Roof Replacement in Conroe: A Homeowner's Checklist

Before a roof replacement starts, you should have three things in hand: a written, itemized estimate, photos of every slope of your current roof, and clear answers about permits, materials, and what happens if the crew finds rotten decking. During the job, changes should come to you in writing before the extra work happens. After it, you should get a magnet sweep of the yard and a final set of photos showing the finished roof. Proof before you sign, and proof when it's done.

Here's the full list, in the order you'll need it.

Why does a checklist matter for a Conroe roof?

Conroe has grown fast, and a replacement here can mean very different jobs. A newer home in Jacobs Reserve comes with HOA guidelines on materials and colors. A golf-course home in River Plantation has HOA standards and a large roof footprint. An older house near downtown or on Gladstell may have two layers to tear off and decking that hasn't been seen in decades. Lots off League Line and Longmire are ringed with mature trees that hang over the roof and the flower beds.

After the May 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl, a lot of Conroe homeowners signed with crews they'd never heard of. A checklist is how you make sure the job you agreed to is the job you get, whoever you hire.

Before you sign: what should you have in hand?

• A written, itemized estimate. Tear-off, decking, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, the roofing material, and cleanup, each on its own line. Our guide on how to read a roofing estimate explains each line.
• Photos of every slope of your current roof. Drone photos plus close-ups of the problem areas. If the estimate calls for something, the photos should show why.
• The decking plan, in writing. Nobody can see all of the decking until the old roof is off. Agree up front on how soft or rotted boards will be handled and priced.
• Your material choice, by name. Brand, product line, and color, plus the starter strip and ridge cap. Shingles or metal is a separate decision; settle it before the estimate is final, not during the job.
• HOA approval, if you have an HOA. Neighborhoods like Jacobs Reserve and River Plantation have HOA guidelines on roofing materials and colors. Ask your HOA what it needs before work starts and how long approval takes.
• A plain answer on permits. Ask the contractor which permits apply to your address and who is responsible for them. A Conroe mailing address doesn't always mean you're inside city limits, and being inside the City of Conroe or in unincorporated Montgomery County can change which rules apply. Get the answer in writing.
• A start date and a weather plan. Ask how much of the roof will be open at a time and how it gets covered if weather moves in.
• Who's in charge on site, and the number you call with a question.

If you're still choosing who to hire, start with how to choose a roofing contractor in Montgomery County, which covers what to verify before you get this far.

How should you get the house ready?

• Move cars out of the driveway and garage, away from the drip line.
• Take wall hangings down on the top floor. Hammering travels.
• Bring patio furniture, grills, and potted plants in or away from the house.
• Plan for pets and kids. Tear-off is loud, and debris comes off the edges.
• Point out anything fragile next to the house: AC units, garden beds, a pool, a koi pond.
• If limbs hang low over the roof, ask whether they need trimming first so the crew can work and the new roof isn't scraped on day one.

During the job: what should you watch for?

You don't need to stand in the yard all day. But a few things are worth seeing or asking about as the work happens:

• Tarps or protection over beds and landscaping before tear-off starts.
• Photos of any decking that gets replaced, taken before it's covered up. Once the underlayment goes down, you can't see it.
• Changes in writing before extra work. If the crew finds something that wasn't in the estimate, you should hear about it, see it, and approve it before it's added.
• Flashing and pipe boots handled the way the estimate says. If the estimate says replaced, they should be new.
• The roof dried in at the end of each day, with nothing left open to the weather overnight.

What proof should you end up with?

After the job: what does "done" look like?

• A magnet sweep of the yard, driveway, and beds. Nails end up in grass and gravel. A rolling magnet sweep should cover everywhere debris could land.
• Gutters cleared of shingle grit, nails, and scraps.
• Final photos of every slope. We take drone photos of the finished roof so you can see the ridge, the valleys, and the flashing without a ladder.
• A walk around the house from the ground. Look at the roofline, the drip edge, and anywhere the old roof met a wall.
• Paperwork for your records: the final invoice, the product name and color, and the date the roof went on. You'll want those when you sell the house or need a repair later.

Keep it all in one folder, or one email thread. Whoever works on the roof next will thank you for it.

Ready to start your list?

Our roof installation page covers how we handle a replacement from tear-off to cleanup. Not sure you need a full replacement yet? Read roof repair vs replacement for Conroe homes first.

The first item on this checklist is the easiest one to get. Ask for a free estimate: itemized, in writing, with drone photos of every slope.