Questions about the line
The short version: you call, an automated assistant answers, and your call goes to an independent roofing company in greater Houston. Everything after that is between you and that company.
Does it cost anything?
No. You pay nothing to call or to be connected. Roofing companies may pay the line a referral fee.
When can I call?
Any hour, any day. If the roofing company cannot answer, your name, number, city, need and urgency are passed along for a call back.
Can you tell me what my roof will cost?
No. The line never quotes prices. A roofer has to see the roof. The replacement cost guide lays out the factors behind the price and lists published ranges with their sources.
Can I send a request instead of calling?
Yes. The contact form passes your details to a local roofing company so it can call you back. For water coming in, calling is the quicker route.
Questions about roofers and the work
Should new shingles go over the old ones?
Most roofers recommend a full tear-off so the deck can be checked and soft wood replaced. Building codes limit how many layers a roof may have. Ask what the quote assumes. See roof replacement.
Is one leak a reason for a new roof?
Usually not. A cracked pipe boot or a gap in the flashing is a repair. Ask the roofer to show you photos of what it found. See roof repair.
Do black streaks mean the roof is failing?
The dark streaks common on Houston roofs are usually algae, which is mainly a cosmetic problem. They are not by themselves a reason to replace a sound roof.
Can my HOA ban impact-resistant shingles?
Texas Property Code section 202.011 bars a property owners' association from prohibiting shingles designed to resist wind and hail or improve energy efficiency, if they resemble the shingles used or allowed in the subdivision, are at least as durable and of equal or better quality, and fit the look of the neighborhood.
Questions about storms and insurance
- Who files the claim? You do. A roofer can document the damage and meet the adjuster, but Texas law bars a contractor from acting as your public adjuster.
- Is flooding covered by homeowners insurance? Generally not. Wind damage and flood damage are covered by different policies; ask your agent which you have.
- Should I stay off the roof after a storm? Yes, always. Photograph from the ground and inside, and let a roofer go up.
- What should I photograph? The roof from every side, dented gutters and vents, debris in the yard, and every stain inside. The free storm claim checklist lists it all.
Stay off the roof. Wet, storm-damaged roofs are slick and the decking may be weak, so leave the ladder in the garage. Keep well away from downed power lines and report them to CenterPoint Energy or 911. Indoors, move belongings away from the leak, put a bucket or towels under the drip and keep people out of any room where the ceiling sags. Photograph the damage from the ground and inside the house, then call your insurer and a roofer.
About this line: Houston Expert Roofers is a free phone line, not a roofing contractor. It answers your call and connects you with an independent local roofing company, which inspects, quotes and does the work, and which you pay directly. Companies may pay a referral fee. The line never charges you. Read how the line works.