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.
On the Austin homes we roof, the most popular colors are charcoal and mid-gray, weathered wood (a gray-brown blend), and black, with browns and the occasional blue-gray close behind; metal roofs add terracotta and lighter tones. The best color for your home balances three things: how it looks with your brick, stone or siding, what your HOA allows, and heat. In a city where the normal July high is close to 97 degrees, a lighter or cool-color shingle keeps the attic cooler, and the Department of Energy says a cool-color roof can cut cooling costs by at least 5 to 20 percent.
The colors Austin homeowners pick
| Color family | Why people choose it | Heat in the Texas sun |
|---|---|---|
| Charcoal and mid-gray | Works with almost any exterior; hides dirt and streaks | Mid; lighter grays run cooler |
| Weathered wood | Gray and brown blend; looks natural against Hill Country stone and trees | Mid |
| Brown (tan to chocolate) | Warm, pairs with limestone and brick | Lighter tans run cooler; dark browns run hot |
| Black | Crisp contrast on white and light homes; modern look | Hottest |
| Terracotta or red (often metal) | Spanish and Mediterranean styles, stucco homes | Varies by finish |
| Blue-gray | A distinctive choice with white or gray siding | Mid |
How color affects heat in Austin
The National Weather Service’s 1991 to 2020 normal July high at Austin Camp Mabry is 96.6 degrees. The Department of Energy explains that dark roofing absorbs sunlight and passes heat into the home, raising the need for air conditioning, while a white or cool-color roof can reflect up to 90 percent of the sunlight that hits it. Its other points matter for a shingle roof:
- Cool-color shingles do not look different from traditional ones; they include more reflective granules.
- They cost about the same as conventional asphalt shingles, according to the Department of Energy.
- Reflectivity fades with age, so judge savings on long-term ratings, not the brand-new number. Our Austin cool roof guide shows how to read a CRRC rating and what the city’s energy code says.
- Winter heating penalty. A cool roof can raise winter heating a little, but the Department of Energy says that even in mixed climates the winter penalty can be smaller than the summer savings.
Color is one lever. Attic ventilation, insulation and sealed ductwork usually matter more to your bill, and we look at all of them on an inspection.
Rules that limit your choices
- HOA approval. Many neighborhoods require it for color changes. Submit the manufacturer’s color name and a sample. Texas law limits what an HOA can ban; see HOA roof rules in Texas.
- Wildland-urban interface. Inside Austin’s WUI zones, the city requires a Class A roof assembly, and replacing 50 percent or more of a roof requires a full replacement. Owens Corning lists its shingles with a Class A fire rating, so this limits materials more than color.
- Permits. Inside city limits, replacing asphalt shingles with asphalt shingles is permit-exempt unless the home is in the WUI and half or more of the roof is replaced. Changing materials can change that answer.
How to choose in four steps
- Start from what will not change: brick, stone, stucco and trim colors.
- Narrow to two or three shades and look at real roofs in your neighborhood at different times of day. Photos below are Austin roofs we have worked on.
- Check the heat question: if upstairs rooms are hard to cool, lean lighter or pick a cool-color line.
- Pick the performance tier, then the color. See the Owens Corning shingles we install, the difference between 3-tab and architectural shingles, and whether a Class 4 impact-resistant shingle is worth it for Texas hail.
Get color samples on your Austin roof
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. We bring color samples and show Good, Better and Best options with upfront pricing. Call (512) 610-5897, book a free Austin roof inspection, or see Austin asphalt shingle roofing and Austin metal roofing.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Consumer Guide to Cool Roofs; National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio, Austin Camp Mabry monthly climate report (1991 to 2020 normals); City of Austin, Wildland-Urban Interface Code and Work Exempt from Building Permits.
Photos From Our Projects
