that fill so much of the city, with steep pitches, tight eaves and original attic ventilation, that backup finds its way inside. The lasting answer is rarely chipping at the ice. It is a colder, better-vented roof edge and flashing that does its job.

The bluffs add wind and awkward access. Homes on the Point, along Fenelon Place, and up the West Eleventh Street grade catch wind that funnels off the river and up the hillsides. Steep lots make staging and safety a real part of the job, not an afterthought, and they change how a crew has to work a roof.

Then the storm seasons arrive. Hail and straight-line wind roll across eastern Iowa in the warm months, and river-valley moisture never really lets up. A Dubuque roof faces cold-season ice, shoulder-season storms and year-round damp, so the details that shrug those off matter more here than a flat-country roof ever asks for.

Attic and eave first

We check ventilation and insulation, not just shingles, so ice dams stop forming.

Steep and historic ready

Complex valleys, dormers and detail on the older homes get matched, not rushed.

Storm documented

Hail and wind get photographed and measured for the claim, on the roof with your adjuster.

Bluff access planned

Staging and safety on a hill lot are part of the scope, written down before we start.

What we do on Dubuque homes · 03 / 08

Roofing and exteriors for a river town

One accountable crew for the whole job, whether it is a winter leak on Grandview or a full tear-off before the next storm season.

Roof replacement

Repair & leaks

Storm & hail

Ice dams

Siding & gutters

Commercial

Across Dubuque and the county · 04 / 08

Different parts of Dubuque, different roofs

Where a home sits in Dubuque changes what its roof needs. These are the patterns we plan around, not a list of place names.

Cathedral, Jackson Park and Langworthy

The historic districts carry steep, detailed rooflines, dormers and deep valleys, sometimes over original slate or wood. Flashing and profile matter more than speed, and we keep the lines the house was built with.

The Point, Fenelon and the bluff streets

Hillside lots off the river mean wind exposure and steep-grade access. Staging and safety become part of the plan, and snow sheds hard off these pitches.

Asbury and the west-side subdivisions

Newer asphalt roofs out here are reaching the age where the first replacement comes due. These are the walkable, straightforward tear-offs, and a good time to fix ventilation while the roof is open.

Millwork District and the Port of Dubuque

Commercial and mixed-use buildings run to low-slope and flat systems, where the priority is a watertight membrane and keeping business moving underneath.

Key West, the South End and the flats

Older frame homes near the valley floor deal with damp and long-served roofs, where honest repair-or-replace advice saves money.

Sageville and the edges of the county

Rural and acreage properties across Dubuque County get the same crews and the same written scope as an in-town job. If you are unsure we reach you, ask.

After the storm · 05 / 08

We handle the hail and wind claim with you

Storm damage on a Dubuque roof is easy to miss from the ground and easy to underscope on paper. We keep you out of the paperwork and on solid footing with your carrier.

Free inspection

We get on the roof, document every hit with photos and measurements, and tell you plainly whether there is a claim.

File it right

We help you open the claim and hand your carrier an organized, evidence-backed report to work from.

Meet the adjuster

We are on the roof with your adjuster so legitimate damage is seen and nothing gets left off the scope.

Build it back

Our own crew completes the work, so on a covered claim you generally pay only your deductible.

We work with the major insurance restoration programs, and we put the qualifier plainly. On a covered claim you typically pay only your deductible, but coverage is decided by your carrier and your policy, so we never promise a claim outcome.

Why Dubuque owners call us

06 / 08

A crew that answers for the roof years from now

Dubuque gets its share of out-of-town storm crews that take the check and leave. We are a family-owned Wisconsin and Iowa contractor that stands behind the work.

GAF Master Elite

A factory certification carried by a small share of roofers, which lets us offer extended manufacturer warranties.

FORTIFIED provider

Trained in the IBHS FORTIFIED standard for roofs built to hold up to severe weather, not just meet minimum code.

Our own crews

The people who scope your roof are the people who build it. No day-labor subcontractors handed the keys.

Licensed and insured

We are licensed in Wisconsin and Illinois and fully insured, and we carry whatever registration an Iowa job calls for before any work starts.

Family owned for decades

More than forty years on Wisconsin and Iowa roofs means we are here for the warranty long after the truck pulls out.

Storm-ready, year round

A live storm line and after-hours response when a Dubuque leak or a torn edge cannot wait for the morning.

Signs a Dubuque roof is asking for help

07 / 08

When to get it looked at

A lot of Dubuque roof trouble shows up small before it shows up on the ceiling. These are worth a free look.

Ice building at the eaves

A thick ridge of ice or long icicles along the gutter line means melt is refreezing and can back up under the shingles.

Stains after a thaw or storm

A brown ring on a ceiling or in an upstairs closet often traces back to flashing or an ice-dam backup, not the spot below it.

Granules in the gutters

Piles of shingle grit after a hailstorm or a long winter are a sign the surface is wearing thin.

Lifted or missing shingles

Wind off the river can peel edges and corners, especially on the bluff-facing slopes. Gaps let water in fast.

An older home you just bought

Many Dubuque houses carry roofs older than the current owner knows. A baseline inspection tells you what you are working with.

A knock after a storm

If an out-of-town crew is at the door pushing a fast signature, get a local second opinion before anything is signed.

Rated 5 out of 5

What Dubuque and nearby homeowners say

We would rather point you at the real reviews than paste a quote here. Read what people say and judge for yourself, then call and see how we work.

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Joy I 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. When the big storms came through the Madison-area in April 2026, I immediately started looking for a reputable roofer—who also understood the importance of weather-resistant materials that can withstand hail and wind. It didn’t take me long to find Brad from BCG. We had damage that needed to be repaired before the next round of storms came through later that day and Brad had a crew out within hours. Our neighbors also had damage, and when their roofing company didn’t show up, Brad and his crew also took on fixing their damage on the spot. The contracting process was done over email and we were able to clearly understand all of the options available to us. On the day of install, the crew was efficient and fast with their work. But also, mistakes can happen. And what matters to us is not that there’s perfection (because that’s not realistic), but how a contractor deals with a mistake. As they were taking down the tarps when they were finished with the roof, one of our lights next to the garage broke. Brad helped find a replacement online and had it shipped directly to our house! Such great service! All in all, we were very happy with Brad and the service we received from him and BCG. We’ve since recommended their services to several of our friends and neighbors who also had storm damage. While I hope we won’t have to do that again for a long time, we would work with BCG again in a heartbeat!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Shelly Ziegler 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am extremely pleased with the service Matt Walmer from Buckshot General Contracting (BGC) provided for me during the hailstorm damage in Madison in April. I had just switched insurance companies one year ago and was worried about how much they would cover. Matt assured me everything would be taken care of and had nothing to worry about. True to his word he immediately answered phone calls during off hours even when he was with daughter at volleyball and answering texts in seconds Matt met up with assessor and arrived 20 minutes early. During roof replacement he stopped in 3 times to check the progress and next day he came back to do a walk around to make sure the cleanup was to his standards. I have been so blessed to work with Matt at BGC as my contractor as everything went so smoothly. No problems with my insurance company and I was the first one on my block to get my roof done. I also was telling Matt about some of my neighbors having problems with their insurance and he was willing to look at their paperwork and giving them advice on how to deal with them. I can proudly say I announced to them how good Matt was and gave them his card. Thank you so much Matt for your excellent service and being a great representative for Buckshot General Contracting. These days days it’s hard to find a business that is 100% committed to making sure the customer is their #1 concern. Going to be doing more work and sticking with them as I know it will be top quality.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amy Stephens 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We contacted BGC after storm damage and had them completely re-roof and re-side our house, garage, and shed. The entire process was incredibly smooth from start to finish. They were easy to work with, handled all the details, and made what could have been a stressful situation completely worry-free. Our contact, Jayce Kirkland, was outstanding. His professionalism, communication, and courteous demeanor were truly a breath of fresh air. He took care of everything for us and made sure the project stayed on track every step of the way. We couldn’t be happier with the experience and have and would highly recommend BGC to anyone needing roofing or siding work!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rob Anast 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very customer focused company.  Replaced my roof and siding after hail and wind damage 6 years ago.  Second hail and damage storm this year and they are my vendor of choice again.  In process now to replace my roof and siding.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   paolo masone 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brad gave me a good price and the roof looks great!  The roof was replaced in one day.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Doug Cooper 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. They did an excellent job! Fast, efficient and did a great job cleaning up.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   christos karampetsos 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My family member needed a roof replacement after the recent storm in Madison , Chad came out to inspect the roof and went over the options with us. Full roof replacement and the new roof looks GREAT, they were done with in 2 days and left no mess behind which was very thankful for. Thanks !!

Dubuque roofing questions

08 / 08

Straight answers for Dubuque homeowners

The questions we hear most from the bluffs and the west side. Still stuck, call and ask.

Why do so many older Dubuque homes fight ice dams, and can they be stopped?

Dubuque runs through hard freeze and thaw swings, and much of the housing is nineteenth century brick with steep pitches, tight eaves and original attic ventilation. Warm air escapes into the attic, melts the snow up top, and the runoff refreezes at the cold eave until an ice dam pushes water back under the shingles. The lasting fix is rarely just tearing at the ice. We look at attic insulation and ventilation, the eave and valley detailing, and the flashing, so the roof stays cold edge to cold edge and the water has nowhere to back up.

Do you work on the steep, historic roofs in the Cathedral and Langworthy districts?

Yes. The homes through the Cathedral, Jackson Park, Langworthy and West Eleventh Street districts carry complex rooflines, dormers, deep valleys and detail that matters more than speed. We match the pitch, the profile and the flashing to what the house needs and keep the lines it was built with. A new GAF system on a home like this can carry the GAF Golden Pledge warranty, and we go through its coverage and its exclusions with you before anything is signed.

Are you registered to roof in Iowa?

Iowa requires contractors working in the state to hold a registration under Iowa Code Chapter 91C, and we carry the registration an Iowa job calls for before any work begins. We are also a GAF Master Elite contractor and an IBHS FORTIFIED provider, and the company is licensed in Wisconsin and Illinois. We are family owned and have worked Wisconsin and Iowa roofs for more than forty years.

A storm hit my roof. How does a hail or wind claim work in Dubuque?

We inspect the roof, document every hit with photos and measurements, help you file, and meet your adjuster on the roof so nothing legitimate is missed. On a covered claim you generally pay only your deductible. That said, coverage is decided by your carrier and your policy, so we never promise a claim outcome.

What roofing holds up best to Dubuque winters?

Architectural asphalt shingles suit most Dubuque homes and handle the freeze and thaw well when the eaves and ventilation are set up right. Standing seam metal costs more but sheds snow fast and lasts decades, which some owners prefer on the steeper bluff roofs. We walk you through the trade-offs for your pitch, your exposure and how long you plan to stay.

Do you cover the Dubuque area beyond the city itself?

Yes. We serve Dubuque and the surrounding tri-state territory, including Asbury, Sageville, Key West and the communities across Dubuque County. If you are on the edge of the area and are not sure, call and we will tell you plainly.

What warranty comes with a new Dubuque roof?

As a GAF Master Elite contractor we can offer the GAF Golden Pledge warranty on qualifying systems, which covers both the materials and our workmanship. We go through what it covers and what it excludes with you before you sign, so there are no surprises later.

What will a roof cost on a Dubuque home?

Cost depends on the size and pitch of the roof, how many layers come off, the condition of the decking underneath, and how hard the house is to reach on a bluff lot. A steep historic roof on the Point is a different job than a walkable ranch in Asbury. We give you an itemized written estimate after a free inspection, and 0% financing is available on approved credit. Ranges here are typical rather than a quote, and only your written estimate is binding.

Find us

Madison HQ

Serving Dubuque County

Our crews cover Dubuque and the tri-state Driftless region from the Madison headquarters. Call the storm line any time, day or night.

Buckshot General Contracting

Service area

Dubuque and all of Dubuque County621 N Sherman Ave, Suite B5, Madison, WI 53704
(HQ)

Phone

(608) 909-9109

Hours

Mon to Sat 8AM to 5PMEmergency storm line 24/7

Credentials

GAF Master EliteBBB A+ · FORTIFIED

Explore Buckshot

Roofing

Storm

Iowa areas

Company

Free, no obligation

Get your free Dubuque roof inspection

Our crew checks the house, the attic and eaves, and any outbuildings you want looked at, then gives you an honest repair-or-replace answer in writing with photos.

Call us, Mon-Sat 8-5

(608) 909-9109

Book a free inspection

A Dubuque-area project manager follows up. Zero cost, zero obligation.

Dubuque roofing built for bluffs and hard winters

Book a free roof inspection

The most common roof problems in Dubuque

Ice dams on the older homes

Ice dam & winter work

Storm, hail and wind damage

Storm & hail

Aging and worn-out roofs

Roof replacement

Steep, complex historic rooflines

Detailed replacement

Bluff wind and overwhelmed gutters

Roof repair

What causes roof damage in Dubuque

Attic and eave first

Steep and historic ready

Storm documented

Bluff access planned

Roofing and exteriors for a river town

Different parts of Dubuque, different roofs

Cathedral, Jackson Park and Langworthy

The Point, Fenelon and the bluff streets

Asbury and the west-side subdivisions

Millwork District and the Port of Dubuque

Key West, the South End and the flats

Sageville and the edges of the county

We handle the hail and wind claim with you

Free inspection

File it right

Meet the adjuster

Build it back

A crew that answers for the roof years from now

GAF Master Elite

FORTIFIED provider

Our own crews

Licensed and insured

Family owned for decades

Storm-ready, year round

When to get it looked at

Ice building at the eaves

Stains after a thaw or storm

Granules in the gutters

Lifted or missing shingles

An older home you just bought

A knock after a storm

What Dubuque and nearby homeowners say

Straight answers for Dubuque homeowners

Serving Dubuque County

Service area

Hours

Credentials

Roofing

Storm

Iowa areas

Company

Get your free Dubuque roof inspection

Book a free inspection

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Free roof inspection