Roof Replacement
A reroof in this region is settled by two things most bids skip: what the decking is doing under the old shingles, and how the attic breathes afterward. Storms set the timing; those two set the outcome.
- Houston metro
- Written scope before work begins
- Licensed trade subs where required
- Free estimate
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Overview
Roof Replacement
Most roof replacements across the Houston metro start with a wind or hail event and an insurance scope. It helps to know that the scope is a payment document, not a construction specification. It prices what the adjuster attributed to the loss; it doesn’t promise that the decking is sound, that the ventilation was ever right, or that the low-slope patio section was built with a system rated for its pitch. Those are separate questions, and they are yours to ask.
One legal point worth knowing before anyone knocks on your door: under Texas Insurance Code Ch. 707, a contractor cannot pay, waive, rebate or absorb your insurance deductible, and invoices have to reflect what you actually paid. An offer to “take care of the deductible” isn’t a discount. It comes out of the scope, the materials or the crew, and it puts your claim on shaky ground.
Texas also doesn’t license roofing contractors. Registration and certification programs exist, but they’re private and voluntary, so the vetting falls to you: a written scope naming products, proof of general liability and workers’ compensation coverage, manufacturer installation requirements followed as written, and a company that will still be reachable when a warranty question comes up three summers from now.
The things that actually decide this job
The decking decides everything above it
A shingle’s wind rating assumes fasteners that hold. Delaminated OSB, water-stained sheathing around old penetrations and 1x plank decking with wide gaps all let nails pull through under uplift. Decking condition can only be judged once the old roof is off, so agree on a per-sheet replacement price in the contract. Ask for photos of what came off. That number is the most common source of surprise on a reroof invoice.
Underlayment and edge metal
Our version of the eave problem isn’t ice, it’s wind-driven rain forced uphill under the shingle course. Self-adhered membrane at eaves, in valleys and around penetrations addresses that. Synthetic underlayment across the field resists tearing while the roof is open. Drip edge belongs at both eaves and rakes, tucked correctly relative to the underlayment. These are cheap line items that decide whether a wind-driven storm gets into the deck.
Ventilation is part of the roof, not an add-on
Exhaust without matching intake pulls conditioned, humid air out of the house and into the attic, where it condenses on the sheathing. Ridge venting needs continuous soffit or edge intake to work. Mixing ridge vents with turbines or powered fans on the same roof plane lets one short-circuit the other. If the attic was converted to sealed spray foam, the venting plan changes completely and needs to be stated in the scope.
Wind and impact ratings are earned at install
A shingle’s wind rating is tied to a specific nail count, nail placement in the sealing strip, and the manufacturer’s own starter and hip-and-ridge products. Mix in generic accessories or nail high and the rating on the wrapper stops meaning anything. Class 4 impact-rated shingles are worth pricing in a hail-prone region, and some carriers offer a premium credit for them — confirm with your agent before you order, not after.
Practical considerations
Windstorm certification in coastal counties
WPI-8 certification applies only in designated coastal catastrophe-area counties, and it’s tied to the address rather than the mailing city, so verify rather than assume. Where it does apply, the inspection has to happen while the work is visible, not after the last shingle is on. Missing that window can mean tearing back completed work. If the address qualifies, build the inspection into the schedule before tear-off day.
Low-slope sections need their own system
Nearly every home here has some roof under the pitch that asphalt shingles are rated for: a patio cover, a porch, a rear addition, a dormer shed. Shingles below roughly two-in-twelve are outside their listing and will leak eventually no matter how neatly they’re laid. Those areas want modified bitumen, a single-ply membrane, or standing seam metal, and the transition detail where the low slope tucks under the steep slope is the part to scrutinize.
Penetrations, skylights and future plans
A reroof is the only economical moment to replace pipe boots, re-flash a chimney with proper counterflashing, and swap a skylight whose curb flashing is at the end of its life. Reusing a cracked rubber boot to save a few dollars is how a brand new roof leaks in year one. If solar panels are anywhere in your plans, decide sequencing now — mounting into a fresh roof affects both flashing details and warranty terms.
After a regional hail event, timing works against you
A wide storm brings a surge of crews, some of whom will not be in the region next season. That matters because most of what you’re buying is workmanship, and a workmanship warranty is only as real as the company behind it. Material lead times stretch, and colors go on allocation. Slowing down long enough to get a written scope, proof of coverage and a manufacturer warranty registration is the cheapest protection available.
At a glance
| Roof area | System that fits | Detail that leaks first |
|---|---|---|
| Main field, four-in-twelve and steeper | Architectural asphalt shingle or standing seam metal | Nails driven high, above the sealing strip |
| Shallow pitch, two to four-in-twelve | Shingle with the doubled underlayment the maker requires | Valleys carrying more water than the slope can move |
| Patio and porch roofs under two-in-twelve | Modified bitumen, single-ply membrane or standing seam | The lap where low slope meets the steep roof above |
| Roof-to-wall intersections | Step flashing with a kickout at the bottom end | A missing kickout pouring water into the wall |
| Pipes, vents and chimneys | New boots and two-piece counterflashing with the reroof | Cracked boots reused to save a line item |
| Valleys | Open metal or closed-cut, chosen for the debris load | Leaf and needle dams under mature trees |
Common questions
Can my roof be repaired instead of replaced?
Sometimes, and it depends on pattern more than age. Isolated damage — a few creased tabs on one slope, a failed boot, flashing at one wall — is a repair. Widespread granule loss, tabs that no longer seal down, brittle shingles that crack when lifted, or leaks appearing in unrelated locations point to a system at the end of its life. Matching is the other limit: discontinued colors and weathered surroundings mean a repair often reads as a patch even when it performs fine.
What happens if it rains in the middle of my reroof?
A competent crew only tears off what it can dry in before the day ends, which is why sequencing matters more here than in dry climates. Dry-in means underlayment down and penetrations sealed, not tarps hoping for the best. Ask directly how much roof gets opened at once and what the rain plan is. Afternoon storms are routine for much of the year, so a plan that depends on a clear week isn’t a plan. Interior protection under the attic is worth requesting.
Do I need a permit to replace a roof?
It depends on the address, because permit authority follows the address rather than the mailing city, and this region includes unincorporated areas, a township and multiple municipalities. Some jurisdictions treat like-for-like reroofing lightly while others require a permit and inspection. Separately, if you’re changing the look — shingle to metal, or a significant color change — deed restrictions and HOA architectural review under Texas Property Code Ch. 209 may control that regardless of what the permit office says.
Is metal roofing worth it in this climate?
It performs well against wind and lasts far longer than asphalt, and standing seam hides its fasteners, which is the detail that matters most. The honest caveats: it costs meaningfully more up front, hail tends to leave cosmetic dents that many policies now exclude from coverage, and a proper installation includes correct clip spacing and expansion allowance rather than screwing panels down tight. The noise concern is mostly a myth over solid decking and underlayment. Ask your insurer about cosmetic exclusions first.
A contractor says he can cover my deductible. Should I take that?
No. Texas Insurance Code Ch. 707 makes it unlawful for a contractor to pay, rebate or waive your deductible, and it requires that what you’re invoiced reflect what you actually paid. Beyond the legal exposure, the money has to come from somewhere: thinner underlayment, reused flashings, fewer nails per shingle, or a decking allowance that quietly disappears. A bid that prices the whole roof honestly is easier to compare and easier to enforce. Questions on a scope you’ve been handed: (832) 513-5639.
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