Roofer crouching on an asphalt shingle roof examining the shingles closely during an inspection

Roof Inspection in Houston

After hail, before you buy, or because the roof is getting old. Call one free number at any hour and you are put through to an independent, locally owned roofing company that inspects roofs across greater Houston.

Call (832) 662-4107 What a good report shows

A roof inspection tells you what you actually have

A roof inspection in Houston is usually prompted by a storm, a home sale or a stain on the ceiling. Done well, it answers three questions: is the roof letting water in, is there storm damage worth reporting to your insurer, and how much life does it have left.

A careful inspection covers the roof surface and the attic underneath it, and it ends with photos and a written report you can keep whether or not you hire anyone. This page explains what an inspection should include, what a good report looks like, how a roofer's inspection differs from a home inspector's or an insurance adjuster's, and how often to have one.

Houston Expert Roofers does not inspect roofs. Calling its number costs nothing; an automated assistant takes the call at any hour, asks why you want the roof checked and where the house is, and transfers you to an independent, locally owned roofing company that does the inspection. Many roofing companies inspect at no charge; confirm that on the call.

Roofer kneeling beside a patch of broken and lifted asphalt shingles found during a roof check

What a thorough roof inspection covers

An inspection that stays on the driveway, or that never goes into the attic, sees only part of the roof. These are the areas a careful roofer works through.

The roof surface

Shingle condition across every slope: cracked, creased, lifted or missing pieces, curling edges, bare spots where granules have worn off, and hail bruises that show as soft spots or dark marks. On hail calls, many roofers mark out a test area on each slope and count hits, so the photos show more than one bad shingle.

Joints and penetrations

Pipe boots, exhaust vents, chimney and wall flashing, skylights and valleys. These joints are where most leaks start, so each one should be photographed. Thick caulk at a joint usually means an earlier patch. See where flashing goes.

Soft metal, gutters and edges

Gutters, downspouts, vent caps and drip edge show hail dents and wind bends clearly, which helps date storm damage. The inspector also checks whether drip edge is present and whether gutters are pulling away or clogged.

The attic

Water stains on the decking and rafters, daylight showing through, damp or matted insulation, rusted nail tips, and signs the attic is not venting well, such as extreme heat or moisture. An inspection that skips the attic is only half an inspection, so ask about it specifically.

The roofer may inspect on foot, from the eaves or with drone photos, depending on the pitch and conditions. You should never need to go up yourself. Stay on the ground and let the inspector show you the pictures afterward.

Roof inspection report example: what a good one contains

Ask for the report in writing, with photos, before you decide anything. Formats differ from company to company, but a useful report covers the sections in this sample outline. If a report is just a page that says "replace roof", ask for the rest.

Report section	What it should show	Why you want it
Property and date	Address, inspection date, weather that day, who inspected and how (walked, ladder, drone)	Ties the findings to a date, which matters if you file a storm claim.
Roof overview	Roof material, approximate age if known, number of layers, pitch, number of slopes, an overview photo	A baseline you can compare against next year.
Findings by slope	Each slope labeled (front, rear, left, right), with damage noted and photographed, including any hail test areas	Lets you or an adjuster match each claim to a picture.
Flashing and penetrations	Condition of each boot, vent, chimney, wall joint, skylight and valley	These are the likeliest leak sources.
Gutters and edges	Dents, bends, drip edge, fascia condition	Supports storm dating and shows edge rot early.
Attic findings	Stains, daylight, wet insulation, ventilation, decking condition, with photos	Shows whether water is already getting in.
Severity and recommendation	Each item rated (watch, repair soon, urgent) with a plain recommendation: maintain, repair or replace	Tells you what to do first and what can wait.
Estimate, if requested	A separate, itemized quote for any recommended work	Keeps the findings separate from the sales pitch.

Keep every report with your house records. If a later storm damages the roof, an earlier report with dated photos helps show what the roof looked like before.

Roofer, home inspector or insurance adjuster?

Three different people may look at your roof, and they are answering different questions.

A roofer

Looks at whether the roof needs work, what kind and what it would cost, and may help you understand storm damage before you call your insurer. Remember the roofer who inspects is also hoping to do the work, so ask for photos of every finding, and get a second opinion on a big recommendation. Under Texas law a roofer may not act as your public adjuster on a property it works on.

A home inspector

Texas home inspectors are licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), at apprentice, real estate inspector and professional inspector levels. TREC's standards of practice require the roof covering to be inspected, walking it when that is safe, and flashing deficiencies reported. TREC has warned inspectors that a drone is not a substitute for inspecting from the roof surface unless a departure, such as an unsafe roof, applies and is documented. The inspector covers the whole house, so the roof gets a share of the visit.

An insurance adjuster

Sent by your insurer after you file a claim, the adjuster decides whether a covered event, such as hail on a certain date, caused damage and what the policy owes under its terms. A public adjuster, licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance, is someone you can hire to represent you on a claim. You may ask your roofer to be present when the adjuster inspects.

The deductible is yours to pay. The Texas Department of Insurance says it is illegal for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate or absorb your deductible, and a contract of $1,000 or more paid with insurance money must include a notice saying so. A roofer also may not act as your public adjuster on a property it works on. Treat any offer to "cover the deductible" as a reason to call someone else.

When to get a roof inspection

After hail or strong wind. Hail bruising is hard to see from the ground, and a lifted shingle can lie back down and look fine. Check your neighborhood's reports after a storm and, if hail fell, have the roof looked at and talk to your insurer.
Before buying a house. The home inspection covers the roof as part of the whole house. If it flags the roof, or the roof is older, a roofer's inspection gives you more detail before closing.
Before selling. Knowing the roof's condition first means the buyer's inspection is not where you learn about it.
When you see a stain. A new ceiling stain is worth a call even if it dries. See roof leak repair.
When deciding repair or replace. An inspection with photos makes it easier to compare quotes and spot an unnecessary recommendation.
On a schedule. Once a year is a sensible habit, more often for older roofs and roofs under trees.

Flashlight beam on the underside of plywood roof decking and rafters in a Houston attic showing a dark water stain

Storms that are a reason to call

Severe thunderstorms do plenty of roof damage around Houston without a hurricane. The National Weather Service's Houston/Galveston office recorded a swath of winds above 100 mph in parts of the metro during the May 16, 2024 derecho, and Hurricane Beryl came ashore on July 8, 2024. A roof that went through both and has not been looked at since is a good candidate for an inspection. If you plan to file a claim, check your policy's deadline and filing rules with your insurer; claims with the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association must be filed within one year of the storm.

Not sure whether the last storm hurt your roof? Call and say when the storm was and what you have noticed. The local roofing company you are put through to inspects the roof in person and should give you photos of what it finds.

Call (832) 662-4107

Questions to ask before and after the inspection

On the phone

Is there any charge for the inspection?
Will you check the attic as well as the roof?
Will I get a written report with photos, even if I do not hire you?
Can you send your certificate of liability insurance?

After the inspection

Which slopes have damage, and can I see each photo?
Is this storm damage, normal wear or an installation problem?
Can this be repaired, and what would a repair cost compared with a new roof?
If you recommend replacement, which findings is that based on?

A roofer worth hiring answers those plainly and is comfortable telling you a roof has years left.

How an inspection call works

Call the numberAn automated assistant answers (832) 662-4107 at any hour and asks which service you need, since the line also takes heating, cooling, pressure washing and water damage calls.
Describe the roofA leak, missing shingles, hail, a limb on the roof or an old roof you want looked at, plus your part of greater Houston and how urgent it is.
Get put throughYour call is transferred to an independent, locally owned roofing company, which hears a short summary before it picks up.
Deal with the roofer directlyIt inspects, quotes and does the work, and you pay it (or your insurer does, as you arrange). If it misses the call, it gets your name, number, city and need to call you back.

Texas has no state roofing license. No state agency licenses roofing contractors in Texas, and a 2025 bill to create one (HB 3344) did not reach a vote of the full House before the session ended. So check what you can: a certificate of liability insurance sent to you, a written contract with the full scope, a permit where your city requires one, local addresses you can drive past, and the shingle maker's warranty registration. Some cities also ask roofers to register. The line does not check any of this for you. How to check a roofer before you hire.

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.

Related services

Roof inspections across greater Houston

Questions Houston homeowners ask

How much does it cost to have a roof inspected?

Many roofing companies inspect a roof at no charge when they are being considered for the repair or replacement, so confirm that on the call before anyone comes out. An inspection by someone who will not do the work, such as a TREC-licensed home inspector during a home sale, is a paid service with its own fee. The line itself never charges you and does not quote prices.

Does a home inspector check the roof?

Yes. In Texas, home inspectors are licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission, and its standards of practice require them to inspect the roof covering, walking it when it is safe to do so, and to report deficiencies such as flashing problems. A home inspection covers the whole house, though, so the roof gets a share of the visit. A roofer's inspection goes deeper on the roof and attic and ends with a repair or replacement recommendation.

How often should a roof be inspected?

A reasonable rhythm in greater Houston is once a year, plus after any hail or strong wind event, and more often once the roof is older or sits under trees. The Texas State Office of Risk Management gives similar advice for state buildings: at least once a year, more for roofs with more exposure. Between inspections, look at the roof from the ground after storms. The roof lifespan guide covers aging.

What do roof inspectors look for?

On the roof: damaged, missing or lifted shingles, hail bruising, granule loss, cracked pipe boots, loose or caulked flashing, clogged valleys, and the condition of vents and edges. In the attic: water stains on the decking and rafters, daylight through the deck, wet or matted insulation, and whether the attic is venting properly. A good inspector photographs each finding and tells you how serious it is.

When should I get a roof inspection?

After a hailstorm or strong wind in your area, even if nothing looks wrong from the driveway; before buying or selling a house; when you see a new ceiling stain; when you are deciding between repair and replacement; and on a regular schedule once a roof is older. If a storm may have damaged the roof, also call your insurer. See storm damage roof repair.

Want someone to look at your roof? Make one free call

Tell the automated assistant what the roof is doing and where you live. Your call is put through to an independent, locally owned roofing company in greater Houston, which looks at the roof and gives you its own price.

Call (832) 662-4107

Answered at any hourAn automated assistant picks up nights, weekends and the morning after a storm.
Free to callThe line never bills you. Any price comes from the roofing company, in writing.
No state roofing licenseTexas does not license roofers, so ask for proof of insurance, a written contract and local references.
You decideHear what the roofer found, read the estimate, and hire only if it makes sense to you.