Key numbers
77 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Travis County, which includes Lakeway, 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 |
| 6 to 10 | CAPE Analytics found the highest hail loss ratios on homes with roofs just 6 to 10 years old, not the oldest roofs. Source: CAPE Analytics, 2021 |
| 52.1% | 52.1% of occupied housing units in Travis County were owner-occupied in 2020-2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 |
| 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.
In Lakeway, a roof replacement needs a city permit when it changes the roof’s design, material or slope; that is how the City of Lakeway’s code (Section 24.02.081) lists roofing among the work that requires a permit. So switching from shingles to metal, from tile to synthetic tile, or from wood shake to anything else is a permitted project, while a like-for-like replacement is a question to confirm with the city’s building department. Integrity Roofing and Painting serves Lakeway from our office at 13341 W US Hwy 290. The order of the permit, the HOA approval and the material order matters, and it is laid out below.
Lakeway projects and the permit question
| Project | Changes design, material or slope? | Permit under the code |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles replaced with asphalt shingles | Usually no | Confirm with the city |
| Shingles to standing seam or stone-coated metal | Material | Yes |
| Concrete or clay tile to synthetic tile | Material | Yes |
| Wood shake to synthetic cedar | Material | Yes |
| Adding a dormer, changing pitch, or a new roof section | Design or slope | Yes |
When the old roof is tile, slate-look or shake
On a custom home with a tile, slate-look or shake roof, the end of that roof’s life is often the moment to move to a lighter or lower-maintenance material: synthetic cedar in place of wood shake, synthetic tile in place of heavy concrete, or metal for a long-life roof. Each of those changes the material, so each needs a permit, and a heavier roof than the one coming off needs a look at the framing first.
The order that avoids delays
- Inspection and options. We inspect, photograph and price Good, Better and Best options.
- HOA approval. Submit the material and color to your architectural committee.
- City permit when the material, design or slope changes.
- Order and install once both approvals are in hand.
After a storm, a hail or wind claim adds a step; see storm damage repair. Comparing materials? Start with Austin residential roofing and popular roof colors in Austin.
Neighboring Bee Cave requires a permit for every roof replacement, and Dripping Springs permits work in its city limits and listed ETJ developments. See all Austin-area service areas.
Book a Lakeway inspection
We are veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, and have 650+ Google reviews. Call (512) 610-5897 or book a free roof inspection; we reply the same business day.
Sources: City of Lakeway Code of Ordinances, Section 24.02.081, Work requiring permit.
