Key numbers
77 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Travis County, which includes Austin, from 1984 to 2025 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 5 inches (softball size) on May 20, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 1984 to 2025 | 1980s: 8, 1990s: 16, 2000s: 24, 2010s: 13, 2020s: 16 Source: NOAA NCEI |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 5 in. (softball), May 20, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $160 million insured losses (2006 dollars), April 20, 2006 Source: Insurance Journal |
| 15 | In hail-prone states the average roof lifespan is 15 years, versus 22 years in drier western states such as Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Source: Insurance Journal (reporting Verisk), 2025 (report year) |
| 45.44 million | Siding (aluminum, fiber cement, vinyl or steel) was the main exterior wall material on 45.44 million U.S. homes in 2020, more than any other material. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020 |
| 24% | In 2023, improvement spending on U.S. homes built before 1980 was 24% higher than on homes built since 2010, and maintenance spending was 76% higher. Source: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 2023 |
A storm counts when NOAA lists a report in Travis County. Each hail size is the storm's largest report in the seven Austin-area counties, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
Integrity Roofing and Painting replaces siding on existing homes in Austin and nearby Hill Country towns, and James Hardie fiber cement is the siding we mainly install. For Central Texas, that means James Hardie’s HZ10 line, which the company engineers for the humid heat of the South. A replacement starts with tear-off to the sheathing, repair of any rot behind it, a continuous water-resistive barrier and flashing at every window, door and roof-to-wall joint, then new trim and siding. We only replace siding on existing homes; we do not install it on new construction.
Why Austin siding wears out
- Moisture and heat together. Long humid summers and heavy downpours keep wood and hardboard wet, then strong sun bakes them. Bottom courses and boards under windows go soft first.
- Hail. Spring storms crack vinyl, dent metal trim and chip or break boards on the storm-facing sides.
- Paint that will not stay on old wood and hardboard, because the board underneath keeps moving with moisture.
- Gaps at the roof line where a missing kickout flashing sends roof water down the face of the wall.
If you see staining inside, the cause may be a window or roof flashing rather than the siding itself; water behind siding explains how to trace it.
Matching the siding to Central Texas
James Hardie builds its fiber cement for two climate groups. Its HZ10 line targets hurricane-force winds, salty coastal air and humid southern heat, and the company says the boards resist cracking, splitting, rotting and swelling through hot, stormy seasons. The siding carries James Hardie’s 30-year limited, transferable, non-prorated product warranty. That warranty is the manufacturer’s; our workmanship terms are in your contract.
Installation details decide how long it lasts: correct clearance to the ground, roofs and flatwork, sealed cut ends, and flashing that sends water out instead of behind the boards. The Austin hail damage page covers what to check after a storm.
Austin’s wildland-urban interface code
The City of Austin has a wildland-urban interface (WUI) code. The 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, with local amendments, took effect July 10, 2025 and applies to development that starts on or after that date. The city sorts parcels by proximity zone:
| Zone | Distance to wildland | Exterior walls |
|---|---|---|
| A | 50 feet or closer | Ignition-resistant or other approved exterior facing |
| B | Over 50 feet, up to 150 feet | Ignition-resistant or other approved exterior facing |
| C | Over 150 feet, within the set limit | Not on the city’s wall list |
The city’s page says existing buildings do not have to be brought up to the code unless an official finds a serious hazard, but work on a structure in the WUI, including alterations and repairs, must comply. Ask the city about your specific project, and look your parcel up on the Interactive WUI Code Map. Fiber cement is a common choice for owners who want a noncombustible wall regardless of zone. Austin’s code also covers vents (1/8-inch ember-resistant mesh in all zones) and Zone A windows, which must be tempered, dual-pane, glass block or 20-minute rated.
Code basics for any re-side
The International Residential Code requires walls that shed and drain water, a water-resistive barrier behind the siding and corrosion-resistant flashing at openings and roof intersections. Fiber cement must meet ASTM C1186 and vinyl ASTM D3679. Austin permit rules for roofs and exterior work are summarized on our Austin roof permit page and Austin building code data.
Roof, gutters and siding on one plan
Roofing, siding and gutters meet at the same joints, so we schedule them together: roof flashing first, siding over it, gutters last. See Austin roof replacement, Austin gutters and Austin window replacement, since window flashing laps into the same wall barrier.
Get an Austin siding estimate
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred roofing contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Our Austin office is at 13341 W US Hwy 290, Building 2, Suite 246. Call (512) 610-5897 or book a free inspection, and we respond the same business day. Ask about financing.
Sources: City of Austin, Wildland-Urban Interface Code; James Hardie, HardieZone system and warranty; International Residential Code, Chapter 7 Wall Covering (UpCodes).
