Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in Fertile, MN

• Gutters in Fertile

  Polk County averages 23.4 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 Fertile

  8 of the 17 hail events on record within 10 miles of Fertile 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 Fertile

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of Fertile from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 81 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in Fertile

  72% of homes in ZIP code 56540 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 Fertile: 56540. ZIP code 56540 has 752 households; its median home was built in 1962, and 85% of its housing units are single-family detached. The median home value in ZIP code 56540 is $185,600, and 85% of its occupied homes are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in Fertile is valued at $118,400.

• ZIP code 56540

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 17 hail events, 11 thunderstorm-wind events and 5 tornadoes within 10 miles of Fertile 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 August 28, 2016, near Fertile. 8 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of Fertile was 63 mph wind on July 8, 2019, less than 1 mile away near Fertile. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of Fertile was on June 28, 2024: 1.75 in hail near Gary. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of Fertile was on June 21, 2025, near Fertile. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of Fertile in that period was 81 mph. The busiest year was 2018, with 9 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).

Polk County has 14,670 housing units, and 72% 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 6% of the housing units.

The median home in Polk County was built in 1971. 66% of homes in Polk County were built before 1980, and 16% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 1939 or earlier, with 3,287 homes.

72% of occupied homes in Polk County are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in Polk County is valued at $211,100. Among occupied homes in Polk County, 41% heat with utility gas, 25% with electricity, 24% with bottled or tank gas, 5% with fuel oil and 2% with wood.

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

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

Fertile is in Polk County, so the county ratings below apply to it. Polk County scores 81.6 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 19th of 87 Minnesota counties. Polk County scores 65.4 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 41st of 87 Minnesota counties. Polk County scores 92.1 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 8th of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Polk County is for winter weather, at 92.1 of 100.

Polk County averages 23.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The average annual temperature in Polk County is 39.4°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 Gary (11 miles), Beltrami (11 miles), Mentor (13 miles), Winger (14 miles), Erskine (16 miles), Bejou (16 miles), Twin Valley (19 miles) and Ada (19 miles). The other Polk County communities we serve are Beltrami, Climax, Crookston, East Grand Forks, Erskine, Fisher, Fosston, Gully, Lengby, McIntosh, Mentor, Nielsville, Trail and Winger.

• Gary 11 mi
• Beltrami 11 mi
• Mentor 13 mi
• Winger 14 mi
• Erskine 16 mi
• Bejou 16 mi
• Twin Valley 19 mi
• Ada 19 mi
• McIntosh 20 mi
• Mahnomen 21 mi

Our Brainerd office is at 217 S 7th St, Brainerd, MN 56401, about 128 miles from Fertile. 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