Signs you need it
- Ponding water after rain on a flat roof
- Open seams or failed flashing at rooftop units and parapets
- Ceiling stains below drains, units or roof edges
- A roof near the end of its warranty, with a lease or sale coming up
Hail of 1 inch or more fell on 48 days near Duluth between 2014 and June 2026, higher than 89% of the cities we cover. 26 local roofers are listed, 14 license-checked.
Commercial roofing covers retail, office, warehouse, church and multi-family buildings. Most of these roofs are flat or low-slope and use single-ply membranes, modified bitumen, built-up roofing or standing seam metal.
Crews, materials and warranties differ from house roofing. A company that is good on shingles may not be the right one for a membrane roof.
Hail of 1 inch or more has fallen near Duluth on more days than in most cities we cover. Membranes can be punctured by hail, so ask for an inspection after a hail day, with core samples if the insulation may be wet.
Wind gusts of 58 mph or more are recorded near Duluth on more days than in most cities we cover. On a membrane roof, ask how edges and parapets are anchored, because wind starts at the perimeter.
| Fact | Duluth | Median city | Rank (1 is highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing units outside single-family houses | 36.6% | 33.2% | 69 of 213 |
| Days with wind gusts of 58 mph or more | 79 | 50 | 42 of 212 |
| Days with hail of 1 inch or more | 48 | 16.5 | 24 of 212 |
| Roofing companies with payroll in the county | 21 | 18 | 84 of 210 |
June has the most reports, 78 of 239. 96% of reports fall from May to September; the other 9 come in March (2), April (5), October (2).
The largest stone in NOAA's record for St. Louis County fell on July 18, 2020: 3 inches, about the size of a teacup.
That day brought 8 reports, with the largest from Shaw.
A commercial roof laid before July 2020 was in place for the largest stone in the record, so ask for a roof survey and keep it with the warranty papers.
The strongest tornado in the record was rated EF1 on June 19, 2016 and stayed on the ground for 7.23 miles.
The strongest thunderstorm gust was 107 mph, on September 5, 2023.
| Date | Largest hail | Reports | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2020 | 3 in, a teacup | 8 | Shaw |
| September 16, 2021 | 3 in, a teacup | 8 | Saginaw |
| June 12, 2024 | 2.5 in, a tennis ball | 33 | Fraser |
A commercial roof is priced by the building: its area, membrane, insulation, drainage and rooftop equipment. One range per city would mislead.
Ask each company for a written scope and a price per square foot of roof, so bids can be compared line by line.
Estimates for a 2,000 square foot roof, not quotes. How we build them6 of 26 listed, license-checked first. They are based in Duluth (5), Cloquet. We do not tag companies by service, so ask each one about commercial roofing.
License number BC639813
533 Commerce Way, Cloquet, MN 55720
License number BC672600
4502 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55804
License number BC740208
5092 Howard Gnesen Rd, Duluth, MN 55803
License number BC780520
1632 London Rd, Duluth, MN 55812
License number BC574373
301 N 21st Ave E, Duluth, MN 55812
License number BC809745
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.
Send one free request. We offer it to one local company at a time. We can't promise when a roofer will call.