A real roof inspection means every slope walked, the attic checked, every finding photographed and dated, and a written report that belongs to you. Take it to your insurer, your buyer, your HOA or another roofer. This page explains what a legitimate inspection involves so you can judge any roofer’s, including the one we refer you to.
Austin Roofs is a referral service, not a roofing contractor. Your inspection and estimate come from our partner roofer, an independent contractor. Our partner roofer is checked against the standard on this page before we send a single request. How this works.
Most “free roof inspections” in Austin are sales calls. The inspector is paid on what they sell, and the report, if there is one, is a brochure. Our partner standard requires a written report with photos, delivered to you whether or not you buy anything.
What a real inspection involves
On the roof. Every slope that is safe to walk. Where it is not (very steep, wet, or fragile), a ladder at the eaves plus a drone or pole camera, and the report says which slopes were not walked. The inspector looks at:
- Shingle condition: granule loss, cracking, curling, blistering, sealant bond.
- Hail: 10-by-10-foot test squares on each slope, hits counted and chalked, photographed. Collateral hits on gutters, vents, AC fins and fence tops. See what hail damage looks like.
- Wind: creased, lifted or missing shingles, especially at ridges, hips and rakes.
- Flashing: step flashing at walls, chimney and skylight flashing, kick-outs, counter-flashing, rust and sealant condition.
- Penetrations: pipe boots, exhaust vents, satellite mounts, solar standoffs.
- Valleys: debris, exposed fasteners, rust on metal valleys.
- Ventilation: intake at soffits, exhaust at ridge or static vents, and whether the two are balanced.
- Decking: soft spots underfoot, sagging between rafters.
- Edges: drip edge present or missing, gutter attachment, fascia rot.
In the attic. Where there is access: daylight through the deck, water staining on rafters and decking, mold, wet or compressed insulation, disconnected bath fans, and the underside of the deck around penetrations.
Inside. Ceiling stains you point out, traced upward.
Around the house. Gutters and downspouts, siding below roof-to-wall transitions, and anything on the ground that fell off the roof.
What you should get
A written report, with:
- Dated photos of every finding, labeled by slope.
- Hail hit counts per test square, if hail is in question.
- A condition summary in plain language: what is urgent, what can wait, what is fine.
- A recommendation: no action, repair, or replacement, and why.
- A written estimate if you want one. The report does not depend on it.
The report is yours. It should not be held back until you sign something. You are free to take it to another roofer, an independent inspector, your insurance agent, or your real estate agent. We publish a list of independent inspectors who do not sell roofs, for anyone who wants a second opinion on the partner’s report or anyone else’s.
When to get one
- After hail or high wind. NWS logged 790 hail reports across Travis, Williamson and Hays counties from 2014 through 2026, most in April and May, with a second peak in September. Check the Austin Hail Map for your address, then get the roof looked at within a few weeks, while the storm date is fresh and the policy deadline is far off.
- Before filing an insurance claim. Know whether the damage clears your deductible before you put a claim on your record. See insurance claims.
- Before buying or selling. Home inspectors look at a roof from the ground or the eaves. A roofer walks it.
- At renewal, when the insurer asks. Insurers increasingly request roof condition information or use aerial imagery to decide on renewals. TDI notes they may act on roof condition, and since January 1, 2026, they must give a written reason for a nonrenewal (HB 2067).
- Before solar. Austin Energy’s own guidance says a roof should have at least ten years of life left before panels go on. An inspection answers that.
- Every few years after year ten. Austin heat and hail usually retire asphalt shingles at 12 to 18 years. [VERIFY] Knowing where yours is lets you plan the cost instead of meeting it in a storm.
What it costs
Inspections tied to an estimate request are free; the written report is yours either way. Using this site and the referral costs you nothing. The partner roofer pays us a referral fee on completed jobs. You never pay us, and the fee doesn’t change your price. Either way, the report is yours.
How it works
- Request an inspection by phone, text or the form. Tell us the reason: storm, leak, sale, renewal, or general. We pass it to our partner roofer.
- On site. Plan on 45 to 90 minutes depending on roof size and attic access. [VERIFY] You can watch from the ground, and the inspector should walk you through what they found before leaving.
- Report. Delivered by email with photos.
- Your call. Repair, replace, file a claim, get a second opinion, or do nothing. No obligation.
Independent inspectors
If your situation is a dispute, such as a denied claim, a real estate negotiation, or a disagreement between two roofers, you may want an inspector who does not sell roofs. Texas has no roofing license and no roof inspector license, but Texas Real Estate Commission-licensed home inspectors and some engineering firms perform roof-only inspections for a fee. [VERIFY] Our independent inspectors page lists the ones we have found in the Austin area. Sending you there costs us a referral, and we think that is the point.
FAQ
Is a 15 year old roof insurable in Texas?
Usually yes, but on terms. TDI reports that some insurers move older roofs to actual cash value at renewal and may decline a roof in poor condition. A current inspection report with photos showing the roof in sound shape is the best answer to an insurer’s roof questionnaire. On September 29, 2026, TDI proposed clarifying that insurers cannot decline or nonrenew based on roof age alone, only condition; that rule was a proposal at this writing. [VERIFY]
Should a 20 year old roof be replaced?
In Austin, a 20-year-old asphalt roof is past the typical 12-to-18-year local lifespan. [VERIFY] Most need replacement; some well-shaded, well-ventilated roofs have a few years left. An inspection tells you which. Either way, expect your insurer to be paying attention to it at renewal.
How many quotes should I get for a roof?
If you are paying cash, two or three written line-item scopes. If an insurance claim is paying, the insurer’s scope sets the price, and extra quotes mostly add sales pressure. In both cases, get the inspection report first and compare scopes against it, not totals against totals.
Does anyone do third-party roof inspections in Austin?
Yes. TREC-licensed home inspectors and some engineers inspect roofs without selling roofing. [VERIFY] A roofer’s inspection is useful because roofers know what fails and how, and a good one hands you the report to take anywhere. For a dispute, add an independent set of eyes; see our independent inspectors list.
What does hail damage look like on a roof?
Random, soft, dark bruises where granules were knocked off, with no pattern. Dents in gutters, vent caps and AC fins. On larger hail, cracked shingle mat. Blistering, nail pops and even wear along edges are not hail. A proper inspection chalks and photographs each hit so you and your adjuster can see the count.
Do insurance companies give a discount for Class 4 shingles?
Some do; Texas does not require it. TDI says each company decides whether to offer a discount and how much. If you install UL 2218 Class 4 shingles, the contractor completes TDI form PC068 and you submit it to your insurer. Ask your agent for the discount amount in writing before you choose the shingle.
Do you need a permit for a roof inspection in Austin?
No. Inspections are not permitted work. A like-for-like re-roof in Austin is also exempt from a permit unless the home is in the Wildland-Urban Interface zone and 50 percent or more of the roof is being replaced.
Get your roof looked at
Call or text (512) 000-0000, email hello@austinroofs.com, or schedule an inspection. Austin Roofs is a referral service, not a roofing contractor. Your inspection and estimate come from our partner roofer, an independent contractor. Check the Austin Hail Map first if a storm is the reason.