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 |
| 50% | Roofs with less than four years of remaining life can see 50% more damage in severe weather than roofs with eight or more years left. Source: Insurance Journal (reporting Verisk), 2025 (report year) |
| 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 |
| About 20 | NAHB's 2007 study puts asphalt shingle roof life at about 20 years, fiber cement shingles about 25 years and wood shakes about 30 years. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
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.
You should replace your roof in Austin for one of six reasons, and Texas rules shape how you do it. Replace it when it is near the end of its life (for asphalt shingles, often around 20 to 25 years here), when hail or wind has damaged it, when leaks keep returning, when attic heat and ventilation problems are aging it early, when your insurer’s coverage on an older roof is changing, or when you want a better material before the next storm. If the roof is younger and damage is limited to a few shingles or a flashing, a repair is usually the better value.
Six reasons Austin homeowners replace a roof
1. Age. Most asphalt roofs in Central Texas are replaced somewhere around 20 to 25 years. Brittle, curling or bald shingles and granules piling at the downspouts say the surface is wearing out.
2. Hail and wind. Severe storms can bring hail and damaging wind to the Austin area. Hail bruises shingles and dents soft metals; wind lifts and tears tabs. Get an inspection after any storm, then decide whether to file. Our guide to steps after a storm damages an Austin roof walks through it.
3. Leaks that keep coming back. Ceiling stains, damp attic insulation or mold after rain mean water is getting in. One flashing leak is a repair; leaks in several places on an old roof usually are not.
4. Heat and the attic. Long, hot summers bake shingles from above and an unvented attic bakes them from below. If your upstairs is hard to cool and the shingles are blistering, a reroof with balanced intake and exhaust ventilation fixes both.
5. Insurance coverage on an older roof. TDI notes that as roofs age, some insurers switch roof coverage to actual cash value, which pays less after a claim. If your renewal shows that change, replacing on your schedule can restore better coverage.
6. An upgrade. TDI suggests considering materials less likely to be damaged by wind, hail or fire, and says your insurer might give a discount for them. Impact-resistant shingles and metal are the common choices; see metal roofing in Austin.
Texas rules that change the math
| Rule | What it means for you | Source |
|---|---|---|
| No deductible waivers | A contractor cannot waive, rebate or absorb your deductible | TDI |
| Deductible notice | Contracts of $1,000 or more involving insurance must carry it | TDI |
| No contractor public adjusting | The roofer doing the work cannot act as your public adjuster | TDI |
| City of Austin permit exemption | Like-for-like shingle replacement is exempt, except in the Wildland-Urban Interface area at 50 percent or more | City of Austin |
| Decking | More than 128 square feet of decking needs a permit | City of Austin |
Outside city limits, Travis County and nearby cities such as Round Rock, Georgetown and Pflugerville have their own rules; ask your roofer which apply to your address.
Plan the replacement
For Austin prices, see roof replacement cost in Austin, and for every line that goes into a price, how much a roof costs. Comparing materials? Read switching roof materials on a replacement and how long a roof should last. The job itself is covered on roof replacement in Austin.
For costs, storms and permits in Central Texas, see our Austin roofing guides; for what happens once you decide, see our roof replacement guides.
Talk to our Austin office
Integrity Roofing and Painting’s Austin office is at 13341 W US Hwy 290, Building 2, Suite 246. We are veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call (512) 610-5897 or book a free Austin roof inspection; we answer the same business day. Financing is available.
Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, Replacing your roof (updated 4/1/2026) and Roofing and insurance: know the law; City of Austin, Work Exempt from Building Permits.
