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AfterNew Construction in Houston, TX
New construction roofing in Houston means putting a roof on a house that has never had one, and doing it right the first time so the homeowner doesn’t inherit someone else’s shortcut. Brennan Roofing Co Houston handles new-construction roof installation for custom homes and small builder projects across the city, from The Heights to Katy to Clear Lake. Our crews install to the same written standard on every job: a price on paper before any work starts, background-checked technicians in uniform, and a one-year written guarantee on the finished roof. If you’re building in Houston and need a roof crew that will be there when they say they will, call us at (940) 461-8481. For a broader look at what goes into a full replacement or installation, see Roof Replacement & Installation in Houston.
Houston new construction is different from re-roofing an existing home. The decking is fresh, the framing tolerances are tighter, and the roof has to work with brand-new mechanical penetrations, venting, and sometimes solar-ready blocking. We build the roof system from the deck up so the first roof on that house is also the one that lasts longest before any repairs are needed.
When You Need New Construction
Most of our new-construction calls in Houston come from homeowners acting as their own general contractor, or from small custom builders who don’t keep a roofing crew on payroll. Here are the situations where people bring us in:
- You’re building a custom home and the builder doesn’t include roofing. Some Houston builders subcontract the shell but leave roofing to the owner. We work directly with homeowners on these projects, with the same written pricing we give builders.
- You’re adding a major addition or a second story. A new master suite over the garage or a full second floor means a new roof membrane over that section, tied into the existing roof at the valleys. In Houston, those tie-ins need to handle our heavy spring downpours without leaking at the transition.
- You bought a lot and are putting up a barndominium or detached structure. Montgomery, Waller, and Liberty counties have plenty of new barndo builds. These roofs have different slope and fastening requirements than a standard gable roof.
- Your builder’s roofing sub walked off the job or never showed. This happens more than it should in the Houston market. We have taken over mid-build roofs where the sheathing was on and the felt paper was already weather-damaged from sitting exposed.
- You want a specific manufacturer warranty from day one. Some homeowners want a GAF or CertainTeed roof on their new build, with the warranty registered in their name from the start. We install those systems to manufacturer spec so the warranty holds.
- The house is framed and dried-in, but the roof needs to be done before interior work can start. In Houston’s humidity, an unroofed frame absorbs moisture fast. That moisture gets trapped in the walls and shows up later as warped drywall or mold. A new-construction roof needs to go on as soon as the framing passes inspection, not weeks later.
Our New Construction Process
New-construction roofing has a different sequence than a replacement. There’s no tear-off, but every step still has to be done in order and inspected before the next one starts. Here is how we run it:
- Measure and price the job in writing. We walk the plans or the framed shell, measure the roof planes, and put a full price on paper before any work starts. That price includes materials, labor, and the written one-year guarantee. It does not move at the door, and it doesn’t change unless the scope changes in writing.
- Confirm the decking is clean, dry, and properly fastened. On a new build, the decking is usually brand-new OSB or plywood, but we still check the fastener pattern and look for any sheets that got rained on before the roof went on. Swelled or delaminated decking gets replaced before anything else goes on top.
- Install the underlayment and drip edge. The underlayment is the waterproof layer between the decking and the shingles or metal. The drip edge is the metal flashing that runs along the eaves and rakes to keep water from wicking back under the shingle edges. In Houston, where a slow-moving thunderstorm can dump three inches in an hour, this layer does most of the actual waterproofing work.
- Flash every penetration before the roofing material goes on. New construction has more penetrations than a re-roof: plumbing vents, bathroom fans, kitchen hood vents, sometimes a gas flue. We flash each one with the correct boot or collar and seal it before the field of the roof is installed. Flashing failures are the number one cause of new-roof leaks, so this step gets the most attention.
- Install the roofing system to manufacturer spec. Whether the homeowner chooses architectural shingles from GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, or a tile profile from Boral, we install to the manufacturer’s published requirement for Houston’s wind zone. That means the right nail pattern, the right starter course, and the right ridge ventilation for the home’s attic size.
- Walk the finished roof with you and put the guarantee in writing. Before we leave, we walk the roof together, show you the flashing details, and hand you the written Done Right Promise: if anything fails within one full year, we come back and fix it at no charge. That’s the same guarantee on a new-construction roof as on any repair or replacement we do.
New Construction Pricing in Houston
New-construction roof installation in Houston typically runs $5.50 to $9.00 per square foot for a full architectural shingle system, including underlayment, drip edge, flashing, and ridge ventilation. A 2,000-square-foot roof at that rate lands between $11,000 and $18,000. A standing-seam metal roof on new construction runs $12 to $18 per square foot. Tile from Boral runs higher, generally $16 to $25 per square foot installed, depending on the profile and the roof’s complexity.
What moves the number on a Houston new-construction roof:
- Roof complexity. A simple gable roof prices at the low end of the range. A roof with multiple hips, valleys, dormers, and a steep pitch prices higher. Every valley and penetration adds labor and flashing material.
- Pitch. Anything steeper than a 7/12 pitch requires additional safety equipment and slows the crew down. That shows up in the labor line, not as a separate surprise fee. The price is written before work starts.
- Decking condition. On new construction, decking is usually new, but if it sat exposed through a Houston wet season before the roof went on, some sheets may need replacement. We price that per sheet, in writing, before we start.
- Ventilation requirements. Houston attics need real airflow: ridge vent, intake venting at the eaves, and sometimes a solar-powered exhaust fan. We price ventilation as part of the roof system, not as an add-on you find out about later.
- Material choice. A GAF Timberline or CertainTeed Landmark architectural shingle is the most common choice for new Houston builds. Owens Corning Duration is a close competitor. Boral tile carries a premium price but lasts decades longer and handles hail better than any shingle.
Every new-construction roof we price includes the same things: a written number before any work starts, background-checked uniformed technicians, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If you want a real number for a specific plan set or framed shell, call (940) 461-8481 and ask for a new-construction estimate. The estimate is free, and the number we give you is the number you’ll see on the contract.
Why Houston Builders and Homeowners Call Brennan Roofing Co Houston
Houston has no shortage of roofing companies, but new-construction work demands a different level of accountability than a repair truck operation. Here is what separates how we run a new-construction roof:
- The Garrison Standard, in writing, on every job. Brennan Roofing is an independently owned and operated member of the Garrison Partners family, founded in 2000. The Garrison Standard means the same process on every roof: written price before any work starts, background-checked uniformed technicians, and a one-year written guarantee. There is no “different crew for new construction.” It’s the same standard, same paperwork, same accountability.
- Live person on the phone, 24/7. When you’re coordinating a new build and the framing inspection is about to happen, you cannot afford to leave a voicemail and hope for a callback. Our phones are answered by a live person around the clock. No automated system, no callback queue.
- Manufacturer materials, registered in your name. We install GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, and Boral systems. On new construction, we register the manufacturer warranty in the homeowner’s name at completion. That means the warranty follows the house, not the roofing company.
- Travis Oakley runs every job personally. The name on the truck is the name accountable for your roof. Travis Oakley owns Brennan Roofing Co Houston and is on site or on the phone for every new-construction project we take on. You are not dealing with a sales rep who disappears after the contract is signed.
FAQs – New Construction
How much does a new construction roof cost in Houston?
A new-construction architectural shingle roof in Houston typically costs between $5.50 and $9.00 per square foot, or roughly $11,000 to $18,000 for a 2,000-square-foot roof. Metal runs $12 to $18 per square foot, and tile from Boral runs $16 to $25 per square foot. The exact number depends on roof complexity, pitch, decking condition, ventilation requirements, and the material you choose. Call (940) 461-8481 for a written estimate on your specific plan set – the estimate is free, and the price goes on paper before any work starts.
Can you start a new construction roof before the framing inspection passes?
No, we can’t. The framing inspection has to pass before the roof system goes on, because the inspector needs to see the structural framing without roofing materials covering it. Once the framing passes, we can usually start within a few days, weather permitting. Houston building departments in the city and in Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery counties all follow this same sequence. If you are mid-build and need a roofer scheduled behind your framing inspection, call us with the inspection date and we’ll hold a slot.
Do you work directly with homeowners or only with builders?
We work with both. About half of our new-construction roofs in Houston are for homeowners acting as their own GC on a custom build or addition. The other half are for small custom builders who need a roofing crew that shows up with a written price and a schedule they keep. The process and paperwork are identical either way: written estimate, written guarantee, background-checked uniformed technicians on site.
What warranty comes with a new construction roof?
Every new-construction roof we install comes with two warranties. The manufacturer’s warranty covers the material itself, and we register it in the homeowner’s name at completion, whether it’s GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, or Boral. The second warranty is our 365-Day Done Right Promise: a written guarantee covering the full roof system for one full year, with a free return visit at no charge if anything fails within that period. Both warranties are in writing before we finish the job.
Does Houston’s climate affect how a new construction roof should be installed?
Yes, in three specific ways: our heavy rain storms demand more attention to flashing at valleys and penetrations, our humidity demands proper attic ventilation so the decking doesn’t hold moisture, and our hurricane wind zone demands a fastener pattern that meets the manufacturer’s high-wind spec. A roof installed to a dry-climate standard will leak at the first slow-moving Houston thunderstorm. We install every new-construction roof to Houston’s conditions, not to a generic national template.
Get a Written Price on Your Houston New Construction Roof
If you’re building in Houston and need a roof crew that answers the phone, shows up on time, and puts the price in writing before any work starts, call Brennan Roofing Co Houston at (940) 461-8481. We’ll walk your plans or your framed shell, give you a straight number, and put it on paper. Travis Oakley runs every new-construction project personally, and every roof we install is backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise: in writing, for one full year, and we come back for free if it fails. That’s The Garrison Standard, and it’s the same on every job we do in Houston.
Written by Travis Oakley, Owner at Brennan Roofing Co Houston, serving Houston.