The difference between a roof that reaches its full service life and one that fails five years early is almost never the shingle brand. It’s drainage, ventilation and whether small problems got caught early.

The year at a glance

Spring: before and during hail season

Central Texas hail is heaviest in spring. Go into it with the roof in good shape and your documentation ready.

• Clear gutters and downspouts, and confirm water discharges away from the foundation
• Trim branches back from the roof; about six feet of clearance is a reasonable target
• Photograph each roof slope from the ground while it’s undamaged. A dated “before” set is invaluable if you ever file a claim
• Check the attic for stains or daylight after the first heavy rains
• Book a professional inspection if the roof is more than about ten years old

Summer: heat management

Sustained heat is as hard on a Texas roof as any storm, and attic ventilation decides how hard.

• Make sure soffit and ridge vents aren’t blocked. Blown-in insulation often covers soffit intakes
• Notice how the attic feels. One that’s dramatically hotter than outdoors points to poor ventilation, which bakes shingles from below
• Look for curling or blistering shingles, both signs of heat stress
• Check pipe boots, the rubber collars around plumbing vents, with binoculars from the ground

Fall: drainage prep

• Clean gutters again after leaf drop
• Look for debris piled in valleys, which carry more water than any other part of the roof
• Have worn or lifted flashing resealed or replaced
• Confirm the attic is dry going into the wetter months

Winter: freeze readiness

Hard freezes are rare in Central Texas, but the February 2021 storm showed how much damage one can do.

• Keep gutters and downspouts clear so meltwater drains instead of backing up
• Check that attic insulation is adequate and evenly spread
• Keep attic ventilation open. Moisture trapped in a cold attic condenses and can look exactly like a roof leak
• Fix any known leak before a freeze, because water plus freezing speeds up the damage

After every significant storm

• Walk the property and look for shingle pieces or piles of granules in the yard and at downspout outlets
• Check gutters, roof vents and the A/C condenser for fresh hail dents
• Check the attic within a day or two, while new stains are still easy to trace
• Photograph anything you find, with the date

Our storm damage guide covers the first 48 hours after a storm, and Pflugerville storm damage roofing has the latest local storm update.

Metal and tile roofs need different care

Metal

• On exposed-fastener metal, the rubber washers under each screw age faster than the panels. Have the fasteners checked every few years and after big temperature swings.
• Look for sealant that has pulled away at trim, ridge caps and around penetrations.
• Keep leaves and branches off the panels. Wet debris holds moisture against the finish.
• Don’t walk on metal panels; foot traffic dents them and can damage the seams.

More on metal systems in metal roofing in Pflugerville.

Tile

• Never walk on tile. It cracks under foot traffic, and one careless visit can break dozens of tiles.
• From the ground, look for cracked, slipped or missing tiles, especially after storms.
• Keep valleys and gutters clear. Tile roofs collect debris that dams water against the underlayment.
• Remember that the underlayment, not the tile, is usually what fails. On an older tile roof, ask an inspector about its age.

Keep a maintenance record

Keep a simple log of what was checked, cleaned or repaired, and when, along with your photos and receipts. Many manufacturer warranties exclude damage from neglected maintenance, and a dated record is the easiest way to show the roof was looked after. It’s also what an insurer, a warranty claim or a home buyer’s inspector will ask for. Our warranty information explains what typically voids coverage.

What’s worth paying a professional for

An annual inspection on an older roof, flashing and pipe boot replacement, ventilation correction, and any repair that means walking the roof. Everything else on this list is homeowner-level work done from the ground.

See the roof inspection checklist for what a professional assessment covers, or the roof leak guide if you’ve already found water. For a scheduled maintenance visit, see roof maintenance in Pflugerville, TX. Unfamiliar term on a report? The roofing glossary explains it.

Roof maintenance questions