Leaders Roofing has served Des Plaines homeowners and businesses since 1996. Founded by Jan Koszyk, we offer full roofing services in English and Polish — roof replacement, repair, storm damage, and commercial flat roofing. Family-owned, IL licensed, free estimates.
Des Plaines sits along the Des Plaines River valley in northwest Cook County — a working community with a strong identity, a large residential base, and a commercial corridor anchored by Mannheim Road and River Road that stretches into the O'Hare industrial zone. The housing stock reflects the city's postwar growth: ranches, Cape Cods, and split-levels built primarily between the 1950s and the 1980s that have been maintained by working homeowners who take their properties seriously.
That housing stock is reaching a significant threshold. Homes that were last reroofed in the 1990s or early 2000s are at or approaching the end of the product's service life. Many Des Plaines homeowners are making the roof replacement decision right now — and making it correctly requires understanding what's actually involved on a 1960s or 1970s home, not just what a shingle costs per square.
Des Plaines has one of the largest Polish-American communities in Cook County. Leaders Roofing was founded by Jan Koszyk in 1996, and Polish language capability is a genuine part of how we work — not a marketing claim. For Polish-speaking homeowners in Des Plaines, the ability to communicate directly in Polish through every stage of a roofing project is a real differentiator. We discuss the scope, explain the estimate, answer questions during the work, and conduct the final walkthrough in Polish when that's what the homeowner prefers.
Leaders Roofing Corp holds Illinois Roofing Unlimited License #104.010248. We handle residential and commercial roofing throughout Des Plaines and surrounding Cook County communities. We pull permits, carry full insurance, and manage projects from estimate to final inspection sign-off.
Des Plaines has a deep base of residential construction from the 1950s through the early 1980s — ranches, Cape Cods, bi-levels, split-levels, and two-story colonials that were built for practicality and have aged well under careful ownership. Many of these homes are on their second or even third roof now, with prior replacements done in the 1980s through early 2000s. Those roofs are at the end of their useful life, and the homes beneath them are ready for a proper assessment.
For most Des Plaines homes, full roof replacement runs $15,000 to $35,000. That range covers the most common scenario: a single-family home with a relatively standard roofline, architectural-grade asphalt shingles, and no significant deck damage. Homes with additional complexity — second-story dormers, larger footprints, chimney flashing work, or sections of decking that need replacement — will be different, and the estimate will reflect that clearly.
Architectural shingles are the standard recommendation for most Des Plaines reroof projects. They outperform the 3-tab product they're replacing in every measurable way — wind resistance, impact resistance, warranty period, and dimensional appearance that reads better on older homes than the flat profile of 3-tab. For homeowners interested in insurance benefits and enhanced hail protection, Class IV impact-resistant products are available in most profile options and are worth discussing.
Deck inspection is a standard part of every reroof we do. Homes from the 1950s and 1960s were built with plank sheathing — individual boards nailed to the rafters rather than the plywood or OSB used in newer construction. Some of that decking is solid and will last another 30 years. Some has soft spots, rot, or sections that need replacement before new shingles go over them. We assess decking during tear-off and document any replacement at the time of the original estimate as a separate scope item so there are no mid-project surprises.
We work with CertainTeed, GAF, and Owens Corning product lines for shingle work. All installations include manufacturer warranty registration and our own workmanship warranty. We pull permits with the City of Des Plaines and manage the inspection process through final sign-off.
The Des Plaines River valley creates a specific moisture environment. Properties in the Riverview and Big Bend neighborhoods near the river see more frequent ground saturation during heavy rain events, and the moisture cycling that follows — wet soil drawing moisture into foundation areas, elevated humidity in unconditioned spaces — can accelerate degradation in roofing components that are already aging.
The most common repair categories on Des Plaines homes are chimney flashing, pipe boot replacement, and valley repair. Chimney flashing on older Des Plaines homes is frequently original material — lead-coated or galvanized metal that has exceeded its service life and is allowing water entry that shows up as ceiling staining near the chimney. Correct repair means removing old flashing, cleaning the masonry reglet, and installing new step and counter-flashing properly — not roofing cement applied over a failing joint.
Pipe boots — the rubber or metal flashing that seals around plumbing vent pipes through the roof — are among the first components to fail on an otherwise sound asphalt shingle roof. The rubber degrades in UV exposure and becomes brittle, opening gaps around the pipe that allow water entry. Replacement is a straightforward repair that prevents active leaks without requiring full reroof.
Valley repair is another common Des Plaines repair scope. Open metal valleys on older homes can develop rust and joint failures; woven or closed-cut asphalt valleys can develop wear patterns at the center channel where water concentrates. We assess valley condition as part of any roof inspection and recommend repair or replacement based on actual material condition.
For Des Plaines homeowners whose roofs have remaining useful life but are showing specific problem areas, targeted repair is often the right answer for several more years. We assess honestly — if repair extends the roof's useful life adequately, we'll say so rather than pushing premature full replacement.
Leaders Roofing Corp zostało założone przez Jana Koszyka w 1996 roku. Od samego początku oferujemy pełną obsługę w języku polskim — od pierwszego kontaktu, przez wycenę, aż po zakończenie prac i odbiór końcowy.
For Des Plaines homeowners who are more comfortable in Polish, we handle every aspect of the project in Polish: the initial consultation, the written estimate, questions during the work, and the final walkthrough. Jan Koszyk and the Leaders team speak Polish as a first language — this isn't a translation service or a bilingual staff member brought in for specific calls. It's how the company operates.
This matters in a community like Des Plaines, where a meaningful portion of the homeowner population is more fluent in Polish than English, and where a significant home investment — a full roof replacement — involves contract terms, material specifications, and warranty language that should be fully understood. Hiring a roofer when you can't fully communicate about the work is a risk. We eliminate that risk for Polish-speaking homeowners in Des Plaines and across the northwest suburbs.
Mówimy po polsku. Zadzwoń do nas pod numer (847) 312-2727.
Des Plaines has a significant commercial and industrial base anchored by the Mannheim Road and River Road corridors and the O'Hare proximity that brings industrial, warehouse, and logistics properties to the city's eastern edge. These buildings have flat and low-slope commercial roofing systems with different maintenance and replacement demands than residential pitched roofing.
For the retail and professional buildings along Mannheim and River Road, TPO membrane systems are typically the right modern choice — energy-efficient, heat-weldable seams that are more durable than adhesive-bonded alternatives, and well-suited to the urban commercial environment. Older commercial buildings in the area that have existing modified bitumen or built-up systems are candidates for overlay or full replacement depending on substrate condition.
The industrial and warehouse properties near O'Hare present different scope. Large flat roof sections, multiple HVAC and mechanical penetrations, and the exposure to jet blast wind effects from aircraft operations create specific demands on membrane integrity and flashing details. We handle large commercial flat-roof replacements and maintenance programs for industrial property owners in the O'Hare corridor.
Leaders carries the insurance levels required for commercial work in Illinois — commercial general liability and workers' compensation at appropriate coverage limits for industrial and commercial projects. Our Unlimited License covers all commercial roofing work without the scope limitations that apply to residential-only licenses.
Annual commercial maintenance programs are available for property managers overseeing multiple Des Plaines buildings. The program includes inspection, drain clearing, seam and flashing assessment and re-sealing, and written condition reports that provide documentation for capital planning and insurance purposes. A maintained flat roof lasts significantly longer than one that receives attention only when water is coming through the ceiling into a tenant's space.
Des Plaines sees the same hail and wind events that affect the broader northwest Cook County region, and the O'Hare corridor is in the path of storm systems that track through the Chicago area regularly. After significant events, the area sees an influx of storm-chasing contractors — operations that arrive from out of state specifically to work post-storm markets. These contractors are often unlicensed in Illinois, carry inadequate insurance, and may pressure homeowners to sign contracts quickly.
Verify any contractor's Illinois Roofing license before signing anything. It takes two minutes on the IDFPR website. Leaders Roofing is listed under #104.010248 and has been since the 1990s. A contractor who can't be found on the IDFPR registry is operating without the required state license — and any work they do will not pass City of Des Plaines inspection.
Our storm damage process: we inspect the roof thoroughly, document damage with photographs, assess whether the damage warrants a full insurance claim or targeted repair, and provide a written report. We work with homeowners through the insurance process — we're familiar with how adjusters assess hail and wind damage in this region and can provide the documentation format that supports claims efficiently. If the damage doesn't warrant a claim, we'll tell you that directly.
Emergency tarping is available when significant storm damage requires immediate weatherproofing. We respond to emergency calls and can temporary-tarp a compromised roof to prevent further interior damage while the full assessment and repair or replacement decision is made.
For most Des Plaines homes, roof replacement runs $15,000 to $35,000. The lower end reflects smaller ranches and Cape Cods with straightforward roof geometry and standard architectural shingles. Larger two-story homes, split-levels with more complex rooflines, or properties with additional scope like chimney flashing or deck replacement land toward the higher end of the range. Cost drivers include total roof area, pitch, material selection, number of existing layers, and condition of the roof decking. We provide free estimates — you'll know exactly what's included before any commitment.
Tak — Jan Koszyk and the team speak Polish. Leaders Roofing was founded by Jan Koszyk in 1996, and Polish language capability has been part of how we work since the beginning. For Des Plaines' Polish-speaking community, being able to discuss your roof, get a clear estimate, and understand the project scope in Polish makes a real difference. You're not relying on translation apps or family members to bridge a language gap on a significant home investment. We handle the full project — estimate, contract, questions during the work, and final walkthrough — in Polish if that's your preference.
Homes built in Des Plaines during the 1960s have specific construction characteristics that matter when reroofing. Attic ventilation is the most significant: 1960s construction was built to ventilation standards that are inadequate by modern understanding, and inadequate ventilation is the primary driver of premature shingle degradation and ice dam formation. Addressing ventilation during a reroof — not after — is the right approach. Roof decking in this era is often plank sheathing, which can be sound or may have sections that need replacement. We inspect decking condition as standard practice. If the home still has original 1960s plumbing penetrations and pipe flashings, those should be evaluated as potential failure points. A reroof is the right time to bring these components current.
Yes. The Mannheim Road and River Road commercial corridors in Des Plaines, as well as the industrial properties near O'Hare, are regular commercial roofing work for us. These buildings typically have flat or low-slope roofing systems — TPO, modified bitumen, or EPDM depending on the building age and prior roofing history. We handle new membrane installation, repairs, and annual maintenance programs for commercial property managers who want systematic condition monitoring rather than reactive response. Our Unlimited License covers commercial flat roofing work throughout Illinois.
Yes. We handle the permit process with the City of Des Plaines as part of every roofing project. Roof replacement in Des Plaines requires a building permit, and we manage the application, inspection scheduling, and final sign-off. We're familiar with the City of Des Plaines building department's process and requirements — this is routine for us, not something you need to coordinate separately.
We serve all of Des Plaines and surrounding Cook County communities. Call (847) 312-2727 for a free estimate.
Free estimates on residential and commercial roofing. Polish spoken. Call (847) 312-2727 or fill out the form.