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 |
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.
Austin homeowners should choose a local roofing company because a local roofer already knows the City of Austin’s permit and wildfire rules, can be reached after a storm when out-of-town crews have moved on, and has a reputation in town to protect. Local is a starting point, not a guarantee: check any roofer against the Texas rules below before you sign.
What local actually gets you
- City rules from day one. Inside City of Austin limits, a like-for-like shingle reroof is usually exempt from a building permit, but not in the Wildland-Urban Interface when 50 percent or more of the roof is replaced, and not when more than 128 square feet of decking is replaced. WUI homes also need a Class A roof covering. A local roofer checks your address before quoting. More in how to choose the best roof for your Austin home.
- Someone to call later. Warranty and leak calls come months or years after the job. A local office and crew can come back.
- Accountability. You can drive to the office, and the company’s name is on roofs your neighbors see every day.
- Climate experience. Austin roofs deal with long summers, hail and microbursts. A roofer who works here every season knows how roofs fail here.
The Texas rules that protect you
From the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI):
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| No deductible deals | It is illegal for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate or absorb your deductible |
| $1,000 notice | Contracts of $1,000 or more involving an insurance settlement must say you pay the deductible |
| No public adjusting | A roofer cannot act as your public adjuster or promise to negotiate or file your claim |
| Reporting | Violations go to the Texas Attorney General, 800-621-0508 |
Texas also has no state roofing license. The bill analysis for HB 3344, a 2025 proposal to license reroofing contractors, notes that the state does not require one, and the bill never reached a House floor vote. That makes city registration, proof of insurance and written bids the checks that count.
A checklist for any Austin roofer
TDI’s advice after hail and windstorms, plus a few local checks:
- Get more than one bid or estimate.
- Check references and phone numbers.
- Look up complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
- Visit or call the office; confirm it is in the Austin area.
- Never sign a contract with blank spaces.
- Do not pay in full up front, and do not make the final payment until the work is done.
- Ask whether your home is in the WUI and whether a permit is needed.
After a storm, put these in order with 5 steps after a storm damages your Austin roof, and see Austin storm damage repair. To judge a manufacturer badge on a bid, read what a shingle master credential proves.
Your local Austin roofer
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Our Austin office is at 13341 W US Hwy 290, Building 2, Suite 246, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (512) 610-5897 or book a free Austin roof inspection; we reach out the same business day. See all Austin roofing services.
Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, Roofing and insurance: know the law and Hail damage to your home or car?; City of Austin, Work Exempt from Building Permits and Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
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