Emergency Roof Repair in Ames, Iowa

Active leak or storm damage? Send one request and a local roofer is notified by email. 23 local roofers listed.

Short answer: For an active leak in Ames, call a listed roofer directly and ask about emergency tarping; confirm its availability and price, since this directory does not guarantee arrival times. In Ames: 41 days with 58+ mph thunderstorm wind. Ask any roofer for a license number and a certificate of insurance.

(984) 214-8786Free roofer matching Or send a request What to do in the first half hour

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The first half hour of a roof emergency

Do these in order. The first two protect people, the last two protect your claim and get a crew moving.

  1. Minutes 0 to 5

    Make the room safe

    Move people and valuables out from under the leak. If water is near an outlet, light fixture or ceiling fan, switch that circuit off at the breaker, but only if the panel is dry and you do not have to stand in water. A ceiling that bulges with water can drop without warning, so keep out from under it.

  2. Minutes 5 to 15

    Catch the water, do not chase it

    Put a bucket under the drip with a towel around it to stop the splash. Water often runs along a rafter before it shows, so the stain is rarely under the hole. Stay off the roof: a wet roof is a fall risk at any hour.

  3. Minutes 15 to 25

    Photograph it and write down the time

    Take dated photos and video of the ceiling, the floor and anything damaged, before you clean up. Write down when you first saw water. Insurers ask for both. In Iowa, the insurer has to acknowledge a claim within 15 days (Iowa Admin. Code r. 191-15.42(1)), so the clock starts when you report it.

  4. Minutes 25 to 30

    Call, and ask four things

    Ask: is a crew free today, will you tarp first and quote the permanent repair after, what is the dispatch or tarp fee before you drive out, and can you send your license number? For Iowa: Iowa Contractor Registration required. 23 of the 23 roofers listed for Ames are based in town; 23 are within 25 miles.

Where the roofers who cover Ames are based

23 roofers are listed for Ames. The map shows the town each one is based in, sized by how many, from the public records we compiled. We hold no response times and no roofer has told us it runs a 24-hour crew, so this shows reach, not arrival time: ask for the dispatch time when you call.

By distance from Ames

Base town isRoofers
Within 10 miles23
10 to 25 miles0
25 to 50 miles0
Farther than 50 miles0

Closest base towns

TownMilesRoofers
Ames, IAin town23

Miles are straight-line from the town centre to Ames's centre. Source: PickARoofer roster, public records.

A severe Ames hail event can puncture older membrane or create impact fractures that let the next rain through — if you see daylight through a vent or active dripping, emergency patching cannot wait on an insurance timeline. Emergency tarping stops active loss and preserves your insurance claim — documenting damage with photos before any work begins keeps the adjuster scope clean. Availability varies by crew, so ask each contractor how soon they can get on site.

Ames in numbers

Public records for Ames and its county, not estimates. Each figure shows its source.

  • #22of 209Ames ranks #22 of the 209 cities we cover for freeze-thaw days.
  • #168of 209Ames ranks #168 of the 209 cities we cover for yearly rainfall (low end).

Hail reports per year in the county

Hail events per year in the county, 2017 to 2025 9 2017 30 2018 8 2019 15 2020 1 2021 3 2022 36 2023 9 2024 15 2025
Hail events per year in the county, 2017 to 2025
20179
201830
20198
202015
20211
20223
202336
20249
202515

126 recorded events across 9 years represented in the data, about 14.0 per represented full year. 2023 had the most events among represented full years: 36.

Source: NOAA hail events, county level · data as of 2017–2025

When storms hit Ames

Hail reports by month in the county, all years combined 0 Jan 0 Feb 22 Mar 33 Apr 52 May 15 Jun 17 Jul 5 Aug 8 Sep 1 Oct 0 Nov 0 Dec
Hail reports by month in the county, all years combined
Jan0
Feb0
Mar22
Apr33
May52
Jun15
Jul17
Aug5
Sep8
Oct1
Nov0
Dec0

Most hail reports come in May; the season runs March to September. Book inspections and repairs before that window, not after.

Source: NOAA Storm Events · data as of 2014–June 2026

Roofing trade around Ames

  • 3 roofing companies with payroll in the county.
  • A roofer's median pay here is $48,660 a year (Iowa).
Source: Census CBP · data as of 2023 Source: BLS OEWS, roofers · data as of May 2025

Ames storm record: Story County

What the National Weather Service logged in Story County in 2014–2026. County level, because storm reports are filed by county, not by city limits.

  • 1864Founded
  • 942 ft (287 m)Elevation
  • Oakes AmesNamed after

Where hail of 1 inch or more was reported in Story County

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  • 891 to 1.74 in
  • 251.75 to 2.74 in, golf ball to tennis ball
  • 12.75 in and up, baseball

Largest plotted stone: 2.75 in. Bigger dots are bigger stones.

115 reports of 1 inch or larger have coordinates. Each dot is a reported location, not a storm path.

Sources: NOAA, Census county outline

Biggest hail days

DateLargest hailReports that dayWhere it was reported
April 12, 2014 2.75 in, about the size of a baseball 17 Roland
May 7, 2023 2.5 in, about the size of a tennis ball 15 Ames
July 11, 2020 2.5 in, about the size of a tennis ball 14 Roland
“Emergency manager relayed a report of tennis ball sized hail at the intersection of 620th ave and 120th st in Story County.”
National Weather Service report, July 11, 2020
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database · data as of 2014–2026

Last big hail on record

May 7, 2023

Hail of 1.75 inches (golf ball) or larger fell on 8 days in 2014–2026. Our records end where NOAA's do, so a newer storm may not be listed yet.

Strongest tornado

EF2 · May 21, 2024

It stayed on the ground for 23.29 miles and was up to 1000 yards wide. This tornado moved into Story County from Polk County. The tornado was quite wide at this point nearing 1000 yards wide at times. Additional EF2 damage occurred 620th Avenue where numerous outbuildings were destroyed.

Strongest thunderstorm gust

100 mph · August 10, 2020

A trained spotter reported large tree branches down, street signs blown down in town, and part of a roof blown off a home.

What it means for emergency roof repair

The storm record for Story County includes a 100-mph thunderstorm gust and a EF2 tornado. Wind that strong lifts shingles and tears off flashing, which is why emergency tarping crews book out fast after a front.

Storm data: NOAA Storm Events (public domain). City facts: Wikidata (CC0).

What it costs in Ames

Asphalt-shingle re-roof, 2,000 sq ft home, adjusted for Ames labor and material prices. Your quote depends on roof size, pitch and scope.

That typical price is about 3.7% of the median Ames home value ($263,800).

Source: Census ACS (Ames city) · data as of 2019–2023

Full Ames cost guide by material →

What Ames's climate means for emergency roof repair

  • A severe Ames hail event can puncture a roof outright; if you see daylight or active dripping, emergency patching can't wait on an insurance timeline.

Roofers in Ames, IA

23 listed, first 20 shown. Roofers we verified against a public registry come first.

This list covers roofing companies generally. Confirm emergency roof repair experience, materials, insurance and current availability with each company. A Verified badge refers to the registry check, not a confirmed specialty.

Emergency Roof Repair in Ames: questions

How do I find a emergency roof repair company in Ames?
PickARoofer lists roofing companies serving Ames, IA. This is a general roofing directory; confirm emergency roof repair experience and availability with each company. A Verified badge describes a separate registry check, not a confirmed service specialty or insurance check. Confirm scope, insurance and availability directly. Requests go to one contractor at a time, with up to three attempts; a response or start date is not guaranteed. Free for homeowners.
Should I repair or fully re-roof in Ames?
Ask a roofer to document the damage and compare a written repair scope with a replacement estimate. Roof condition, remaining life, materials and the extent of damage affect the decision. Confirm any inspection fee before booking.
How fast can a roofer reach Ames?
23 roofers are listed for Ames: 23 based in town and 23 within 25 miles of the city centre. None of them has told us it runs an emergency crew, and our roster holds no response times, so we cannot promise an arrival time. Call first, ask when a crew can be on site and what the tarp fee is, then send the request so a second roofer is lined up.
When is hail season in Ames?
May is the worst month: 34% of the 153 hail reports NOAA holds for the county came then. Reports run from March to September. Book the inspection before March, while crews still have open dates.
How big does hail get near Ames?
The largest hail NOAA logged near Ames measured 2.75 inches, about the size of a baseball. Hail of an inch or more fell on 27 days in the same record. The biggest day was April 12, 2014, with 17 reports. The National Weather Service calls hail of 1 inch or larger severe; the bigger the stone, the more likely it is to crack a shingle.
How many roofing companies work around Ames?
The Census Bureau counts 3 roofing companies with payroll in Story County. A roofer's median pay is $48,660 a year (BLS).
How long does an Iowa insurer have to answer a roof claim?
Iowa sets time limits in writing. For example, the insurer must acknowledge receipt of your claim notice (payment within the period also satisfies the rule) within 15 days (Iowa Admin. Code r. 191-15.42(1)). The full list and a date calculator are on our Iowa claim-deadlines page: pickaroofer.com/claim-deadlines/ia.
How old are the homes in Ames, and does it matter for the roof?
The median home in Ames was built in 1991, and 40% of homes date from before 1980 (Census ACS). A roof on a home that old has often been re-covered at least once, so ask the roofer whether there is a second layer underneath: it changes the tear-off cost. The area sees about 100 freeze-thaw days a year, which loosens flashing and sealant.
What qualifies as a roofing emergency in Ames?
True roofing emergencies involve active water entering living spaces — especially near electrical — large sections of missing shingles or membrane after a storm, visible structural damage such as sagging decking, a fallen tree or large branch on the roof, or any situation where interior damage is actively worsening. When in doubt, call: water damage compounds rapidly and repairs that cost hundreds of dollars addressed same-day can cost thousands if left overnight into framing and insulation.
What does emergency roof repair cost in Ames?
Emergency tarping to stop active leaks runs $200 to $600 for most Ames properties, depending on roof size and accessibility. Permanent emergency repairs — patching damaged sections, replacing blown-off shingles — cost $500 to $3,000 for typical scopes. After-hours and weekend emergency calls typically add a dispatch fee on top of material and labor. If the damage is storm-related, document it before work begins: most homeowner policies cover emergency storm repairs, and the documentation anchors your claim.
Do I need a permit for emergency roof repair in Iowa?
Permit requirements depend on the property, scope of work and local jurisdiction. Check with the city or county building department and confirm who will obtain any required permit before work starts.

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Figures above: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail, wind, tornado; county of the city, 2014–2026), U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (housing), NASA POWER (temperature and rain, 2014–2023). Prices: our published price method. How we collect data.