Preparing Your Roof for Hurricane Season in South Texas
South Texas homeowners face unique hurricane-season risks, including high winds, wind-driven rain, flying debris, and prolonged moisture. Preparing your roof for hurricane season in South Texas is more than surviving a direct hit; it’s about reducing preventable damage before storms arrive. Today, we dive into the ins and outs of hurricane season and what you can do to protect your roof should a storm strike.
When is Hurricane Season in Texas?
Texas hurricane season follows the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1st through November 30th. In a typical year, around 100 storms develop in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. Due to Texas’s geographical location, late summer and early fall are especially important months for Gulf Coast storm awareness.
Of course, storms don’t strictly follow that six-month calendar; they can occur before or after the official season, but they’re much less likely.
How Often Do Hurricanes Hit Texas?
According to KXAN’s research, 111 tropical systems have made landfall in Texas since 1850, 54 of which were hurricanes. The most recent was Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 hurricane that came ashore near Matagorda on July 8, 2024.
Of those 111 tropical systems, nineteen were major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). The Galveston hurricane of 1900 is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history, and Hurricane Ike from 2008 devastated the Upper Texas Coast.
However, storms do not have to be classified as hurricanes to cause significant damage. Even tropical systems can leave lasting effects on areas where they hit. That’s why “hurricane season” isn’t just about preparing for a major category hurricane, but for every bit of chaos Mother Nature might throw your way.
Preparing Your Roof for Hurricane Season in South Texas Checklist
The best way to prepare your roof for hurricane season in South Texas is to start early. It is better to complete this checklist in the weeks leading up to hurricane season rather than waiting for news of an impending storm. Here is what you need to do:
#1: Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
The first step in preparing your roof for hurricane season in South Texas is to schedule a professional roof inspection. A professional roofer can assess your roof’s safety and longevity and spot small vulnerabilities before storm winds exploit them. You’ll get a detailed list of areas that need further attention, plus inspection reports you can use for insurance documentation if you need them.
#2: Make Necessary Repairs
From the information you gathered in step 1, you can now make any necessary repairs. This may include the following:
- Repairing or replacing shingles
- Securing roof edges
- Fixing flashing
- Resealing roof penetrations
- Replacing pipe boots
- Reinforcing gutters
- Addressing any existing problems in a roof’s structure
Pro Tip: We strongly suggest completing these repairs before hurricane season, as roofing companies get mass requests as soon as a storm hits the news.
#3: Clean Gutters and Downspouts
If you haven’t done a post-winter roof cleaning, it’s a great idea to do it before hurricane season. Essentially, you want to clear leaves, branches, and roof debris to ensure water can move away from the roofline and foundation.
#4: Trim Overhanging Branches
Next, you want to reduce the risk of branches scraping shingles or breaking onto the roof during high winds. To do this, trim overhanging branches away from your roofline.
#5: Document Your Roof’s Condition
As part of preparing your roof for hurricane season in South Texas, it is vital to document your roof’s condition for insurance purposes before and after storms. If you had a roof inspection done recently, you can use those photos. If not, you will want to take your own. Additionally, if you did complete roof repairs after your roof inspection, you will want to save repair invoices for insurance documentation.
#6: Consider a Roof Protection Plan
Lastly, if this is all sounding like a lot of work, you can offload this task to Precision Roofing Works. By taking advantage of one of our Roof Protection Plans, you ensure that your roof is regularly inspected, maintained, and covered under priority service. You get peace of mind knowing your roof is in optimal condition, no matter what weather is heading your way.
Prepare Before the Next Storm
Get ahead of hurricane season with Precision Roofing Works. Contact our team today to schedule your professional roof assessment, explore our Roof Protection Plans, and make sure your South Texas home is ready for whatever the season brings.