Once a year for most Katy homes, ideally in late fall, with an extra visit after any hailstorm or hard wind. Roofs older than 15 years do better with two checks a year.
It’s mid-November, and hurricane season ends on the 30th. That makes the next two weeks a decent time to find out what summer did up there. Five months of heat, heavy rain and the odd wind event have been working on your shingles, and almost none of it shows from the driveway.
A Katy roofing calendar
Late spring, after hail season
Spring is peak hail season in Texas, running roughly March through June. A roof inspection in late May or early June catches bruised shingles while the storm dates are still fresh enough to hand to an insurer. Wait until next winter and good luck working out which storm did what.
Late fall, after hurricane season
A fall visit does a different job. It shows what summer heat and wet weather left behind: dried-out sealant around vent pipes, lifted shingle tabs, flashing that’s pulling loose. Fix those now, before a soggy January finds them for you.
If you can only book one
Pick late spring if hail is your main worry, and in Katy it usually is. Pick fall if the roof is old and you care more about leaks than claims. Either beats the plan most people actually follow, which is waiting for a stain.
Events that should trigger a visit
Buying or selling a house
A general home inspector looks at the roof for about as long as it takes to say so. If you’re buying, a separate roof inspection before closing can keep you from inheriting a five-figure problem. If you’re selling, a dated report with photos gives buyers one less thing to haggle over.
A new roof and its first year
Book a check about a year after installation. Nail placement and flashing problems tend to show after a full cycle of seasons, and your workmanship warranty is still easy to use. After that, go back to the normal schedule.
Insurance renewals and warranty dates
Some insurers ask about roof age and condition at renewal, and a documented report helps if they push back. Also look up when your warranty ends. A visit a few months before that date costs little and can save a lot.
Quick trigger list
- Buying or selling
- One year after a new install
- After hail or a major wind event
- A few months before a warranty expires
- After a tree limb lands on the roof
What to watch between visits
From the yard
Look for shingle pieces in the flower beds, sandy granules where the downspouts empty, dented gutters and any dip along the ridge line. Dark streaks are usually algae and look worse than they are. A dip is not.
From the attic
Take a flashlight up on a dry day. Stains on the wood deck, pinpoints of daylight, insulation that feels damp or flattened, a musty smell. Any one of those means water has found a way in. If you spot a leak, our roof leak repair page covers what to do next.
Metal and tile roofs
We haven’t landed on a clean answer here. Both materials last for decades, and a yearly roof inspection on a five-year-old metal roof may be more than it needs. On metal, the weak points are usually fasteners and sealant at penetrations rather than the panels. Tile is different. It cracks under foot traffic and from hail, so after a storm it’s worth a look no matter how young it is.
How to read a free estimate
Report versus estimate
People mix these up. The inspection report says what’s wrong. The estimate says what it costs to fix. A roof inspection free estimate package should hand you both as separate documents, and the report shouldn’t change depending on whether you hire the company that wrote it.
What a fair estimate shows
It names the material and brand, spells out whether you’re getting a repair or a full replacement, and says how bad decking gets handled. If decking is priced as “if needed,” ask for the per-sheet price now, not after the old roof is already off. It should also state cleanup, warranty terms and a timeline.
Don’t pick the lowest number. Pick the one that explains itself.
Red flags
Pressure to sign the same day. A bid far below every other. An offer to cover your deductible, which is illegal in Texas. Texas doesn’t license roofers at the state level, so ask for proof of insurance and local references instead. The Texas Department of Insurance publishes homeowner guidance on claims if you want to read the rules yourself.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Can I see every photo, including the good ones?
- How long is this estimate valid?
- What happens if the decking is rotted?
- Will your own crew be on my roof, or subcontractors?
Conclusion
Put one visit on the calendar now, for late May, so it doesn’t depend on you remembering after the next storm. If you’d rather start this week, call 346-733-8558 and ask for a roof inspection free estimate. At Blue Rhino that means photos and a written report first, pricing second, and you can read what a visit involves on our roof inspection page.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you get a roof inspection in Texas?
Once a year is the right baseline for most homes, with extra visits after hail or high winds. A roof over 15 years old is better served by two checks a year, one in spring and one in fall.
Is a free inspection really free?
The visit and the report cost nothing. You only pay if you hire the company for repairs or replacement. Ask upfront that the report is yours to keep either way.
Do I need an inspection if my roof is brand new?
One check at about the one-year mark is smart. Installation flaws tend to show after a full cycle of seasons, and your workmanship warranty is still fresh. After that, the normal schedule applies.
Will someone need to come inside my house?
Usually only to reach the attic, through a hatch or pull-down stairs. The inspector checks the underside of the roof deck and the insulation, which is where early leaks tend to show.
What if the inspector finds nothing wrong?
That’s a good result, and you still walk away with a dated baseline report. If a storm hits later, that report makes it much easier to show what changed.
