Question 1

How do I know if my roof has storm damage?

Accepted Answer

Walk the perimeter of your home and look for granules in gutter splash zones, shingle pieces in the yard, dented gutters or vent caps, and sagging or torn flashing. Inside the house, check ceilings and the attic for new water staining. Hail damage is often invisible from the ground, so the surest sign is to schedule a free inspection within a week of any storm carrying hail or 50+ mph winds.

Question 2

How long after a storm should I file a claim?

Accepted Answer

Most carriers require notice within 12 months of the date of loss, but waiting that long is a mistake. File within 30 days, with photos and a contractor inspection in hand. Damage worsens with each subsequent rain, and adjusters can deny weather-related claims when the link to a specific storm becomes hard to prove.

Question 3

What size hail damages a roof?

Accepted Answer

Asphalt shingles can fracture from hail as small as 1 inch in diameter when paired with high winds, though most carriers consider 1.25 inches the threshold for clear-cut damage. We document hail size on every storm-related inspection by measuring against a reference object in the photos so the carrier sees the same evidence we do.

Question 4

Should I tarp my roof after a storm?

Accepted Answer

Yes, immediately, if you see active leaks or visible holes. We offer same-day tarping across all nine markets. Holding the water out for 48 hours protects your insulation, drywall, and personal property and turns a $30,000 claim into a $30,000 claim instead of a $45,000 claim with interior remediation.

Question 5

Does my insurance cover storm damage?

Accepted Answer

Most homeowners policies cover sudden, accidental damage from hail and wind, including the cost of a full replacement when shingles cannot be repaired in matching colors. Cosmetic-only endorsements and high deductibles can change the math. We review your policy before recommending any work and tell you up front whether a claim is worth filing.

Question 6

Will you handle the insurance claim for me?

Accepted Answer

We meet the adjuster on the roof on every storm-related claim. We document damage with the same photo standards the carrier uses, file the supplement when scope is missed, and walk you through the deductible, ACV, and depreciation conversation in plain English. We do not act as a public adjuster, which is illegal in Texas and most other states for licensed contractors. We work alongside yours.

Question 7

What is a deductible recoverable storm clause?

Accepted Answer

It is illegal in Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina for a contractor to absorb or rebate your insurance deductible. Anyone offering to do so is committing insurance fraud and will eventually be prosecuted. We charge the deductible. The carrier covers the balance. That is how the system is designed to work.

Question 8

What does ACV vs RCV mean on my claim?

Accepted Answer

ACV is actual cash value: the depreciated value of your roof at the time of loss. RCV is replacement cost value: what it costs to replace the roof today with like materials. Most policies pay the ACV up front, then release the depreciation withhold once the work is completed and signed off. We coordinate the depreciation release directly with the carrier on your behalf.

Question 9

What happens if my claim is underpaid?

Accepted Answer

Carriers miss line items. We file a supplement with photo and code documentation, and most are paid within 30 days. We never ask homeowners to chase the carrier themselves. If a supplement is denied unfairly, we will refer you to a public adjuster or attorney who specializes in residential property claims.

Question 10

Will filing a claim raise my premiums?

Accepted Answer

A single weather-related claim usually does not raise your individual premium, because hail and wind events are pooled across the carrier book. Multiple claims in a short window can affect renewability. We would rather lose the job than pressure you into a claim that does not pencil out.

Question 11

How do I know if I need a new roof or a repair?

Accepted Answer

If your roof is under 15 years old, the damage is localized, and matching shingles are still available, a repair is usually the right call. Replace when granule loss is widespread, the deck has soft spots, multiple slopes are affected, or the shingles have lost the binder that holds them down. We will tell you which one you are looking at, in writing, with photos.

Question 12

Can you patch a leak without replacing the whole roof?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most leaks come from flashing, pipe boots, or a few specific shingles, not from the whole field. We tear back to deck on the affected area, replace the failure point, and integrate new shingles into the existing field. A clean repair runs $400 to $1,500 in our markets and lasts as long as the rest of the roof.

Question 13

How long does a roof last in Texas?

Accepted Answer

An asphalt 3-tab in Texas heat realistically lasts 12 to 15 years. Architectural laminates last 18 to 25. Class 4 impact-resistant assemblies last 25 to 30 if the field stays free of foot traffic. Coastal homes in NC and SC see closer to the bottom of those ranges due to UV and salt; metal and tile add another 10 to 20 years either way.

Question 14

Is it worth upgrading to impact-resistant shingles?

Accepted Answer

In hail-prone markets like DFW, San Antonio, and Atlanta, yes. The Class 4 upgrade adds roughly 8 to 12 percent to the install cost and qualifies for an annual premium discount on most homeowners policies. The discount typically recoups the upgrade in four to six years, and the shingle survives storms that destroy standard 3-tabs.

Question 15

Can I install a new roof over the old one?

Accepted Answer

Building code in most of our markets allows one overlay (two layers total). We never recommend it. Overlays trap heat, hide deck damage, and double the dead load on rafters. The cost difference between an overlay and a full tear-off is usually less than $1,500. Tear-off is the right answer.

Question 16

What kind of shingles do you install?

Accepted Answer

GAF Timberline HDZ is our default architectural shingle: 30-year warranty, StainGuard Plus, and a six-nail LayerLock pattern that holds up to 130 mph winds. We also install Owens Corning Duration, CertainTeed Landmark, and any GAF designer line on request. We are GAF Master Elite, which means we can offer the Golden Pledge 50-year warranty.

Question 17

What is the difference between architectural and 3-tab shingles?

Accepted Answer

3-tab shingles are flat, single-layer, and last about 12 to 15 years in Texas heat. Architectural laminates are thicker, dimensional, and last 25 to 30 years. The cost difference is roughly 15 percent. We install 3-tabs only when a homeowner explicitly requests them; on every quote we run, the architectural option is the right answer.

Question 18

Do you install metal roofs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Standing seam in 24-gauge steel and 26-gauge aluminum. Standing seam is the long-term move on hill country and high-end builds: 40 to 60 year lifespan, energy efficient, and the panels never split or warp. The install cost is two to three times an asphalt roof. We will spec it where it makes sense and tell you when it does not.

Question 19

What underlayment do you use?

Accepted Answer

Synthetic only. Felt paper is cheap, but it tears, retains moisture, and shortens the life of the roof above it. We install GAF Tiger Paw or FeltBuster on every job, ice and water shield in valleys and around penetrations, and full peel-and-stick on coastal NC and SC homes within a mile of the water.

Question 20

What kind of warranty do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Every roof we install carries a 10-year workmanship warranty from us and the manufacturer's material warranty (typically 30 to 50 years on architectural shingles). On GAF systems we can register the Golden Pledge, which extends both labor and materials to 50 years and is transferable to the next owner. The warranty is in writing, in plain English, and we honor it.

Question 21

Is the warranty transferable when I sell the house?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on every system we install. The GAF Golden Pledge transfers in full once. Standard system warranties transfer twice within the warranty period. We file the transfer paperwork on your behalf at no charge.

Question 22

What voids my roof warranty?

Accepted Answer

Adding a layer over the existing roof, walking on the field for satellite or HVAC work without protective mats, ignoring required attic ventilation, and skipping the manufacturer-spec install (wrong nail pattern, missing ice-and-water, etc.). When another contractor touches the roof, ask them to document their work in writing and send us a copy.

Question 23

What does the workmanship warranty cover?

Accepted Answer

Anything related to how we installed the roof: leaks at flashing, lifted shingles from missed nails, valley failures, ridge cap failures. If we did the work and it failed because of how we did it, we come back and fix it. No deductibles, no service charges, for ten years. After that the manufacturer warranty handles material defects.

Question 24

How long does a roof replacement take?

Accepted Answer

Most residential roofs are torn off and reinstalled in a single day. Larger homes (4,000+ sq ft) or complex roof lines take two days. We arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 am, finish before sunset, and leave the property cleaner than we found it. Magnetic nail sweep is run twice. We do not sleep crews on overnight jobs.

Question 25

Do I need to be home during the install?

Accepted Answer

No. Most homeowners are at work during the tear-off and install. We do ask that you walk the perimeter with our project manager that morning to confirm the staging plan and again that evening to confirm cleanup. Pets stay inside. Cars move out of the driveway by 6:30 am.

Question 26

Is the inspection really free, no obligation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We climb the roof, photograph the field, document any damage, and email you a written report within 24 hours. There is no charge, no high-pressure sales call, and no obligation to use us for the work. We earn a lot of jobs from inspections that find nothing wrong because the homeowner remembers we said so.

Question 27

What if I get a quote from another contractor too?

Accepted Answer

Get three quotes. Read every one. Make sure each contractor is GAF-certified, carries general liability and workers' comp, and warranties their work in writing. We will hand you the questions to ask the other guys. We are the right choice when our quote, our process, and our warranty side-by-side make the most sense, not because we say so.

Question 28

What payment options do you offer?

Accepted Answer

We accept check, ACH, all major credit cards, and offer financing through Service Finance Company (SFC) for qualified homeowners with terms up to 240 months. The deductible is due before tear-off; the balance is due upon completion or upon depreciation release from the carrier on insurance jobs.

Answers to the questions homeowners ask most.

Pick a topic. We have probably answered it.

How do I know if my roof has storm damage?

How long after a storm should I file a claim?

What size hail damages a roof?

Should I tarp my roof after a storm?

Does my insurance cover storm damage?

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