Roof Replacement in Dallas: Signs, Steps and Permits

Replace the roof when repairs stop fixing the problem. That means leaks in more than one spot, damage spread across the roof, or soft wood under the shingles. A roofer has to look at your roof to say for sure.

Dallas Roof Works is a referral service, not the roofer. Send us your address. If we cover it, your request goes to one independent roofing partner, who contacts you within 24 to 48 hours. They inspect the roof and give you the scope and the price in writing.

Deciding on a new roof is a big call. This page gives you the questions to ask, so you can check what you hear.

Request a roof replacement quote or call (737) 530-8330

Signs you may need a new roof, not a repair

Look from the ground. Stay off the roof.

Leaks in more than one spot, or stains in more than one room.
The same area keeps needing repairs.
Damage across the whole roof after hail or wind, not one patch.
Shingles that are curling, cracking or missing over large areas.
Wood under the shingles (the decking) that is soft, wet or sagging.
A ceiling that sags or bulges. Stay clear of it and tell the roofer.

One damaged area with a sound roof around it is often a repair. See roof repair in Dallas for that.

Roof age matters, but age alone doesn't settle it. Ask the roofer what the age and the condition of your roof mean together, and ask to see photos of what they found.

Not sure which side you are on? A roof inspection ends with photos and written findings.

How a replacement goes, and what to ask at each step

Ask the roofer these in order. A good roofer answers each one in plain words.

Inspection. "Can you show me photos of what you found?"
Written scope. "What exactly is included, and what is left out?"
Permit. "Who pulls the permit, and when?"
Tear-off. "Do you remove the old roofing down to the decking? Where does it go?"
Decking. "What happens, and what does it cost, if you find rotted boards?"
Install. "Which products go on, and what seals the edges, vents and joints?"
Cleanup. "How do you clear nails and debris from my yard and driveway?"
Final check. "What do you check at the end, and do I get photos and the paperwork?"

Roof materials in plain terms

Asphalt shingles. The overlapping shingles you see on many Dallas homes.
Impact-resistant shingles. Shingles tested for how they take a hit. The test sorts them into Class 1 to 4. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) says Class 4 earns the highest premium credit, and each insurer sets its own discount and paperwork. TDI doesn't endorse any roofing material. Ask your insurer what it accepts before you choose.
Metal. Panels that lock together, or shingles made of metal.
Tile. Clay or concrete tiles. Ask the roofer whether your roof structure suits the weight.

We don't post prices or lifespans here. The roof decides the price. Ask the roofer for the manufacturer's terms on any product, in writing.

Dallas permit rules

The City of Dallas says replacing large areas of a roof, or an entire roof, needs a re-roof permit. A Residential Roofing Permit is required when the work, materials plus labor, is worth more than $500. A full re-roof nearly always is.

Who can apply: a registered roofing contractor, or an owner who lives in the home as a primary homestead, files a Homeowner's Exemption Affidavit and does the labor.
The roofing permit covers the shingles and the decking. Replacing rafters or joists needs a separate building permit.
Minor repairs and temporary tarps need no permit.

Questions go to the city at (214) 948-4480. Neither city page shows a date, and other DFW cities set their own rules, so confirm before work starts.

How long it takes

Ask for start and finish dates in the written estimate. The permit, the weather and the materials all affect them, so ask what happens to the schedule if rain delays the tear-off. The roofer sets the schedule and gives it to you in writing.

What the written estimate should contain

The company's name, address and phone number.
The materials, by brand and product line.
Tear-off and disposal of the old roofing.
Flashing (the metal that seals joints and edges) and ventilation.
What rotted decking costs if it turns up.
The permit, and who pays for it.
Start and finish dates.
The payment schedule.
Who backs the labor and the materials in writing, and for how long.
What the price leaves out.

Get a certificate of insurance too. Texas has no statewide roofing license, so the paperwork is how you check a roofer. Our checklist, how to choose a roofer in Dallas, goes through each item.

If hail or wind caused the damage

Your insurer decides what your policy covers. Take dated photos from the ground, keep your declarations page, and keep any roofer's written findings. Our page on whether insurance covers roof replacement in Texas lists what to keep.

Be wary of a roofer who says you won't owe your deductible. Texas Business and Commerce Code 27.02 makes helping you avoid it an offense for the seller.

How to request a roofer through us

Send your address and what you see. Add photos if you have them.
We check coverage for your address. We take requests in Dallas and the surrounding area, and we confirm your address first.
Our independent partner contacts you within 24 to 48 hours. They carry insurance. They inspect the roof, then give you the scope, price, schedule and terms in writing.

Your request goes to one partner, not a list of companies. The partner does the work and owns the terms, so read them before you say yes. You can also read our referral disclosure.

Questions Dallas homeowners ask

How do I know if I need a new roof or a repair?
A roofer decides after looking at the roof. Leaks in several places, damage across the roof and soft decking point toward replacing. One damaged area often points to a repair.

How much does a new roof cost in Dallas?
The roof decides the price. After the partner inspects it, you get the price in writing.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Dallas?
The City of Dallas requires a re-roof permit for a full replacement. Ask the roofer who pulls it.

How long does a roof replacement take?
The roofer sets the dates and writes them into the estimate.

Can my roofer handle my insurance claim?
No. Texas Insurance Code 4102.163 says a contractor may not act as a public adjuster on a property the contractor is working on or could work on. Your claim is between you and your insurer.

Does Dallas Roof Works replace roofs?
No. We refer the request. The independent partner does the work.

Next step

Send your address and what you see, with photos if you have them.