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Questions to ask before you hire a roofer in Houston

Hail-bruised shingles after a spring storm, lifted ridge caps and a tarp after a hurricane, or an aging roof on a 1970s ranch house in the suburbs — Houston roofing jobs come with a twist: Texas doesn’t license roofers at all. That makes your own vetting, the City of Houston’s re-roof permit and inspection, Texas lien and contract rules, and the state’s strict rules on insurance deductibles and storm contractors the main protections you have. Use these questions to compare Houston-area roofers on proof, permit practice, and a written scope, not just on who knocked first after the storm.

Questions to ask

1. What can you show me to prove you’re an established local roofing company, since Texas doesn’t license roofers?

Why it matters: Texas has no state license or registration for roofers, and roofers can legally operate without insurance (RCAT: Selecting a roofing contractor). That puts the vetting on you. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says to verify the roofer’s name, address, phone number, and references, and to be wary of a company that isn’t established or only has out-of-state references (TDI: Repairing my roof after a storm (PDF)). It also suggests using local companies when possible and checking the Better Business Bureau and references (TDI: Signs of a contracting scam). The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) runs a voluntary, industry-managed “license” program and member search; it’s a useful signal, but it is not a government license (RCAT: Selecting a roofing contractor). Ask how long the company has had a physical office in the Houston area, and drive by it if you can.

2. Can I see current certificates for general liability insurance and workers’ compensation, and may I call the insurer to confirm them?

Why it matters: Because the state doesn’t require roofers to carry insurance, RCAT warns that if a roofer isn’t properly insured, you can end up responsible for property damage they cause or a worker who’s hurt on your property (RCAT: Selecting a roofing contractor). TDI’s advice is to ask for the certificate of insurance and bond certification and call the companies listed to verify the coverage (TDI: Signs of a contracting scam). Roofing is work at height, so get this before anyone climbs on the house.

3. Will you pull the City of Houston roofing permit, and when will the inspection happen?

Why it matters: Inside Houston city limits, a re-roof or a roofing overlay on a home needs a Residential Roofing Permit. The application includes either the Roofing Overlay Only form (CE-1104) or the Residential Re-Roof Only Worksheet (CE-1109), an inspection is required, the permit is valid for six months, and the permit and worksheet must be on site for the inspection (Houston Permitting Center: Residential Roofing Permit). Plans aren’t needed for a standard re-roof, but replacing rafters or joists takes more than the worksheet (Houston Permitting Center: Plan review), and changing the supporting roof structure means submitting plans (Houston Permitting Center: Residential Roofing Permit). The City’s residential code exempts only roof-covering repairs that add up to 100 square feet or less (City of Houston Residential Code amendments, R105.2 (PDF)). Pasadena, Pearland, Sugar Land, Katy, and other Houston-area cities have their own building departments, and in unincorporated Harris County, check with the Harris County Office of the County Engineer. Ask whose name goes on the application, and get the permit number before work starts.

4. Are you tearing off to the deck or putting a new layer over the old roof, and how many layers are up there now?

Why it matters: Houston enforces the 2021 International Residential Code with local amendments, effective January 1, 2024 (Houston Permitting Center: Code archive). Under that code, a new roof can’t be laid over an existing roof that is water-soaked or too deteriorated to serve as a base, over slate, clay, cement, or asbestos-cement tile, or over a roof that already has two or more layers of any kind; a roof replacement means removing the existing layers down to the deck (Houston Residential Code 2021, Chapter 9, R908, via UpCodes). The City also has separate permit paperwork for an overlay and a full re-roof (Houston Permitting Center: Residential Roofing Permit). An overlay costs less up front but hides the deck, so ask the roofer to say in writing how many layers they found, whether they got on the roof, and why they recommend one approach. Two bids that differ here aren’t quoting the same job.

5. If the decking is rotten or loosely nailed, how will you price the repair, and will you show me before you replace it?

Why it matters: TDI recommends inspecting the decking once the old roof is off and replacing damaged decking. For better wind resistance it describes thicker plywood decking nailed into the framing on a tight pattern, and it notes that if you can see nails along the sides of the rafters or trusses in the attic, the deck may not be securely fastened (TDI: Questions to ask your contractor before roofing). Ask for a per-sheet price for deck replacement in the contract, photos of damaged sections before they’re replaced, and a signed change order for anything beyond what was quoted.

6. Which shingles, underlayment, flashing, and vents are you using, and are they rated for Gulf Coast wind and hail?

Why it matters: TDI notes that Texas roofs face two of the most severe conditions a roof can see, high winds and hail. It suggests products tested to ASTM D 3161 with a wind rating of 110 mph or higher and UL 2218 Class 4 impact-resistant products, heavier underlayment, self-adhering strips over deck joints as a secondary water barrier, and properly installed flashing and vents, which are where many leaks start (TDI: Questions to ask your contractor before roofing). TDI also says to ask your insurance agent whether certain roof products qualify for a discount (TDI: Repairing my roof after a storm (PDF)). Get the brand, product line, and ratings in writing so you can compare bids.

7. Is my home in an area where the repairs need a TDI windstorm certificate?

Why it matters: Most of the City of Houston isn’t in the state’s windstorm inspection area, but TDI says homes in the first tier of Gulf Coast counties, and in the Harris County cities east of Highway 146 (La Porte, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, Seabrook, and Shore Acres), should check with their insurance agent about whether repairs must meet the building code and be inspected through TDI’s Windstorm Inspections Program. Repairs that pass get a Certificate of Compliance (Form WPI-8), and TDI warns against roofers who aren’t familiar with the program (TDI: Repairing my roof after a storm (PDF); TDI: Windstorm inspections). If you need a WPI-8, confirm the roofer will schedule the inspections before the roof covering goes on.

8. Will you give me the Texas residential disclosure statement and a list of your subcontractors and suppliers before I sign?

Why it matters: Texas requires the contractor on a residential job to give you a “Know Your Rights and Responsibilities” disclosure statement before you sign the contract, and to give you a list of the subcontractors and suppliers it plans to use before work starts, with updates as they change; you don’t have to waive that list. If the house is your homestead, a contractor’s lien requires a written contract signed before the work begins, by both spouses if you’re married, and filed with the county clerk (Texas Property Code ch. 53, §§53.254–53.256). Ask for the brand and product line, tear-off and disposal, deck-repair pricing, cleanup, and both the manufacturer and workmanship warranties to be written into that contract. TDI also notes that most manufacturer warranties are prorated, so a long warranty isn’t a promise the roof lasts that long (TDI: Questions to ask your contractor before roofing).

9. How do you want to be paid, and will I get a final bills-paid affidavit and lien releases?

Why it matters: TDI says to pay by check or credit card rather than cash, to be wary of a roofer who wants money before materials are on site, and not to make the final payment until all the work is finished (TDI: Signs of a contracting scam; TDI: Repairing my roof after a storm (PDF)). Texas law also tells the owner to hold back 10 percent of the contract price until 30 days after the work is complete, requires the contractor to give you a final bills-paid affidavit as a condition of final payment, and makes lien waivers unenforceable unless they’re on the statutory forms; an unconditional waiver can only be required once the payment has actually been received (Texas Property Code ch. 53, §§53.101, 53.259, 53.281–53.284). Ask how the roofer handles retainage, and match any lien notices you receive from suppliers against the releases you collect.

10. This is a hail or hurricane insurance claim — will your contract include the deductible notice, and will you stay out of negotiating my claim?

Why it matters: Texas requires a contract that’s expected to be paid from a property insurance claim, above a small dollar threshold, to include a boldface notice that you must pay your deductible. A seller who pays, waives, absorbs, or rebates your deductible, or helps you avoid it, without your insurer’s consent commits a Class B misdemeanor (Texas Bus. & Com. Code §27.02), and your insurer can ask for proof that you paid it before releasing withheld depreciation (Texas Insurance Code ch. 707; TDI: Can a contractor waive my deductible?). A roofer also can’t act as your public adjuster, or advertise that they will, on a property they’re working on or may work on, though they can give estimates and discuss them with your insurer or its adjuster (TDI: Roofing and insurance, know the law; TDI Bulletin B-0006-21). TDI adds that you’re entitled to have your home repaired by the contractor you choose, and suggests asking the roofer to tell you if they contact your insurer about added work or costs (TDI: Signs of a contracting scam).

11. You came to my door after the storm — where is your local office, and does your contract include my right to cancel?

Why it matters: TDI tells homeowners to avoid door-to-door solicitors for storm damage repair and to be wary of roofers who only take cash or offer “specials” (TDI: Repairing my roof after a storm (PDF)). When a sale is solicited and signed at your home rather than at the seller’s place of business, Texas generally lets you cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign, and the seller must give you a copy of the contract with a completed cancellation form attached (Texas Bus. & Com. Code ch. 601). After a declared disaster, a remediation contractor that hasn’t kept a physical business address in your county or a neighboring county for at least a year can’t require payment before work begins, must keep partial payments in line with the work done and materials delivered, and must include a boldface Chapter 58 notice in the contract (Texas Bus. & Com. Code ch. 58). Report suspected scams to local law enforcement and the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

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