Texas licenses its barbers, plumbers and electricians. It does not license the people who climb onto your roof and pull it apart. There is no statewide roofing license here, which means the quality of the crew you hire depends almost entirely on your own homework. For homeowners in Tyler County, that homework often starts with a call to a Woodville roofing company like Crest Guard, a local outfit that answers the phone from seven in the morning to seven at night and covers roofs across East Texas. Whoever you call, though, the real test comes later, when a proposal lands on your kitchen table.
That piece of paper tells you more about a contractor than any yard sign or review count. Here’s how to read it.
Start with how they looked at the roof
A bid is only as good as the inspection behind it. Before you look at a single number, think back on the visit itself.
A thorough roofer climbs up, walks every slope and goes into the attic. They check decking from underneath for dark stains, soft spots and daylight. They look at ventilation, because a roof that can’t breathe will cook its shingles no matter how well they’re installed. They photograph what they find and show you.
If someone stood in the driveway, glanced up and quoted a price in ten minutes, that bid is a guess. Guesses tend to grow once the old shingles come off.
What a complete proposal actually spells out
Vague bids protect the contractor. Detailed ones protect you. A solid roofing proposal should name each of these specifically rather than lumping them under “new roof.”
- Tear off. How many layers are coming off, and is disposal of the debris included?
- Decking replacement. Nobody knows exactly how much plywood is rotten until the roof is open, so look for a clear price per sheet rather than an open ended promise.
- Underlayment. Synthetic underlayment has largely replaced old felt paper. The bid should say which one you’re getting.
- Ice and water shield. Even in a mild climate, this self sealing membrane belongs in valleys and around penetrations where water concentrates.
- Drip edge and starter strip. Small items, but skipping them is a common way to shave cost.
- Flashing. Will chimney and wall flashing be replaced or reused? Reused flashing is a frequent source of leaks on otherwise new roofs.
- Pipe boots and vents. Rubber boots crack long before shingles wear out, so new ones should be standard.
- Ventilation. Ridge vents, soffit vents or both, and whether the current setup will be corrected.
- Shingle brand and line. The exact product, not just “architectural shingles.”
- Permits and cleanup. Who pulls any required permit, and whether a magnetic sweep for nails is included.
When two bids differ by a few thousand dollars, the gap usually lives somewhere on that list. Line them up item by item and the cheaper one often turns out to be a different, thinner job.
The money side deserves its own read
Payment terms say a lot about how a company runs. A reasonable deposit to order materials is normal. Paying most of the job up front is not, and it leaves you with little leverage if the work stalls.
Ask for the payment schedule in writing, tied to clear milestones. Final payment should come after the job is complete and you’ve walked the property. It’s also smart to request lien releases from the contractor, and from major suppliers where possible, so an unpaid invoice between them doesn’t become a claim against your home.
If insurance is involved, one rule matters above all. Texas law prohibits contractors from waiving or rebating a homeowner’s insurance deductible. A roofer who offers to “eat the deductible” is offering to break the law, and that tells you how they’ll treat the rest of the job. Texas law also bars roofers from acting as your public adjuster, so they can document damage and meet the adjuster, but they shouldn’t be negotiating your claim for you.
Two warranties, and they cover different things
Homeowners often hear “lifetime warranty” and stop listening. There are actually two separate promises in play.
The manufacturer’s warranty covers defects in the shingles themselves. Basic versions are often prorated, meaning coverage shrinks over time. Enhanced versions, available when a certified installer uses a full matching system of underlayment, starter and ridge caps, can extend non prorated coverage and sometimes include labor.
The workmanship warranty comes from the contractor and covers installation mistakes, which cause most early leaks. Its length varies widely. Ask how long it lasts, what it excludes and whether it’s in writing. Then ask the harder question, which is whether the company will still be around to honor it. A crew with a physical address and years in the same town is a safer bet than a truck with out of state plates that arrived after the last hailstorm.
Filling the gap a license would have filled
Since the state won’t vet roofers for you, a few checks do the work instead.
- Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance sent straight from the insurance agent, not a photocopy.
- Ask whether workers are covered by workers’ compensation. Texas doesn’t require it, which means an injured worker without it could become your problem.
- Look for voluntary credentials. The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas offers its own licensing program, and major shingle makers certify installers who meet their standards.
- Check the Better Business Bureau and search the company name alongside the word “complaint.”
- Call two or three recent customers, ideally ones whose roofs have been through at least one storm.
- Confirm with the City of Woodville or the county whether a permit is needed for your address, then make sure the bid accounts for it.
Red flags worth walking away from
Some warning signs show up again and again after East Texas storms.
- Pressure to sign the same day, especially “before the adjuster comes”
- A contract with blanks left to fill in later
- No local address or a phone number that only goes to voicemail
- An offer to cover your deductible
- A price dramatically lower than every other bid
- Reluctance to show proof of insurance
After the ink dries
A good contract is followed by good communication. You should know the start date, roughly how many days the job will take and what to do with cars, pets and patio furniture. Crews should protect landscaping, tarp the yard and sweep for nails when they finish.
Before final payment, walk the property with the project lead. Look at flashing, check the gutters for granules and debris, and ask for photos of the decking and underlayment before shingles went on. Keep the contract, warranty paperwork and those photos together. The next time a storm rolls through, that folder will be the most useful thing you own.
