Winsted roofing, from the crew your neighbors hired
Repair King serves Winsted and the McLeod County farm country around Winsted Lake. Our nearest big jobs are an easy drive away: a full re-roof of an apartment complex in Hutchinson and The Marketplace grocery store in Cokato, the biggest grocery store for miles around. We bring the same process to Winsted homes: a slope-by-slope inspection, a dated photo report and the city permit handled for you.
Why do Winsted's worst storms come from the west?
In Minnesota, summer storm lines usually travel from west to east, and Winsted sits on the west shore of Winsted Lake with open farm country beyond. Long before the town existed, Dakota families camped on the lake's east shore partly because it gave a better view of prairie fires and storms coming in from the west. The west- and south-facing slopes of Winsted roofs take the first hit.
That pattern shows in the storm record. NOAA reports near Winsted's city center include 3-inch hail on July 27, 2016, with a 64 mph gust the same day, 2.5-inch hail on June 9, 2016, and 1.25-inch hail on May 30, 2022. On June 17, 2010, during Minnesota's largest tornado outbreak on record, a brief EF0 tornado touched down about a mile west-northwest of town.
Winsted's housing is older than most nearby towns, too. About 20% of homes were built in 1939 or earlier, according to Census estimates, and the median home dates to 1972. Older roofs often have several layers or board decking underneath, and older homes have more chimneys, dormers and porch roofs, all places where wind-driven rain finds its way in.
When we inspect a Winsted roof after a storm, we start on the windward side: west and south slopes, ridge caps, and the flashing around chimneys and vents. Then we cover the rest of the house, the gutters, siding and screens, and put it all in a dated photo report.
Look what we did for your neighbors in Hutchinson and Cokato
We serve Winsted, and our best-known work nearby is in two towns Winsted families know well. In Hutchinson, 26 miles west, we re-roofed an apartment complex in 2024. In Cokato, northwest of Winsted along Highway 12, we replaced the roof on The Marketplace grocery store and worked on the Dairy Queen. None of these buildings are in Winsted; they're the neighbors' roofs.
Apartment complex on Ridge Avenue NE, Hutchinson
In late August 2024 our crews tore off and re-roofed this three-story apartment complex, laying synthetic underlayment and new shingles.
The Marketplace grocery store, Cokato
We walked The Marketplace roof in July 2023 and replaced the large low-slope roof in 2024 while the store stayed open for business.
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, Cokato
Down the street from The Marketplace, we documented hail on the Cokato Dairy Queen in 2023 and came back in April and May 2024 for coping and flashing work.
What are homes in Winsted built like?
Winsted is an older small town. Census estimates put the median home at 1972, about 20% of homes were built in 1939 or earlier, and only about 11% date to 2000 or later. About 79% of households own their home.
| Local factor | What we see in Winsted | Why it matters for repairs |
|---|---|---|
| Housing age | Median year built 1972; 206 of 1,011 units built 1939 or earlier; about 116 built 2000 or later (ACS 2020–2024) | Pre-war roofs can hide board decking and old layers; we check the deck before we quote a tear-off |
| Housing mix | About 68% detached homes, 16% in buildings with 5 or more units, and about 92 mobile homes | Apartment and manufactured-home roofs each need their own repair approach |
| Owners | About 79% owner-occupied | Owners get a clear photo report to decide between repair and replacement |
| Lake exposure | Town sits on the west shore of Winsted Lake with open farm country to the west | West and south slopes take the brunt of storm lines; we inspect those first |
| Older features | Chimneys, dormers and porch roofs on older homes near downtown | More flashing joints means more places for wind-driven rain to get in |
| Farm country | McLeod County farms and acreages with pole buildings around town | We inspect steel-roofed outbuildings as well as the house |
When did hail last hit Winsted?
The most recent hail of 1 inch or more reported near Winsted's city center fell on May 30, 2022, at 1.25 inches, after 1-inch hail on April 5, 2021. The largest since 2015 was 3-inch hail on July 27, 2016, and there have been 4 separate days with hail of 1 inch or more since 2015. Wind is a steady threat: a 63 mph gust was reported on June 10, 2023, and a tree fell on a house in Winsted on July 28, 2025.
| Date | Type | What was reported | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2025 | Wind | Damaging wind reported (trees/limbs down) | Missing or creased shingles, ridge caps, flashing, siding |
| Jun 10, 2023 | Wind | 63 mph wind gust measured | Missing or creased shingles, ridge caps, flashing, siding |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports within 3 miles of Winsted's city center, through September 2026. Reports are from trained spotters and the public; hail can hit a street without a report.
What our inspection covers
- Every slope walked; hail hits chalk-marked and photographed up close
- Vents, flashing, gutters, downspouts and window screens checked for dents
- Siding and trim checked on every side of the house, garage and sheds
- A dated photo report you keep, whatever we find
Check your own address
Our free Roof & Storm Report looks up hail and wind history for your exact address, not just the city.
Photos from our jobs near Winsted
Photos taken by Repair King crews at our Hutchinson apartment and Cokato Marketplace jobs, not at Winsted properties. Dates are the capture dates from our job camera.
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Winsted?
Yes. The City of Winsted requires building permits for re-roofing, re-siding and window replacement. SAFEbuilt, formerly MNSPECT, serves as Winsted's building official and handles plan review and inspections.
Questions about Winsted building permits go to SAFEbuilt at (952) 442-7520. The city's fee schedule sets the permit cost. Repair King applies for the permit under our Minnesota contractor license (BC695228) and schedules the inspection with the building official.
Outside city limits, in Winsted Township and the other townships around the lake, the permit office depends on the township and McLeod County, so tell us the address and we'll confirm who issues it before we schedule.
What is Winsted known for?
Winsted is named after Winsted, Connecticut, whose own name blends Winchester and Barkhamsted. The settlement got its name on April 5, 1858, a month before Minnesota became a state, and a post office has run here ever since.
The Luce Line electric railway reached Winsted on February 13, 1915. On October 17, 1953, a trestle over the south bay of Winsted Lake collapsed under an eastbound freight, and a wooden Soo Line boxcar and some wheels are still in the lake. The Luce Line is now a state trail with parking at Babcock Avenue in town. Holy Trinity, founded in 1883, runs a Catholic school from pre-K through 12th grade, and the Winstock Country Music Festival raises money for it every summer.
Storm damage in Winsted: what should you do first?
Start with an inspection, not a decision. A damaged shingle does not automatically mean a roof needs to be replaced. What matters is what the inspection actually finds on the roof, siding, gutters and windows.
Repair King is a licensed Minnesota contractor (BC695228). We are not a public adjuster and do not negotiate insurance claims. Questions about your policy belong with your insurance company.
Winsted property owner resources
Official links worth bookmarking, whether or not you ever hire us.
- Winsted building permitsSAFEbuilt contact and which projects need a permit
- Winsted fee scheduleCity fees, including building permit fees
- McLeod County property searchFind parcel and tax information in McLeod County
- MN contractor license lookupCheck any roofer's Minnesota license with the Department of Labor and Industry
- NWS Twin Cities/ChanhassenForecasts, warnings and local storm reports
- McLeod County Emergency ManagementCounty preparedness, alerts and severe weather information
- Winsted Centennial Book (Luce Line history)The railroad's arrival and the 1953 trestle collapse
Winsted roofing questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Winsted?
Yes. Winsted requires a building permit for re-roofing. SAFEbuilt serves as the city's building official; Repair King applies for the permit under our Minnesota license (BC695228).
Does Repair King work in Winsted?
Yes. We serve Winsted homes and businesses. Our best-known work nearby includes an apartment re-roof in Hutchinson and The Marketplace grocery store roof in Cokato.
When did hail last hit Winsted?
NOAA storm reports show 1.25-inch hail near Winsted on May 30, 2022. The largest since 2015 was 3-inch hail on July 27, 2016. Run a free Roof & Storm Report for your exact address.
Has a tornado hit near Winsted?
Yes, briefly. On June 17, 2010, an EF0 tornado touched down about a mile west-northwest of Winsted for less than a mile. Straight-line wind and hail are far more common.
Which side of my Winsted roof gets damaged first?
Usually the west and south slopes, because summer storms here tend to arrive from the west. We start there, then check every other slope, the flashing and the gutters.
Is my older Winsted home harder to re-roof?
Sometimes. About 20% of Winsted's homes were built in 1939 or earlier, and those roofs can have board decking, extra layers and chimneys that need new flashing. We check the deck and write down what we find.
Will my insurance pay for storm damage?
That's a question for your insurer. We document what we find with a dated photo report of the roof, flashing, gutters, siding and windows; coverage questions go to your insurance company.
Book a free roof inspection
No cost, no pressure. You get photos of everything we find.