✓ Verified Google reviews·✓ Reviewed regularly·✓ Updated June 3, 2026
Written by Mark Reid,
Home Services Editor ·Verified June 3, 2026
Detroit's housing stock is unlike almost anywhere else in the Midwest. The city is packed with early-to-mid 20th century Craftsman bungalows, brick colonials, and two-family flats, many of which still have their original roof structures intact. That's not a bad thing, but it does mean a lot of roofs in neighborhoods like Rosedale Park, East English Village, and Bagley are dealing with aged sheathing, deteriorated flashing around chimneys and dormers, and granule loss on asphalt shingles that have been through decades of Michigan winters. Detroit's freeze-thaw cycles are brutal, and ice damming along eaves is a recurring headache for homeowners across Wayne County. Roofers here need to understand that specific climate stress, not just general residential roofing. You'll also find a fair number of flat or low-slope roofs on commercial and multi-family buildings throughout Midtown, Corktown, and the east side, so contractors who can handle both pitched and flat systems are worth seeking out.
The businesses on this page were drawn from third-party public business listings and ranked by their public review rating combined with total review count, with a small lift applied to those that show a working website and phone number. Before any contractor appears here, we check their homepage to confirm that roofing is what they primarily offer, which keeps general contractors and unrelated trades off the list. Any listing flagged as permanently closed is removed automatically. Where you see a Trust Verified badge on a business, that means it has passed our full independent verification process, which covers trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. Our How We Verify page has the full breakdown. Businesses without that badge have not been independently verified by us, and you should carry out your own checks before booking.
Before you commit to any roofer, ask for a written, itemized estimate that separates material costs from labor so you can compare quotes properly. Get at least two or three quotes, because prices for a full re-roof on a Detroit bungalow can vary by $2,000 or more between contractors depending on the materials specified and what they find once old shingles are stripped. Ask specifically about how they handle ice and water shield installation along eaves and valleys, since cutting corners there is a common cause of leak callbacks. Check that the contractor pulls the necessary permits from BSEED (Detroit's Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department) for jobs that require them. And ask for proof of insurance before anyone steps on your roof.
How We Select & Rate The Best Roofers in Detroit, MI
Rankings on this page are driven by public review rating and review count from third-party business listings, with a small lift for businesses that have a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm that roofing is what they primarily offer, keeping unrelated trades off the page. Permanently-closed listings are removed automatically. Businesses displaying a Trust Verified badge have passed our full verification, covering qualifications, insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. See our How We Verify page for the full list. All other businesses on this page have not been independently verified by us, and inclusion is not an endorsement. Always do your own due diligence before hiring.
Positions 1–5 (Recommended and Featured) may be paid placements. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Rated 4.8 stars across 101 Google reviews, P D Roofing operates out of Detroit's 48212 area, handling residential and commercial roofing work for local property owners. The strong review record reflects consistent performance across installations, repairs, and replacements. Neighbors looking for a well-rated local roofer will find the feedback worth a close look before making a call.
Rated 4.3 out of 5 from 81 Google reviews, Detroit Roofing Service operates out of the 48221 area, handling residential roofing work across Detroit. The company's review record points to consistent, reliable results for homeowners navigating the region's demanding weather conditions.
Flat and pitched roof repair and replacement are the core focus at T&M Roofing, a Detroit-based contractor serving residential properties in the 48227 area. The company holds a 4.5-star rating across 40 Google reviews, suggesting consistent work quality among local homeowners. Neighbors in the west side can request estimates through the company website.
Roofing and construction services covering Detroit and the surrounding area, RGS Roofing & Construction handles residential and commercial roof work across the region. The company holds a 4.7-star Google rating across its reviewed projects, reflecting consistent results in the local market. RGS operates as a full-service contractor, taking on both new installations and repair work for Detroit-area property owners.
MacDermott Roofing Inc. is a roofing contractor serving Detroit and the surrounding area. Operating out of the 48228 zip code, the company handles residential and commercial roof work across the city. Customers consistently note reliable scheduling and clean job-site practices, making it a practical option for homeowners and property managers navigating Detroit's demanding seasonal weather.
Transparency notice: Recommended (#1) and Featured (positions 2-5) listings may be paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears in those positions. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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For a standard asphalt shingle re-roof on a typical Detroit bungalow, you're generally looking at $5,000 to $12,000 depending on the size of the roof, pitch, number of layers being torn off, and the shingle grade specified. A simple repair, like patching a leak or replacing damaged flashing around a chimney, usually runs $300 to $900. Flat roof work on a garage or two-family flat using EPDM rubber membrane tends to fall in the $4 to $8 per square foot range for materials and labor combined. What moves the price most is whether the decking underneath needs replacing, since rotted or delaminated OSB or plywood adds material and labor cost quickly. Getting two or three written quotes is the standard approach, and don't assume the lowest number is the best deal if it skips ice and water shield or pulls no permits.
What roofing materials are most common in Detroit?
Architectural asphalt shingles are by far the most common choice for pitched roofs in Detroit. They hold up reasonably well through Michigan's freeze-thaw cycles and typically carry 25 to 30-year manufacturer warranties, though real-world lifespan in this climate is often closer to 20 to 25 years. Some homeowners in areas like Palmer Woods or Indian Village opt for architectural slate or metal roofing for longevity and curb appeal, though those carry a higher upfront cost, usually $15,000 to $30,000 or more for a full replacement depending on roof size. For flat roofs, EPDM rubber membrane is the go-to for garages and low-slope sections, while TPO is common on larger commercial surfaces. Cedar shake is less popular now but still shows up on older homes, and replacement in kind can be expensive since labor costs for shake are higher.
Do Detroit roofers need to pull permits for roof replacements?
Yes, in Detroit a full roof replacement generally requires a permit from BSEED, the city's Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department. A reputable contractor will handle the permit application as part of the job, and you should be skeptical of anyone who tells you it's not needed or suggests skipping it to save money. Unpermitted work can create problems when you sell the property and may void manufacturer warranties on the materials installed. Repairs that are limited in scope, like patching a small area or replacing a few shingles, may not require a permit, but for anything significant, get confirmation in writing from your contractor that permits are being pulled.
How do I know if my Detroit roof needs replacing or just repairing?
A few things point toward repair rather than full replacement: a leak isolated to one area, missing or damaged shingles on a roof that's otherwise in reasonable condition, or flashing that's lifted or corroded around a chimney or vent pipe. Replacement makes more sense when shingles are curling, cracked, or losing significant granules across the whole surface, when you can see daylight through the attic, when moss or algae growth is widespread, or when the roof is past its expected service life. On Detroit's older housing stock, it's also worth checking the decking from inside the attic for soft spots or water staining, which can indicate long-term moisture issues. A reputable roofer will give you an honest assessment, but getting a second opinion before committing to a full replacement is never a bad idea.
What is ice damming and why is it such a problem in Detroit?
Ice damming happens when heat escaping through the roof melts snow near the ridge, and that meltwater refreezes when it reaches the cold overhang at the eaves. The ice buildup then forces water back under the shingles, where it seeps into the decking and eventually into the living space. Detroit's winters are ideal conditions for this, with temperatures that swing above and below freezing repeatedly from December through March. The two main defenses are proper attic insulation and ventilation, which keep the roof surface uniformly cold and reduce melting, and ice and water shield membrane installed along the eaves and valleys before shingles go on. When you're getting quotes for a re-roof, ask specifically whether they include a full ice and water shield installation at the eaves, not just felt paper, and make sure attic ventilation is being assessed as part of the job.
How do I choose between roofers in Detroit and check they're legitimate?
Start by asking each contractor for their Michigan contractor's license number. Michigan requires roofing contractors to hold a Residential Builder or Maintenance and Alteration Contractor license through LARA, the state's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and you can verify a license at their website in a few minutes. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability and workers' compensation coverage, and call the insurer directly to confirm it's current. Check their public reviews across multiple platforms to look for patterns in complaints, not just the overall star rating. Ask for references from recent jobs in Detroit specifically and actually call them. Get your quote and scope of work in writing, including what materials will be used, how many layers are being removed, whether a permit is being pulled, and what the warranty covers. A contractor who hesitates on any of these is a red flag.
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