Owl Roofing vs. Midwest Plus Contracting: An Honest Comparison

Midwest Plus Contracting is another established name Twin Cities homeowners often compare against Owl Roofing when gathering quotes for an exterior remodeling project. Here’s a fair, side-by-side look, plus the specific questions worth asking either company before you sign.

Company Overview

Owl Roofing serves the Twin Cities metro offering roofing, siding, window, and gutter services across both standard and premium material tiers, with financing options and insurance claim assistance for storm-damage projects. Midwest Plus Contracting is a regional exterior remodeling company operating in the Twin Cities area, offering roofing and related exterior services to homeowners across the metro. Both are established options worth including when gathering comparison quotes for a Twin Cities exterior project.

Service Scope Comparison

Both companies offer roofing as a core service alongside related exterior categories, making them reasonable like-for-like comparisons for a combined project. Owl Roofing specifically structures that lineup around standard and premium material tiers for Twin Cities residential homes, which is worth confirming against Midwest Plus’s own material mix if your project involves a higher-end product instead of a standard replacement.

Material and Brand Options

Both companies work with a range of standard and premium roofing and siding brands common to the Twin Cities market, and specific manufacturer certifications can vary and change over time, making it worth confirming directly with each company which product lines they’re currently certified to install for the material you’re considering.

Insurance Claims and Storm Damage Projects

Insurance claim assistance is a core part of Owl Roofing’s practice, not an occasional add-on, including meeting adjusters on-site and pushing supplements when the initial scope undervalues the damage. If your project also originated from storm or hail damage, ask Midwest Plus Contracting for the same specifics — recent claims with your carrier, adjuster meeting practices, supplement history — so you’re comparing real experience and not just general reputation.

Warranty Coverage Comparison

Both companies offer manufacturer material warranties tied to the specific products installed, along with their own separate workmanship warranties covering installation quality. Ask each company directly for their current written workmanship warranty terms, including length of coverage and what specifically is covered, instead of assuming parity between them based on general reputation alone.

Financing Options

Both Owl Roofing and Midwest Plus Contracting offer financing options for homeowners who prefer to spread project costs over time instead of paying the full amount upfront, though specific lender partnerships and terms can differ, making it worth comparing financing offers directly alongside material and warranty terms.

Getting Comparable Quotes

The most reliable way to compare these two companies is requesting an itemized quote from each for the exact same scope of work, material specification, and timeline, since comparing quotes with different underlying scopes doesn’t give an accurate picture of relative value. Ask both companies the same specific questions about warranty terms, manufacturer certifications, and project timeline, and compare their answers directly.

Pricing Structure and Transparency

A trustworthy quote from either company should break down material costs, labor, and any additional scope items like tear-off and disposal clearly enough for you to understand exactly what you’re paying for, not just a single opaque bottom-line number. If either company’s quote feels vague compared to the other’s, it’s reasonable to ask for a more detailed breakdown before deciding.

Communication and Project Management Style

How a company communicates during the initial quoting process is often a reasonably reliable preview of how they’ll communicate once a project is underway. During consultations with both companies, pay attention to how thoroughly and promptly each answers your specific material and timeline questions, since this early interaction can reveal more than general reputation alone.

Lead Times and Scheduling

Project availability and lead times can vary a great deal between contractors depending on current backlog, crew availability, and the specific materials involved, independent of either company’s overall size or reputation. If timing matters for your project, ask both companies directly about their current scheduling availability and realistic start date.

Licensing and Insurance Verification

Both companies should carry current Minnesota contractor licensing along with general liability and workers’ compensation insurance, worth independently verifying through the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s license lookup tool instead of relying solely on what either company states during a sales conversation.

Cleanup and Site Protection Practices

A quality roofing or siding project should include careful site protection for landscaping, driveways, and outdoor features during tear-off and debris removal, along with thorough magnetic nail sweeps and cleanup once work is complete. Ask both companies specifically about their site protection and cleanup process before finalizing a decision.

Project Size and Crew Capacity

A company’s typical project size and crew capacity can affect how quickly your specific project gets scheduled and completed, especially during Minnesota’s peak roofing season when demand across the industry tends to spike. Ask both companies about their current crew capacity and how many projects they’re typically running at once, since a company stretched thin across many simultaneous projects may move more slowly on your specific job than one with more available capacity at the time you’re ready to start.

Dedicated Residential Focus Versus Broader Contracting Work

Ask any contractor you’re comparing whether residential exterior work is the core of their business or one category among several commercial and residential lines they run simultaneously, since a company splitting attention across many project types can mean less consistent crew experience on any single one. Owl Roofing’s work is centered on residential roofing, siding, windows, and gutters specifically, which is worth weighing against Midwest Plus’s own project mix when residential-specific expertise matters to you.

Experience With Your Specific Material Choice

Beyond general roofing or siding experience, ask both companies specifically about their experience with the exact material you’re considering for your project, whether that’s a standard architectural shingle, a premium synthetic product, or a specialty siding material. A company’s broader portfolio across many material types says less about their specific competency with your chosen material than seeing examples of completed projects using that exact product, ideally including some installed a few years ago so you can see how the work has weathered.

Scheduling an In-Person Walkthrough

A thorough contractor typically wants to walk your actual property in person before finalizing a quote, since roof complexity, existing siding condition, and other site-specific details can substantially affect both installation approach and final pricing. Be cautious of either company offering a firm quote based solely on photos or a satellite view without an in-person walkthrough, since that approach leaves more room for costly change orders once work actually begins on your property.

Common Mistakes When Comparing These Companies

A common mistake is comparing a bottom-line price from one company against the other without confirming both quotes cover an identical scope of work and material specification. Another is assuming general reputation alone is a reliable predictor of how either company will perform on your specific project and material. A third is not requesting references specific to your material and project type from both companies before making a final decision.

Reviews and References

Beyond whatever references each company provides directly, checking independent reviews across multiple platforms and Better Business Bureau standing for both is worth doing, along with a direct conversation with a past client specifically about a project comparable to your own in scope and material.

Which Company Is the Right Fit for Your Project

Both are established, legitimate Twin Cities options worth quoting. If your project involves a premium material tier, a storm-damage claim you want handled by a specialist rather than a generalist, or you’d simply rather work with a contractor whose core focus is residential roofing, siding, windows, and gutters, that’s the specific lane Owl Roofing is built around.

Final Thoughts on Making Your Decision

Both Owl Roofing and Midwest Plus Contracting are established contractors serving the Twin Cities market. Do the diligence regardless: itemized quotes for an identical scope, verified licensing and insurance, and references specific to your material. If your project is premium-tier or storm-related, get a free estimate from Owl Roofing and weigh it against whatever Midwest Plus quotes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Owl Roofing and Midwest Plus Contracting offer similar services?

Both offer roofing as a core service alongside related exterior categories, making them reasonable like-for-like comparisons for a combined exterior project.

Do both companies offer financing?

Yes, both offer financing options for homeowners who prefer to spread project costs over time, though specific terms can differ between them.

How should I compare quotes from these two companies?

Request an itemized quote from each for the exact same scope of work and material specification, since different underlying scopes don’t give an accurate value comparison.

How do I verify a contractor’s license in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry maintains a public license lookup tool to independently verify a contractor’s current license status.

Which company should I choose for my project?

Both are established Twin Cities options; Owl Roofing is the stronger fit for premium materials or a storm-damage claim handled by a specialist.

Get a Free Exterior Estimate from Owl Roofing

Comparing contractors for your upcoming project? Request a free estimate or contact our team. Explore our guide on choosing a roofing contractor, and ask about financing options.