Hiring Guide · Roofing · Gulf Coast

10 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Roofing Contract in the Gulf Coast

By GivvBack · Published Feb 26, 2026 · 9 min read

The Gulf Coast is home to some of the toughest roofing conditions in North America. Between hurricane-force winds, hail the size of golf balls, near-constant humidity, and UV that punishes asphalt shingles year-round, Houston-area roofs work overtime. Choosing the right roofer isn't just about price — it's about whether your biggest home investment survives the next storm and whether your homeowner-insurance claims get honored.

Every storm season, the Texas Attorney General warns about the same pattern: out-of-town crews pull into affected neighborhoods, knock doors, sign contracts before homeowners have processed their damage, collect insurance-check endorsements, and disappear before the work is complete. Local, referral-vetted roofers rarely operate this way — but even the good ones will only put in writing what you specifically ask for.

Here are the ten questions every Gulf Coast homeowner should ask, in the order they should ask them, before signing any roofing contract.

1. "Can I see your Texas business filing and proof of insurance?"

Roofers don't need a state license in Texas (a gap the legislature has been trying to close for years) but they do need to be a registered business with active general liability insurance and workers' comp. Ask for the certificate of insurance (COI) directly from the insurance carrier — not a scan the contractor emails you. A dishonest roofer will happily photoshop a lapsed COI.

Also verify their business filing on the Texas Comptroller's site. A brand-new LLC formed the week after a hurricane is a serious red flag.

2. "What's your local Houston-area address?"

Not a PO box. Not a virtual office. Not a Google Voice number. A real physical address you can drive to during business hours. This single check eliminates the vast majority of storm-chasing scams — because storm chasers won't maintain a rented office in your market.

3. "Are you a manufacturer-certified installer?"

Owens Corning Platinum, GAF Master Elite, and CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster are the three big certifications in asphalt shingles. Fewer than 3-5% of roofers in any market carry them because manufacturers vet financials, insurance, workmanship, and customer complaints before issuing certification. A certified installer can also offer extended workmanship warranties backed by the manufacturer — crucial if the installer's business closes before your warranty period expires.

4. "What's your written warranty — materials AND workmanship?"

You should get two warranty documents in writing:

• Materials warranty — usually 30-50 years, from the shingle manufacturer
• Workmanship warranty — usually 5-10 years, from the installer (or extended via manufacturer certification)

Ask what specifically voids each warranty. Some manufacturer warranties are void if you install solar without notifying them; others require a specific ridge-vent product be used. Read before you sign.

5. "Will you pull the City of Houston (or your municipality) permit?"

The permit fee is small ($80-$200 in most Houston-area cities). If a roofer offers to "skip the permit to save you money," recognize it for what it is: they're protecting themselves from inspection. Unpermitted work voids future insurance claims for roof damage and dramatically complicates home sales. Insist on the permit.

6. "What's in the scope — the exact materials by brand and product line?"

A serious scope-of-work lists every material by brand, product line, and quantity:

• Shingles: brand + line + color (e.g. Owens Corning Duration Storm impact-resistant, Onyx Black, 42 squares)
• Underlayment: synthetic vs. felt, brand, weight
• Ice & water shield: brand, coverage areas (valleys, eaves, penetrations)
• Ridge vent: brand, linear footage
• Drip edge: material (aluminum vs. galvanized), color
• Nails: coil vs. hand-nailed, ring-shank vs. smooth, corrosion resistance
• Decking: replacement rate assumed (typically 10-15% for older Gulf Coast homes)

Vague scopes like "30-year architectural shingles" are a bait-and-switch waiting to happen.

7. "What's your payment schedule?"

A trustworthy Gulf Coast roofer will accept a payment schedule tied to milestones, not calendar dates:

• 10% deposit at contract signing (0% is even better — many established roofers charge nothing until material delivery)
• 40% at material delivery to job site
• 40% at tear-off / dry-in complete
• 10% at final walkthrough and permit close-out

Never hand over the full insurance-check endorsement upfront. Never pay in cash. Every draw should be documented, ideally through a platform like Stripe that creates an audit trail.

8. "Can I see three references from within 5 miles?"

You want photos, addresses, and phone numbers of three completed jobs within a 5-mile radius, completed in the last 12 months. Then drive by and call. The two questions to ask each reference:

"Did they finish on time, on budget, and clean up completely — and would you hire them again after storm season?"

9. "What's your process if I need to file an insurance claim?"

A legitimate Gulf Coast roofer works alongside your insurance adjuster — they do not work for the insurance company (that would be a public adjuster, which is a separate Texas-licensed profession). They should:

• Meet the adjuster on site so damage isn't missed
• Provide photos, moisture readings, and impact-damage documentation
• Never sign an "Assignment of Benefits" that transfers your claim rights to them (Texas has been cracking down on AOB abuse)
• Never offer to "waive" or "absorb" your deductible — this is a criminal offense under Texas Insurance Code §707

10. "Can I have 72 hours to review the contract with my family or attorney?"

Any reputable roofer will say yes without hesitation. Under Texas law, you have a three-day right to cancel any door-to-door contract signed at your home — but the best protection is not signing in the first place until you've read every line. High-pressure "today only" storm-season discounts are the single most common scam tactic on the Gulf Coast.

If a roofer is unwilling to leave the paperwork with you for a couple of days, that's all the information you need. Move on.

Bonus: The three papers you should keep forever

When the job's done, make sure you have physical or digital copies of:

1. The signed contract and any change orders. Every scope change should be written and initialed by both parties.
2. The closed City permit. This proves the roof passed inspection — critical for insurance and resale.
3. The manufacturer's warranty registration certificate. Some warranties require you to register within 30-60 days of installation. Don't skip this step.

Common Roofing Scams on the Gulf Coast

• Deductible waivers. Illegal. Walk away.
• Assignment of Benefits (AOB) requests. Never sign one. Ever.
• "Free inspection" door-knockers. Their goal is to convince you of damage that isn't there so they can bill your insurance.
• Materials-only scams. They deliver the pallets, take the deposit, and never come back to install.
• Post-dated insurance-check schemes. Never endorse a check to a roofer before the work is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to hire someone you can trust?

The Gulf Coast has plenty of great roofers — the trick is finding them before you're under a tarp. Ask your neighbors, verify insurance, insist on written scopes, and never sign under pressure.

Written by the GivvBack team

We're neighbors building a better way to hire local tradespeople. Every story we publish is written to help homeowners avoid the expensive mistakes we hear about every week. Join the community →

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