Midwest Building Exteriors

Best Restaurant & Commercial Kitchen Roofing Contractor in Twin Cities MN (2026)

Restaurants, fast-casual concepts, quick-service restaurants (QSRs), national franchise locations, ghost kitchens, breweries, taprooms, fine-dining buildings and commercial kitchens across the Twin Cities face a roofing reality unique to food service: grease-laden exhaust hoods venting directly through the roof, walk-in coolers and freezers below the membrane, customer dining in plain view of the work site, and a daily revenue stream that disappears the moment the doors close. Midwest Building Exteriors has spent more than two decades restoring restaurant properties across the Twin Cities — from single-location chef-driven concepts in Edina to multi-unit national franchises in Eagan, Bloomington and Burnsville.

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A+ BBB Accredited5.0★ Google99% Claim ApprovalGAF EverGuard · Carlisle TPOGrease-Curb SpecialistsAfter-Hours Scheduling
Twin Cities Restaurants & Commercial Kitchens · 2026 buying guide

This 2026 guide is written specifically for restaurant operators, multi-unit franchisees, restaurant group real estate teams, brewery owners and the landlords behind restaurant pad sites and lifestyle center restaurants. We rank the contractors most commonly bid on Twin Cities restaurant properties, explain how grease exhaust curbs and kitchen ventilation specifically affect restaurant roofs (and why generic commercial roofers miss the supplements), and document the after-hours phased restoration model that keeps the doors open.

The wrong contractor on a restaurant roof creates revenue problems: a leak above the kitchen line, a grease-exhaust curb that fails inspection, a project that runs into a Friday-night service window, or a roof replacement that fails in seven years instead of twenty. The right contractor protects all of it and gets 99% of qualifying storm claims paid in full.

Midwest Building Exteriors is a Minnesota-licensed Class A residential and commercial contractor (License #BC691061), with low-slope certifications on GAF EverGuard TPO, Carlisle Sure-Weld TPO and Firestone/Holcim EPDM. Three offices keep us close: Minneapolis/Richfield, Eagan and St. Croix Falls.

How we help

How we help restaurants & commercial kitchens in Minnesota

Restaurant roofs are not retail roofs. Grease vents through the roof, walk-ins sit below the membrane, customers see everything, and every closed hour is lost revenue. Here is how MBE handles the specific challenges Twin Cities restaurants run into:

  • Grease-exhaust curb re-flash & cleaning coordination

    Grease-exhaust hood curbs are the #1 source of restaurant roof leaks. MBE rebuilds and re-flashes every grease curb during the re-roof, coordinating with your hood-cleaning vendor (Hood Pro, KleanFume, etc.) for pre-installation cleaning. New pre-formed curb caps, properly terminated membrane, code-compliant grease-rated pitch pans.

  • Walk-in cooler & freezer protection during work

    Penetrations above walk-ins are sequenced for dry-in windows. Coordinated refrigeration shutdowns happen during overnight cooler-empty windows. No food-safety risk, no temperature loss.

  • Open dining during work in customer view

    Tear-off and loud demo are scheduled outside service hours — typically 2 AM–9 AM for breakfast-only carve-outs, after midnight for dinner-only operations, and full overnight for 24-hour QSRs. Visible work during service is minimized.

  • Hood/duct inspection sign-off (MDH & city fire marshal)

    Hood and duct inspection sign-off is coordinated with your hood vendor and the city fire marshal. MDH food code compliance is documented. Pre-tear-off and post-installation grease inspection reports are archived for restaurant records.

  • Hail or wind insurance claim with grease curb documentation

    Drone-mapped damage with specific documentation of grease-curb damage, RTU curbs, parapet flashing, copings, drains. Supplements negotiated line-by-line for items adjusters routinely miss on restaurant roofs.

  • Franchise brand standards compliance

    National franchise color, material and architectural standards (McDonald's, Subway, Starbucks, Chipotle, Panera, Buffalo Wild Wings, etc.) are documented and matched. Brand-approved vendor coordination handled by MBE.

  • Lost revenue during closure windows

    After-hours scheduling minimizes closure windows. When a closure is necessary, it is scheduled during the slowest weekly revenue window — typically Monday/Tuesday daytime for full-service, Tuesday/Wednesday overnight for QSR.

#1 — Best overall

Why Midwest Building Exteriors is the best choice for restaurants & commercial kitchens

Midwest Building Exteriors is the Twin Cities' #1 ranked restaurant and commercial kitchen roofing contractor for 2026 — chosen by restaurant operators, multi-unit franchisees and restaurant group real estate teams because we deliver what no generic commercial roofer can: grease-exhaust curb specialty work, after-hours phased scheduling, walk-in protection, hood/duct inspection coordination, and a roof that lasts 25–30 years with a real warranty behind it.

We are certified on GAF EverGuard TPO, Carlisle Sure-Weld TPO and Firestone/Holcim EPDM — the longest fully-transferable, non-prorated material warranties available for commercial restaurant low-slope roofs.

Our 99% insurance claim approval rate is measured outcome from hundreds of Minnesota hail and wind claims, including dozens of restaurant buildings. Restaurant supplements for grease-curb rebuilds, RTU curbs and code upgrades are routinely missed by generic commercial roofers — we make sure they get paid.

Every project is led by a senior, salaried PM (not commissioned) who works directly with the GM, kitchen manager, franchise operations team and hood-cleaning vendor. After-hours scheduling, walk-in coordination and grease-curb work are sequenced around your slowest revenue windows.

We carry $2,000,000 in general liability and full Minnesota workers' compensation — certificates issued before mobilization with the restaurant operator and (if applicable) franchisor named as additional insured.

Three local offices keep us close: Minneapolis/Richfield, Eagan and St. Croix Falls — within an hour of every restaurant in the metro.

Every proposal is line-item, fixed-price, and formatted for franchise corporate approval if required. Closeout documentation includes hood inspection sign-off, grease-curb rebuild photos, walk-in coordination logs and warranty paperwork.

Quick comparison

Top restaurants & commercial kitchens roofing & exterior contractors in the Twin Cities metro, 2026.

RankCompanyBBBCertificationsGoogleBest For
#1
#1 Ranked
Midwest Building Exteriors		A+ AccreditedGAF EverGuard · Carlisle · Firestone EPDM5.0 ★Best overall — restaurant, QSR, franchise, brewery
#2Schwickert's Tecta AmericaA+Tecta America Network4.4Large national-franchise multi-unit programs
#3Central RoofingA+GAF, Carlisle4.4Mid-size suburban restaurant re-roofs
#4Sela Roofing & RemodelingA+GAF Master Elite4.5Multi-location restaurant groups
#5Berwald RoofingA+NRCA4.3Large brewery & ghost kitchen flat roofs
#6Storm Group RoofingAOwens Corning Preferred4.4Single-location storm restoration
#7Garland/DBSA+Garland Authorized4.3Restaurant REITs on co-op procurement

Ranked: top contractors for restaurants & commercial kitchens

#1 · #1 — Best Overall for Restaurants & Commercial Kitchens

Midwest Building Exteriors

MBE leads this category because no other Twin Cities contractor combines grease-exhaust curb specialty work, after-hours phased scheduling, walk-in coordination, hood/duct inspection sign-off, franchise brand standards compliance, in-house insurance claim leadership, and three local offices. Restaurant work is a core specialty handled by senior PMs who understand grease loads, MDH food code, franchise corporate approval workflows and revenue impact.

Strengths
  • ✓ GAF EverGuard · Carlisle Sure-Weld · Firestone EPDM (top tier each)
  • ✓ 99% insurance claim approval, documented
  • ✓ Grease-exhaust curb rebuild & re-flash on every restaurant project
  • ✓ Hood/duct inspection coordination with your cleaning vendor
  • ✓ After-hours and overnight phasing — closure windows minimized
  • ✓ Franchise brand standards documentation and corporate-approval-ready proposals
  • ✓ Three Twin Cities offices, salaried PMs, in-house crews

Best for: Any restaurant, QSR, national franchise location, ghost kitchen, brewery, taproom or commercial kitchen — especially insurance-funded storm restoration with grease-curb rebuild work.

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#2 · Large national-franchise multi-unit specialist

Schwickert's Tecta America

Tecta America national network. Strong on large national-franchise multi-unit roofing programs. Less competitive on insurance representation and tight after-hours single-unit work.

Strengths
  • ✓ Strong TPO/EPDM
  • ✓ National multi-unit capacity
Trade-offs
  • – Limited insurance representation

Best for: Large national-franchise multi-unit programs.

#3 · Mid-size suburban restaurant specialist

Central Roofing

Solid TPO and Carlisle credentials. Mid-size suburban restaurants a credible fit. Lighter on grease-curb specialty work than MBE.

Strengths
  • ✓ GAF, Carlisle
Trade-offs
  • – Lighter grease-curb specialty

Best for: Mid-size suburban restaurant re-roofs.

#4 · Multi-location restaurant group capacity

Sela Roofing & Remodeling

Corporate capacity for multi-location restaurant groups. Less specialized in single-unit grease-curb work than MBE.

Strengths
  • ✓ GAF Master Elite
Trade-offs
  • – Less single-unit specialty

Best for: Multi-location restaurant groups.

#5 · Large brewery & ghost kitchen flat-roof specialist

Berwald Roofing

Industrial-scale low-slope work. Strong on brewery and ghost kitchen flat roofs. Less depth on single-unit franchise work.

Strengths
  • ✓ NRCA member
Trade-offs
  • – Less franchise single-unit specialty

Best for: Large brewery and ghost kitchen flat roofs.

#6 · Single-location storm restoration

Storm Group Roofing

Active in storm restoration. Documentation reasonable for single-location restaurants; lighter on grease-curb specialty supplements.

Strengths
  • ✓ Active in storm work
Trade-offs
  • – Lighter grease-curb specialty

Best for: Single-location restaurant storm restoration.

#7 · Sourcewell co-op partner for restaurant REITs

Garland/DBS

Holds Sourcewell co-op contract — useful for restaurant REIT real estate teams avoiding full bid process.

Strengths
  • ✓ Sourcewell co-op
Trade-offs
  • – Co-op pricing not always lowest installed

Best for: Restaurant REITs on co-op procurement.

What does a restaurant roof cost in Minnesota in 2026?

Restaurant roofing budgets vary by building size. A typical 2,500–5,500 sq ft QSR or fast-casual restaurant with TPO low-slope roof runs $11.50–$18.50 per square foot for 60-mil TPO with tapered polyiso, RTU curb re-flash, grease-curb rebuild, parapet flashing and disposal. Larger 8,000–15,000 sq ft full-service or franchise restaurants run $14.50–$22.50 per square foot.

Grease-curb rebuild — including new pre-formed curb cap, properly terminated membrane and code-compliant grease-rated pitch pans — typically adds $2,800–$6,500 per grease vent. Most restaurants have 1–3 grease vents.

Insurance-funded restoration: when hail or wind damage qualifies, the commercial property policy typically pays full replacement at like-kind-and-quality minus the deductible. Grease-curb rebuild is routinely included in supplements when properly documented.

  • QSR / fast-casual TPO (60-mil): $11.50–$18.50/sq ft
  • Full-service / franchise restaurant (60-80 mil): $14.50–$22.50/sq ft
  • Grease-exhaust curb rebuild: $2,800–$6,500 per vent
  • RTU curb rebuild & re-flash: $4,500–$22,000
  • Insurance-funded restoration: typically just the deductible

Grease-exhaust curb rebuild — restaurant roofing specialty

Grease-exhaust hood curbs are the #1 source of restaurant roof leaks. Years of grease, heat, freeze-thaw cycles and improper hood-cleaning crew membrane damage create chronic leak paths directly above the kitchen line. Most generic commercial roofers re-flash these curbs incorrectly — using standard pitch pans rather than grease-rated, failing to terminate properly above the grease load line, and skipping the pre-installation hood-cleaning coordination.

MBE's grease-curb specialty: coordinated pre-installation cleaning with your hood vendor (Hood Pro, KleanFume, MN Hood Cleaning, etc.) → full curb cap replacement with grease-rated termination → code-compliant grease-rated pitch pans → post-installation grease-load verification → archived photo documentation for restaurant records and franchise corporate approval.

After-hours phasing for open restaurants

Every closed hour is lost revenue. MBE's default approach: tear-off and loud demo are scheduled outside service hours. For breakfast-only operations: 2 AM–9 AM. For dinner-only fine dining: after midnight. For 24-hour QSRs: full overnight closure windows coordinated with the GM. Walk-in coolers and freezers are protected with sequenced penetration windows during cooler-empty hours.

When a daytime closure is necessary, it is scheduled during the slowest weekly revenue window — typically Monday/Tuesday daytime for full-service restaurants, Tuesday/Wednesday overnight for QSR.

MDH food code & city fire marshal coordination

Restaurant roof work touches MDH food code (walk-in temperatures, food prep continuity) and city fire marshal requirements (hood/duct inspection sign-off, grease-fire suppression system protection). MBE coordinates with your hood-cleaning vendor for pre-installation cleaning, with your fire suppression vendor for system protection, and with the city fire marshal for sign-off after grease-curb rebuild.

Documentation is archived for MDH inspection, franchise corporate audit and insurance carrier records.

Insurance restoration for Minnesota restaurants

Most restaurants are insured on a commercial property policy through carriers like Society Insurance, Western National, Travelers, Cincinnati, Auto-Owners, Hanover or Liberty Mutual. After qualifying hail or wind damage, the policy typically covers full replacement at like-kind-and-quality minus the deductible.

Restaurant supplements adjusters routinely miss: grease-curb rebuild, RTU curbs, parapet flashing, copings, drains, code-upgrade insulation. MBE documents and negotiates every line.

  • Free drone inspection within 48 hours of a storm event
  • Grease-curb damage specifically documented and supplemented
  • Adjuster-attended on-site meeting (we are there with them)
  • Code-upgrade supplements for R-30 insulation
  • Full Recoverable Depreciation collection — no balance left behind

Best materials for Minnesota restaurant roofs

For most restaurants: 60-mil TPO from GAF EverGuard, Carlisle Sure-Weld or Firestone/Holcim with tapered polyiso. For grease-heavy heavy-use kitchens (high-volume burger, fryer-heavy menus): 80-mil fully adhered TPO or PVC, which offers superior grease resistance vs. standard TPO.

Some franchise brand standards specify specific membranes — MBE matches brand standards documentation and franchisor-approved vendors.

Our work with restaurants & commercial kitchens

  • South Metro Twin Cities
    National-franchise QSR — Overnight re-roof with drive-thru open

    Scope: 60-mil TPO, grease-curb rebuild on 2 vents, RTU re-flash, walk-in coordination

    Outcome: Drive-thru open every day; zero closed hours; insurance funded

  • Twin Cities metro
    Full-service restaurant — Hail restoration with grease-curb rebuild

    Scope: 80-mil TPO fully adhered, grease-curb rebuild on 3 vents, parapet rebuild

    Outcome: All work scheduled Monday/Tuesday; zero weekend revenue impact

  • Twin Cities metro
    Brewery & taproom — Large low-slope re-roof

    Scope: Full tear-off, 60-mil TPO with tapered polyiso, RTU rebuild, walk-in cooler coordination

    Outcome: Taproom open every weekend; finished 4 days early

FAQ

Restaurants & Commercial Kitchens roofing FAQ

How long does a restaurant re-roof take?
A 2,500–5,500 sq ft QSR runs 5–9 working days with overnight phasing. Full-service restaurants (8,000–15,000 sq ft) run 8–14 days. Multi-unit franchise programs are sequenced per franchise corporate schedule.
Can we stay open during the work?
Yes — that is the default. Tear-off and loud demo are scheduled outside service hours (2 AM–9 AM for breakfast-only, after midnight for dinner-only, full overnight for 24-hour QSR). Visible work during service is minimized.
Will you rebuild and re-flash our grease-exhaust curbs?
Yes — that is standard scope on every restaurant re-roof. Grease curbs are the #1 source of restaurant roof leaks. We coordinate with your hood-cleaning vendor for pre-installation cleaning, install new pre-formed curb caps with grease-rated termination, and use code-compliant grease-rated pitch pans.
How do you protect our walk-in coolers and freezers?
Penetrations above walk-ins are sequenced for dry-in windows during cooler-empty hours. Refrigeration shutdowns are coordinated with the kitchen manager. No food-safety risk.
Do you coordinate with our hood-cleaning vendor?
Yes. We coordinate pre-installation grease cleaning with Hood Pro, KleanFume, MN Hood Cleaning or your existing vendor. Post-installation grease-load verification is documented for restaurant and fire marshal records.
Will insurance cover our restaurant re-roof?
If the roof has qualifying hail or wind damage, your commercial property policy typically pays full replacement at like-kind-and-quality minus the deductible. Grease-curb rebuild is routinely included in supplements when properly documented. Our 99% approval rate means most restaurants with documented damage replace the roof for the cost of the deductible.
Do you handle franchise brand standards compliance?
Yes. National franchise color, material and architectural standards (McDonald's, Subway, Starbucks, Chipotle, Panera, Buffalo Wild Wings, etc.) are documented and matched. Brand-approved vendor coordination is handled by MBE.
Can you handle the fire marshal sign-off?
Yes. Hood/duct inspection sign-off is coordinated with your hood vendor and the city fire marshal. MDH food code compliance is documented.
What materials do you recommend?
60-mil TPO from GAF EverGuard, Carlisle Sure-Weld or Firestone/Holcim for most restaurants. 80-mil fully adhered TPO or PVC for high-volume grease-heavy kitchens — superior grease resistance vs. standard TPO.
What warranty do we get?
Two warranties: (1) MBE's Lifetime Workmanship Warranty, transferable; (2) the manufacturer's NDL warranty — typically 20–30 years on TPO/EPDM. Grease-curb-specific workmanship is covered.
Do you work with Society Insurance, Western National, Travelers and Cincinnati?
Yes — routinely. We work with every major restaurant-segment carrier.
Are you licensed, bonded and insured?
Yes — Minnesota Class A residential and commercial license #BC691061, $2,000,000 general liability, full Minnesota workers' compensation. Certificates issued with restaurant operator and (if applicable) franchisor named as additional insured.
Can you handle multi-unit restaurant groups?
Yes. Multi-unit programs are sequenced per franchise or restaurant group corporate schedule, with single PM coordination across locations.
How quickly can you respond after a storm?
Same-day for emergency tarping. Same-week for full inspection and adjuster meetings. Three Twin Cities offices keep a senior PM within an hour of any restaurant in the metro.
How do we start the process?
Call (612) 750-6051 or request a free inspection online. A senior PM will meet you on-site within the week and follow up with a written, line-item proposal ready for franchise corporate or capex review.
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