Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in Backus, MN

• Gutters in Backus

  Cass County averages 27.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). One inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof is about 623 gallons of water for the gutters to carry.

• Roofing in Backus

  8 of the 27 hail events on record within 10 miles of Backus from 2016 through March 31, 2026 had hail 1.5 inches or larger. The National Weather Service counts hail of 1 inch or larger as severe.

• Siding in Backus

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of Backus from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 70 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in Backus

  40% of homes in ZIP code 56435 were built before 1980. A home built before 1980 was built before the energy codes in force today were written.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025); American Community Survey 2023, 5-year; NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

Our pages cover 1 ZIP code of Backus: 56435. ZIP code 56435 has 1,225 households; its median home was built in 1986, and 89% of its housing units are single-family detached. The median home value in ZIP code 56435 is $230,100, and 92% of its occupied homes are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in Backus is valued at $104,700.

• ZIP code 56435

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year, by ZIP Code Tabulation Area (a ZIP code can extend beyond the city); ZIP list and address points from the Census address file.

The NOAA Storm Events Database records 27 hail events, 16 thunderstorm-wind events and no tornadoes within 10 miles of Backus from 2016 through March 31, 2026 for hail and through September 22, 2025 for thunderstorm wind and tornadoes. The largest hail on record there in that period was 2.5 inches on June 12, 2024, near Backus. 8 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of Backus was 1.25 in hail on August 3, 2024, less than 1 mile away near Backus. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of Backus was on August 3, 2024: 1.25 in hail near Backus. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of Backus was on August 29, 2024, near Backus. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of Backus in that period was 70 mph. The busiest year was 2024, with 12 events in all.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Cass County has 24,294 housing units, and 85% of them are single-family detached homes (American Community Survey 2023, 5-year). Another 2% are attached homes such as townhomes. Mobile homes make up 9% of the housing units.

The median home in Cass County was built in 1990. 37% of homes in Cass County were built before 1980, and 31% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 2000–2009, with 5,186 homes.

85% of occupied homes in Cass County are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in Cass County is valued at $262,300. Among occupied homes in Cass County, 18% heat with utility gas, 24% with electricity, 42% with bottled or tank gas, 2% with fuel oil and 12% with wood.

• Year-built table and more on the Cass County page

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077, B25040).

Backus is in Cass County, so the county ratings below apply to it. Cass County scores 33.6 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 80th of 87 Minnesota counties. Cass County scores 61.5 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 43rd of 87 Minnesota counties. Cass County scores 78.2 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 27th of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Cass County is for cold wave, at 84 of 100.

Cass County averages 27.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The average annual temperature in Cass County is 40.5°F.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, 2026 release; rank among the state's counties computed from the scores; NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

The nearest other cities we serve, by straight-line distance, are Hackensack (7.3 miles), Chickamaw Beach (8.1 miles), Pine River (8.8 miles), Jenkins (15 miles), Akeley (16 miles), Whipholt (17 miles), Longville (18 miles) and Nevis (18 miles). The other Cass County communities we serve are Bena, Boy River, Cass Lake, Chickamaw Beach, East Gull Lake, Federal Dam, Hackensack, Lake Shore, Longville, Pillager, Pine River, Remer, Walker and Whipholt.

• Hackensack 7.3 mi
• Chickamaw Beach 8.1 mi
• Pine River 8.8 mi
• Jenkins 15 mi
• Akeley 16 mi
• Whipholt 17 mi
• Longville 18 mi
• Nevis 18 mi
• Manhattan Beach 19 mi
• Walker 19 mi

Our Brainerd office is at 217 S 7th St, Brainerd, MN 56401, about 35 miles from Backus. Its hours are Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. You can reach that office at (218) 833-2997.

• Brainerd office: address, hours and map