How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Austin TX (2026 Guide)
Austin gets hit by hail multiple times per year. Every time a major storm rolls through Travis or Williamson County, out-of-state contractors flood the area within days. Some are legitimate. Many are not. Choosing the wrong contractor in Austin costs homeowners thousands of dollars in failed repairs, voided warranties and jobs that never get finished. This guide tells you exactly what to look for and what to walk away from before you sign anything.
The short version: hire a licensed, insured, locally rooted contractor who puts everything in writing and does not ask for full payment upfront. The rest of this post explains what that actually means in practice and how to verify it.
We are RoofsOnly.com, a family-owned roofing company based in Austin. We offer free roof inspections across the greater Austin area. Call us at (512) 746-7090 if you want a second opinion on a quote you have already received.
The First Thing to Check: Are They Actually Local?
Storm chasers are contractors who travel to areas hit by hail or wind, knock on doors, collect deposits and disappear before the work is done or before problems show up. This is not rare in Austin. It happens after every significant storm event.
A locally rooted contractor has a physical address in the Austin area, a crew that works here year-round and a reputation they have to protect in the community they live in. They are not going anywhere when your roof leaks six months after installation.
How to verify: search the company name plus “Austin TX” and look at how long they have had a Google Business profile. Check their BBB listing and see when it was established. Ask directly: where is your office, how long have you been operating in Austin, and can I see a list of local references? A storm chaser cannot answer those questions with specifics.
Insurance: What You Must Verify Before Anyone Steps on Your Roof
This is not optional. A roofing contractor working on your property without the right insurance exposes you to serious financial liability.
Two policies are required. First is general liability insurance, which covers damage to your property if something goes wrong during the job. Second is workers compensation insurance, which covers medical costs if a worker is injured on your property. Without workers comp, an injured worker can file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance.
Do not take a contractor’s word for it. Ask for certificates of insurance before the job starts. The certificate names your address as the job site. Call the insurance company listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active. This takes five minutes and is worth doing on every job.
RoofsOnly.com carries full general liability and workers compensation on every job. We provide certificates before work begins on every project.
Texas Does Not License Roofers. Here Is What That Means for You.
Texas has no state-issued roofing license. Any person can legally call themselves a roofing contractor in Texas without passing a test, completing training or holding any credential. This makes the Austin roofing market particularly easy to enter and particularly risky for homeowners who do not know what to look for.
What to look for instead of a license:
Manufacturer certifications — GAF Master Elite and Owens Corning Preferred Contractor status require training, insurance minimums and performance standards. These are earned and revoked. They are the closest thing to a quality credential in the Texas roofing industry.
BBB accreditation — the Better Business Bureau requires member businesses to meet standards for transparency and complaint resolution. A 5.0 BBB rating with a verified complaint history tells you more than a license would.
Google Guaranteed badge — this requires a background check and insurance verification by Google. It is not foolproof but it is a real vetting step.
Volume of verified reviews — 300-plus reviews across Google, BBB, Thumbtack and Trustpilot with consistent ratings is hard to fake and takes years to build.
RoofsOnly.com holds GAF Certified status, Owens Corning Preferred Contractor status, a 5.0 BBB rating and the Google Guaranteed badge. See our customer reviews and about us page for full credential details.
Red Flags to Walk Away From Immediately
They knocked on your door after a storm. Door-to-door solicitation after hail events is the primary operating model of storm chasers. Legitimate local contractors do not need to canvass neighborhoods to find work.
They ask for full payment upfront. A reasonable deposit is 10 to 30 percent of the job. Full payment before work starts is a warning sign. Some storm chasers collect full deposits and never return.
They pressure you to sign the same day. A legitimate contractor gives you time to review a written quote. Pressure tactics exist to stop you from getting a second opinion.
The quote has no material specifications. Any quote that says “architectural shingles” without naming a brand and product line leaves the door open to using inferior material. Get the brand, the product name and the color in writing.
They offer to waive your deductible. In Texas, waiving an insurance deductible is insurance fraud. Any contractor who offers this is asking you to participate in a crime. Walk away.
They have no physical Austin-area address. A PO box or out-of-state address on a contract is a serious warning sign. You need to be able to find them after the job is done.
No written warranty on workmanship. A manufacturer warranty covers the shingle product. A workmanship warranty covers the installation. You need both. If a contractor only offers the manufacturer warranty, they are not standing behind their own work.
Green Flags: What a Legitimate Austin Roofer Looks Like
They provide a written estimate with every line item spelled out. Material brand, underlayment type, drip edge spec, pipe boot policy, decking rate and cleanup are all listed.
They provide certificates of insurance before starting. No pushback, no delays. The certificates are ready.
They have a local office and a crew that works in Austin year-round. They know the permit requirements for Cedar Park, Round Rock and the City of Austin because they pull permits here regularly.
They document the job with photos. Every slope, every penetration, every piece of damaged decking is photographed before and after. You receive a project link, not just a finished roof and an invoice.
They explain your insurance options before the adjuster arrives. A contractor who helps you understand your policy and what to expect from the adjuster is working for you, not just for the job.
They have manufacturer certifications. GAF Master Elite and Owens Corning Preferred status are specific credentials that require ongoing standards compliance.
Questions to Ask Every Contractor Before You Hire
Ask these questions and pay attention to how the contractor responds, not just what they say.
How long have you been operating in Austin? You want a specific year, not “many years.”
Can I see your certificate of insurance? It should be provided without hesitation.
What shingle brand and product will you install? They should name it immediately.
Who is your crew? Are they your employees or subcontractors? Subcontracted crews are harder to hold accountable for workmanship issues.
What is your workmanship warranty? Get the term length and what it covers in writing.
Can I see photos from a recent job similar to mine? A contractor with nothing to show you has something to hide.
What happens if you find damaged decking during tear-off? The answer should include a specific per-sheet rate and a photo documentation process.
What does your cleanup process look like? Magnetic sweeps for nails, haul-off of all debris and a final walkthrough should all be standard.
How to Compare Two Roofing Quotes in Austin
Do not compare bottom-line numbers. Compare what is included in each quote line by line. Two quotes can look identical in price and deliver completely different work.
Build a simple comparison across these items:
Shingle brand and product line — are they quoting the same product or different grades?
Underlayment — synthetic or felt? Synthetic is the current standard and more durable in Austin’s heat.
Ice and water shield — is it included at valleys and eaves? Some contractors skip this to lower the quote.
Drip edge — included or not? Missing drip edge is a code issue in many jurisdictions.
Pipe boot replacements — new boots or reusing old ones? Old rubber boots are a primary source of leaks on Austin roofs.
Decking policy — what is the per-sheet rate and how are discoveries documented?
Cleanup — does it include a magnetic sweep for roofing nails? A nail in a tire costs more than you want to deal with.
Workmanship warranty term — one year versus five years versus lifetime is a meaningful difference.
Once you have both quotes broken down by line item, the decision usually becomes clear. The cheapest quote almost always skips items on that list.
Why We Do Not Use Subcontractors
RoofsOnly.com uses only our own employees on every job. No subcontractors. This is not standard in the roofing industry and it is worth explaining why it matters to you.
When a company subcontracts your roof, the crew on your home works for a third party. They are not accountable to your contractor for quality. The contractor has limited visibility into how the job is actually being done. Workmanship warranties become harder to enforce because the people who did the work are gone.
Our crew works here year-round. Jake Mullin is involved in every project. When you call with a question after the job is done, the same people who installed your roof answer the phone.
“Every homeowner deserves to know exactly who is on their roof and who is responsible for the work. That is why we do not subcontract. If something is not right, you call me directly and we fix it. That is how this should work.”
— Jake Mullin, Owner, RoofsOnly.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a reputable roofing contractor in Austin TX?
Look for a contractor with a physical Austin-area office, GAF or Owens Corning manufacturer certification, a BBB accreditation with a 5.0 rating, verified Google reviews in the hundreds and certificates of general liability and workers compensation insurance. Avoid anyone who knocked on your door after a storm or offered to waive your deductible.
Does Texas require roofing contractors to be licensed?
No. Texas has no state roofing license requirement. Anyone can legally operate as a roofing contractor in Texas. This makes manufacturer certifications, insurance verification and verified reviews more important than they would be in a licensed state. A full post on Texas roofing licensing is available on our blog.
What should a roofing contract include in Texas?
A complete roofing contract in Texas should include the specific shingle brand and product, underlayment type, drip edge specification, pipe boot policy, decking replacement rate, cleanup scope, workmanship warranty term, payment schedule, start date and completion timeline. Any contract missing these items is incomplete.
Is it normal to pay a deposit for a roof replacement in Austin?
A deposit of 10 to 30 percent of the job total is standard and reasonable. Full payment before work begins is a red flag. Never pay more than 30 percent upfront to any contractor for any job.
Can a roofing contractor waive my insurance deductible in Texas?
No. Waiving an insurance deductible in Texas is insurance fraud under Texas Insurance Code Section 27.02. Any contractor who offers to waive your deductible is asking you to participate in a crime. This is also a common tactic used by storm chasers to win jobs from homeowners who do not know it is illegal.
How do I verify a roofing contractor’s insurance in Austin?
Ask for a certificate of insurance before any work begins. The certificate names your property address as the job site. Call the insurance company listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is current and active. Verify both general liability and workers compensation are listed. This takes five minutes and is mandatory on every job.
What is the difference between a manufacturer warranty and a workmanship warranty on a roof?
A manufacturer warranty covers defects in the shingle product itself and is issued by the shingle brand, such as GAF or Owens Corning. A workmanship warranty covers the quality of the installation and is issued by your contractor. You need both. A manufacturer warranty does not cover installation errors. A contractor who only offers a manufacturer warranty is not standing behind their own work.
Get a Free Second Opinion on Any Austin Roofing Quote
If you have a quote from another contractor and want a second opinion, call us. We inspect roofs across the greater Austin area at no cost and will walk you through our written estimate line by line. Call (512) 746-7090 or schedule your free inspection online.