Anyone who’s lived in Harris County for more than a summer knows what Texas weather can do to a roof. Between the hurricane scares, those sudden afternoon storms that dump inches of rain in minutes, and heat that makes your shingles feel like they’re cooking, maintaining a roof here isn’t exactly easy. Roofing Technologies Unlimited has been helping homeowners throughout this sprawling county for over five years now, and we’ve seen just about everything Mother Nature can throw at a roof.

The Reality of Harris County Weather

This county is huge; we’re talking about an area that stretches from the refineries along the ship channel all the way out to the horse properties near Waller County. That means weather doesn’t hit everywhere the same way. A storm might pound Spring while barely touching Missouri City. We’ve driven from a job in Humble where hail shredded a roof to another project in Sugar Land where the homeowner didn’t even know there was severe weather.

The flat terrain here creates its own headaches. After one of those typical Houston downpours, water sits on roofs longer than it should. Clay soil doesn’t help with drainage either. We can’t count how many times we’ve found standing water on a supposedly “flat” roof that’s actually supposed to have some slope to it.

Hurricane season? That’s when things get really interesting. Harvey showed everyone what prolonged rain can do, but people forget about the wind damage from storms like Beryl. We spent weeks after that storm replacing metal panels that had been peeled back like sardine cans.

What Actually Works in Harris County

Here’s what we’ve learned after hundreds of jobs across this county: metal roofing handles our weather better than anything else. During last year’s storms, we noticed a clear difference. Houses with quality metal systems came through with maybe some minor issues. Traditional shingle roofs? Not so much.

If you’re set on shingles, go with impact-resistant ones. Yeah, they cost more upfront, but your insurance company will usually give you a break on premiums. Plus, when the next hailstorm hits, and it will hit, you’ll be glad you spent the extra money.

Commercial buildings are a whole different story. Those big flat roofs on warehouses near Beltway 8 take a beating from standing water. The newer office buildings in the Energy Corridor usually have better drainage systems, but even those need proper maintenance to handle what Houston throws at them.

Learning Harris County the Hard Way

We’ve worked everywhere from the fancy neighborhoods in River Oaks to new developments way out in Cypress. Each area has its quirks. Those gorgeous old trees in places like West University? Beautiful to look at, but they drop branches on roofs during storms. The newer subdivisions might have better drainage overall, but sometimes builders cut corners on roof installations.

Dealing with Harris County permits used to be a nightmare, but the e-Permits system actually works pretty well now. Still, you need to know what paperwork the inspectors want to see. We’ve built relationships with building departments from Pasadena to Tomball, which speeds up the whole process.

Storm response is probably half our business during certain times of year. When severe weather rolls through, every roofer in Houston gets swamped with calls. That’s why we always tell customers to get on a preferred vendor list before storm season hits. Waiting until after the damage happens means you’re competing with everyone else for contractors.

Staying Ahead of Problems

The thing about Harris County is that your roof is always under attack from something. Summer heat cooks shingles. Fall storms drop branches. Winter brings those weird temperature swings that make materials expand and contract. Spring means hail season.

Smart homeowners here check their roofs after every major storm. Even small hail dents that don’t look like much can turn into leaks down the road. Insurance adjusters in this area know what storm damage looks like, so having a qualified contractor document everything makes claims go smoother.

Gutters are crucial here too. With the amount of rain we get, clogged gutters can cause water to back up under roofing materials. Those beautiful live oaks that make Harris County neighborhoods so nice? They’re constantly dropping leaves and small branches that end up in gutters.

Roofing Technologies Unlimited has seen this county change a lot over the past five years. More development, more extreme weather, more challenges. But that’s also meant learning better ways to protect homes and businesses from whatever comes next. Call to schedule your roof inspections at (832) 841-4170.

More about Harris County

Harris County covers over 1,700 square miles and houses more than 4.7 million people, making it the most populous county in Texas and third-largest in the nation. The county encompasses everything from downtown Houston’s urban core to rural areas near the county lines, creating an incredibly diverse mix of housing types and roofing challenges. Major employers include energy companies, the Texas Medical Center, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and the Port of Houston, which ranks among the busiest ports in the United States. The county’s rapid growth continues with new master-planned communities developing throughout areas like Cypress, Spring, and Katy, while historic neighborhoods closer to downtown undergo revitalization and renovation projects. Below is a map showing you directions to RTU from Harris County.