01 / Components

Roof Components

The physical parts of a roof, from the bottom up.

Decking: The structural plywood, OSB, or plank boards that the roof is built on top of. Older Houston homes often have tongue-and-groove plank decking from the 1920s-50s; newer construction is plywood or OSB. Decking condition determines whether a re-roof can install over the existing structure or whether boards need replacement.
Underlayment: The waterproof barrier layer between decking and shingles. Two types: asphalt-saturated felt (older, lower-cost) and synthetic underlayment (modern, more durable, better moisture resistance). Synthetic is the modern Houston standard.See also: Ice and water shield
Ice and water shield: A peel-and-stick rubberized underlayment applied at vulnerable areas — valleys, eaves, around penetrations. Required by current Texas code at specific locations. Protects against wind-driven rain and (in northern climates) ice damming.
Drip edge: L-shaped metal flashing at the eaves and rake edges of the roof. Directs water into the gutter rather than allowing it to wick back under the shingles. Required by current Texas code on all new installations.
Starter strip: The first row of shingle material installed at the eaves. Has the adhesive strip on the bottom edge, opposite the field shingles. Anchors the bottom row against wind uplift.
Shingle: The visible roofing material. Most Houston homes have architectural (dimensional) asphalt shingles — multi-layered for depth and durability. Older 3-tab shingles are flatter and shorter-lived.See also: Architectural asphalt, 3-tab shingle
Ridge cap: Specialty shingles installed along the ridge (peak) of the roof. Different profile from field shingles, designed to seal the top of the roof against wind and water. Most exposed part of any roof — first to fail in storms.
Ridge: The horizontal line where two roof slopes meet at the peak. The ridge gets ridge cap shingles and often a ridge vent.See also: Ridge cap, Ridge vent
Hip: The angled line where two roof slopes meet on the outside corner of the roof. Hip roofs have hips on all four corners.
Valley: The angled line where two roof slopes meet on the inside (concave) corner. Water concentrates in valleys — most leak-prone roof feature after penetrations.See also: Valley flashing
Eave: The lower edge of a roof slope where it meets the gutter. The horizontal edge.See also: Drip edge
Rake: The edge of a roof slope at the gable end (sloped edge, not horizontal). Often gets drip edge or specific rake trim.
Gable: The triangular wall section at the end of a sloped roof. Houses with two roof slopes meeting at a peak have two gables.
Soffit: The horizontal underside of the roof overhang at the eaves. Often vented for attic intake air.See also: Soffit vent
Fascia: The vertical board running along the eaves at the end of the roof rafters. Gutters typically attach to the fascia. Aging fascia often needs replacement during a re-roof.
Flashing: Metal pieces installed at roof transitions, penetrations, and edges to direct water away from vulnerable areas. Most leaks happen at flashing failures.See also: Step flashing, Counter-flashing, Valley flashing
Step flashing: L-shaped metal pieces interleaved with shingles where a roof meets a wall. Each step flashes one course of shingles — ‘step’ refers to the staircase-like pattern.
Counter-flashing: Metal flashing installed on top of step flashing, typically tucked into a mortar joint or cap. Protects step flashing from above. Common on chimneys.
Valley flashing: Metal (W-shaped, V-shaped, or open metal) installed in valleys to channel water. Houston rain volume often overwhelms undersized valleys.
Pipe boot: Rubber-and-metal flashing that seals around plumbing vent pipes penetrating the roof. Rubber UV-degrades after 8-12 years in Houston sun. One of the most common Houston leak sources.
Penetration: Anywhere the roof is interrupted by a vent, pipe, chimney, skylight, etc. Each penetration requires specific flashing detail.
Vent (roof): Openings or fixtures that allow attic air to escape. Includes ridge vents (continuous along the ridge), box vents (mushroom-shaped), gable vents (in gable end walls), and powered attic fans.See also: Ridge vent, Soffit vent
Soffit vent: Openings in the soffit that allow outside air to enter the attic. The intake side of attic ventilation. Continuous strip vents are most effective; individual round/rectangular vents also common.See also: Net free area

02 / Materials

Materials

What roofs are made of, with Houston-specific notes.

Architectural asphalt: Multi-layered dimensional asphalt shingle — the Houston standard. 25-30 year warranty (18-25 year actual life in Houston conditions). $4-$7 per sq ft installed. Material comparison.
3-tab shingle: Older flat asphalt shingle with three visible tabs per piece. Largely replaced by architectural shingles. 18-22 year typical Houston life. Cheaper but shorter-lived.
Class 4 impact-rated: Highest UL 2218 impact rating, designed to withstand 2.5″ hail. Available in asphalt, metal, tile, and some other materials. Most Texas insurers offer 15-28% premium discounts. Class 4 details.
Concrete tile: Houston’s most common premium material. 40-60 year tile life; underlayment 25-30 years. $12-$18 per sq ft installed. Heavier than asphalt — needs structural verification on most homes. Tile roofing.See also: Clay tile
Clay tile: Premium Mediterranean / Spanish style. 75-100+ year tile life. $18-$32 per sq ft installed. Lighter than concrete tile, more brittle, longer-lived. Tile roofing.
Slate: Natural stone roofing. 100+ year life; the longest-lived residential material. $25-$50 per sq ft installed. Best hail performance. Heaviest material — engineering required. Slate roofing.
Standing seam metal: Vertical metal panels with raised seams and concealed fasteners. 40-70 year life. 140+ mph wind rating. $11-$18 per sq ft installed. Best material for hurricane wind survivability. Metal roofing.
Stone-coated steel: Steel panels with bonded stone granules — looks like tile, shake, or slate but performs like metal. $9-$14 per sq ft installed. Strong middle-ground choice. Metal roofing.
TPO(Thermoplastic polyolefin): White-reflective single-ply membrane for flat/low-slope roofs. Heat-welded seams. 20-30 year life. $8-$13 per sq ft installed. Modern Houston standard for flat sections and small commercial. Flat roofing.See also: EPDM, Modified bitumen
EPDM(Ethylene propylene diene monomer): Black rubber single-ply membrane. 30-40 year life with maintenance. Lower cost than TPO but absorbs heat. Older flat-roof standard. Flat roofing.
Modified bitumen: Asphalt-based multi-ply membrane applied with torches or cold-process. Traditional flat roof material. 20-30 year life. Flat roofing.
Built-up roofing(BUR): Layered tar-and-gravel flat roof. Older commercial standard, largely replaced by TPO and EPDM. We don’t install new BUR but can match it for restoration work.
Cedar shake: Wooden shingles, often original on early-1900s Houston homes. Largely replaced by asphalt over the years. Some Heights historic district homes still have original cedar under multiple asphalt layers. Material guide.

03 / Storm & Damage

Storm Damage

Terms used to describe storm-related roof damage and the patterns we look for.

Hail damage: Impact damage to a roof from hailstones. Includes circular impact patterns with displaced granules, mat fractures, and (on metal) denting. Inspection checklist.
Mat fracture: Cracking of the fiberglass mat layer beneath the shingle surface. Caused by hail impact. Often invisible from the ground — a roofer needs to inspect to verify. Functional damage that reduces shingle life.
Granule loss: When the protective stone granules are knocked or eroded off the shingle surface. Hail-caused granule loss has circular impact patterns; aging-related loss is uniform. Distinguishing the two is the heart of most insurance disputes.See also: Hail damage, Cosmetic vs functional damage
Wind damage: Damage from wind events. Includes lifted/missing shingles, damaged ridge caps, torn flashing, and broken accessories.See also: Wind uplift
Wind uplift: The force of wind that lifts shingles off the roof. Most Houston roofs are rated to 110-130 mph wind uplift; Beryl 2024 revealed many under-installed roofs.
Cosmetic vs functional damage: Insurance distinction. Cosmetic damage doesn’t affect roof function (e.g., light marks). Functional damage compromises waterproofing or accelerates aging. Adjusters often classify functional damage as cosmetic — a major source of claim disputes.
Tree-strike damage: Damage from falling tree limbs or branches. Common in Memorial, Heights, Kingwood (heavily wooded). Different damage patterns than hail (linear scrape marks, punctures rather than circular impacts).
Storm chaser: Out-of-state contractor who travels between storm events doing storm-restoration work. Often unlicensed in Texas, hard to reach for warranty work. Red flags guide.

04 / Insurance

Insurance & Claims

The vocabulary of roof insurance claims.

ACV(Actual Cash Value): Insurance valuation method that pays the depreciated value of damaged property. Older roofs lose value to depreciation; ACV pays less than full replacement cost. Avoid if possible — RCV policies are better.See also: RCV
RCV(Replacement Cost Value): Insurance valuation method that pays the full cost to replace damaged property at current prices, no depreciation. Modern policies are typically RCV. Policy guide.See also: ACV, Recoverable depreciation
Recoverable depreciation: Depreciation amount withheld from initial payment under an RCV policy. Released to homeowner once work is completed. Standard practice — most Texas RCV claims pay ACV first, recoverable depreciation later.
Wind/hail deductible: Separate deductible specifically for wind and hail damage, often 1-5% of dwelling coverage. Often surprises Houston homeowners who only know about their standard deductible. Can be $5K-$25K out of pocket on storm claims.
Supplement: Request to add items to a claim scope after initial inspection. Most Texas roof claims need at least one supplement — adjusters routinely miss decking, ventilation, code-required items, accessories.
Scope of work: Detailed line-itemed list of what insurance will pay for. Compared against the contractor’s parallel scope to identify missed items. Claim guide.
Adjuster: Insurance company representative who inspects damage and determines claim payout. Independent adjusters work for the carrier; public adjusters work for the homeowner.
Public adjuster: Licensed professional who works on behalf of homeowners (not insurers) on insurance claims. Typical fee 10-15% of settlement. Worth hiring on complex/large/disputed claims; not needed for straightforward ones.
Assignment of benefits(AOB): Legal transfer of insurance claim rights to a contractor. Restricted in Texas for roofing claims. Storm chasers sometimes try to get homeowners to sign AOB language; legitimate contractors don’t need it.
Anti-concurrent causation: Policy language excluding losses where multiple covered/uncovered causes contributed. The basis of most “wind-vs-water” disputes after hurricanes. Read carefully.
Coverage A through F: Standard homeowner policy coverage breakdown. A: Dwelling, B: Other structures, C: Personal property, D: Loss of use, E: Personal liability, F: Medical payments. Policy guide.
Sublimit: Cap on specific items within a coverage section. Example: jewelry is part of Coverage C personal property but often capped at $1,000-$2,500 unless separately scheduled.

05 / Flood & Elevation

Houselifting & Flood

FEMA, NFIP, and houselifting terminology.

BFE(Base Flood Elevation): FEMA-mapped elevation (above sea level) at which the 1% annual flood is expected to crest. Habitable space should sit above BFE. Reported in feet above NAVD88. Flood zones.
SFHA(Special Flood Hazard Area): FEMA-designated high-risk flood zone (Zones A, AE, V, VE). Mortgage requires flood insurance in SFHAs. Zone breakdown.See also: BFE
RLP(Repetitive Loss Property): FEMA designation for properties with 2+ flood claims of $1,000+ in a 10-year period. Accelerates eligibility for elevation grants. Common in Meyerland, Bellaire, parts of the Bay Area.
SRL(Severe Repetitive Loss): FEMA designation for properties with 4+ claims of $5,000+ each, or 2+ claims totaling more than the home’s value. Higher priority than RLP, can qualify for 100% federal cost share under FMA.
FEMA HMA(Hazard Mitigation Assistance): FEMA grant program funding flood mitigation including elevation. Up to 75% federal cost share. Three sub-programs: HMGP, FMA, BRIC. Grant guide.See also: HMGP, FMA, BRIC
HMGP(Hazard Mitigation Grant Program): FEMA HMA program activated after federally-declared disasters. Houston has had multiple cycles after Harvey, Imelda, Beryl.
FMA(Flood Mitigation Assistance): Year-round FEMA HMA program for severely flood-prone properties insured through NFIP. SRL properties can receive 100% federal cost share.
BRIC(Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities): Newer FEMA HMA program (2020+) for proactive resilience projects. Less common for individual home elevation.
NFIP(National Flood Insurance Program): Federal flood insurance program. Required by mortgage in SFHAs. Premiums drop 60-80% post-elevation. Separate policy from homeowner’s insurance — homeowner policies don’t cover flood.
BCA(Benefit-Cost Analysis): FEMA evaluation of whether elevation grant is cost-effective. Future avoided damages over 30 years must exceed project cost. Repetitive Loss Properties almost always pass.
Pier-and-beam: Foundation type where the home sits on piers above grade with a crawl space below. Lifting pier-and-beam is the easiest type — the home is already off the ground.
Slab-on-grade: Foundation type where the home sits directly on a concrete slab poured at ground level. Most common Houston construction. Lifting requires cutting the home off the slab and building a new perimeter foundation. Houselifting.
Stem wall foundation: New foundation built underneath a home being lifted. Continuous concrete or block wall around the perimeter, anchored to a footing. Brings the home above BFE.

06 / Code & Certification

Code & Permits

Texas-specific roofing codes and certifications.

WPI-8: Texas Department of Insurance windstorm certification. Required in Galveston County on most structural work including roof replacements and elevations. Without WPI-8, homeowner’s insurance won’t cover wind damage.
RCAT(Roofing Contractors Association of Texas): Voluntary professional credential. Texas doesn’t require state licensing for roofers; RCAT credentials provide some baseline professional standard.
HAHC(Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission): Reviews exterior modifications to homes in Houston historic districts (including the Heights). Roof material, color, and profile all need approval before work begins on contributing structures. Heights roofing.
Class 4: UL 2218 impact rating system for roofing materials. Class 4 is the highest, withstands 2.5″ hail. Most Texas insurers offer 15-28% premium discounts on Class 4-rated roofs.
ASTM(American Society for Testing and Materials): Standards organization. ASTM standards are referenced in many roofing material specifications and code requirements.
Six-nail pattern: Installation method using 6 nails per shingle (vs 4 in low-wind zones). Required by manufacturer specifications for high-wind installations including Houston. Beryl analysis.
Hurricane straps: Metal connectors between roof framing and wall framing. Provide structural connection that resists wind uplift. Required by code on new construction in much of Houston.
Permit: Local jurisdiction approval required for roof replacements and structural work. Houston, Bellaire, Pearland, Galveston County, Montgomery County all have separate processes. Cost typically $200-$2,400 depending on jurisdiction and project scope.
Engineer-stamped plans: Structural plans signed and sealed by a Texas-licensed engineer. Required for elevation projects, tile/slate retrofits, and some structural work. $3K-$8K typical engineering fee.

07 / Ventilation

Ventilation

How attic ventilation actually works.

Net free area(NFA): The actual air-passage area of a vent product, accounting for screens and louvers. Different from the nominal vent dimensions. Code calculations use NFA, not nominal area.
1:300 ratio: Standard attic ventilation calculation: 1 sq ft of net free vent area per 300 sq ft of attic floor, balanced 50/50 between intake and exhaust. Ventilation guide.
Stack effect: The natural upward airflow caused by hot air rising and cool air being drawn in to replace it. The basis of passive attic ventilation. Stack effect requires balanced intake and exhaust to work.
Ridge vent: Continuous vent product running along the roof ridge. Most common modern exhaust vent. Allows hot air to escape at the highest point of the attic. Ventilation guide.
Box vent: Individual vent boxes (often called ‘mushroom vents’ for their shape) installed in the upper roof slope. Used when ridge vent isn’t practical. Lower capacity per unit.
Gable vent: Vent in the gable end wall. Older standard. Should not be mixed with ridge vents — short-circuits the airflow.
Powered attic vent: Electric or solar-powered attic fan. Moves significant air but requires electricity and has moving parts. Rarely needed if passive ventilation is balanced.
Solar attic fan: Attic fan powered by integrated solar panel. Popular but often oversold — passive ventilation usually does the job in Houston.

Houston roofing glossary.

Roof Components

Materials

Storm Damage

Insurance & Claims

Houselifting & Flood

Code & Permits

Ventilation

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Houston roofing glossary.

Roof Components

Materials

Storm Damage

Insurance & Claims

Houselifting & Flood

Code & Permits

Ventilation

Text us. We text back.

Get started.

Got it.

Your house.Our problem.

Your house.
Our problem.