What Is Residential Roofing? Here’s What You Need to Know

January 15, 2025
By: Renown Roofing and Construction 

What Is Residential Roofing? Here’s What You Need to Know

Your home’s roof isn’t just about curb appeal or keeping out the rain. It's your first line of defense against weather, critters, and wear and tear that accumulates over time. When it comes to safeguarding your home, knowing the basics of residential roofing and what your options are will save you both money and frustration down the road.

Learn everything you need to know about residential roofing, covering materials, designs, and key considerations for homeowners in Dallas, Lewisville, Plano, Arlington, and surrounding Texas areas. Plus, we’ll show you how to get the most value out of your roof, from insurance claims to lifetime warranties.

What Is Residential Roofing?

Residential roofing refers to all roofing services and materials designed specifically for houses. Unlike commercial roofing , which deals with larger structures like malls or warehouses, residential roofing focuses on individual homes. It involves everything from material selection and roof installation to maintenance and repairs .

Residential roofs are typically steep and come with various design and material elements customized to the region and homeowner’s needs.

The Importance of a Well-Constructed Roof

A well-constructed roof does more than just cover your home. Here’s why it’s important:

  • Protection : Safeguards your home from extreme weather conditions such as hailstorms, strong winds, and heavy rain.
  • Energy Efficiency : High-quality roofing materials can insulate your home, reducing energy bills.
  • Longevity : Durable materials help your roof to last for decades, lowering repair and replacement costs.
  • Increasing Home Value : A visually appealing and structurally sound roof boosts your home’s market value.

Homeowners in areas like Fort Worth or McKinney know the unpredictable Texas weather can be tough on roofs. That’s why investing in the right roofing materials and professional contractors is non-negotiable.

Common Residential Roofing Materials

Choosing the right material for your roof depends on budget, climate, and personal preference. Here’s a quick overview of popular options:

1. Asphalt Shingles

  • Why Choose Them : Affordable, durable, and available in various colors and styles.
  • Lifespan : 15–20 years.
  • Best For : Homeowners on a budget.
  • Texas Tip : Asphalt shingles perform well in mild Texas winters but can degrade faster in extreme heat.

2. Metal Roofing

  • Why Choose Them : Extremely durable, fire-resistant, and eco-friendly.
  • Lifespan : 40–70 years.
  • Best For : Homes in areas with severe storms or high winds.
  • Texas Tip : Metal roofs reflect sunlight, helping to reduce summer cooling costs.

3. Tile Roofing

  • Why Choose Them : Known for their longevity, low maintenance, and classic aesthetic.
  • Lifespan : 50+ years.
  • Best For : Homeowners seeking a Mediterranean or Spanish-inspired look.
  • Texas Tip : Tile roofs withstand hail and heavy rain but require professional installation.

4. Wood Shingles or Shakes

  • Why Choose Them : Natural and beautiful, with excellent insulation properties.
  • Lifespan : 20–30 years.
  • Best For : Homeowners prioritizing aesthetics and sustainability.
  • Texas Tip : Not always ideal in high-fire zones unless treated with a flame-retardant coating.

Key Elements of a Residential Roof

Understanding your roof’s components can help you spot maintenance issues early. These are the essential parts of a roof:

  • Shingles : Provide the outermost layer of protection.
  • Sheathing (or Decking): Forms the base layer under the shingles.
  • Trusses and Rafters : The skeleton of your roof, providing structural support.
  • Flashing : Prevents water from entering the joints and seams of your roof.
  • Underlayment : A water-resistant barrier beneath the shingles.

Each component plays a vital role in protecting your home. Damage to any one of these could compromise the roof's structural integrity.

Residential Roofing in Texas

Living in Texas means your roof needs to withstand blistering summer heat, sudden hailstorms , and the occasional deep freeze. That’s why proper materials and skilled installation are critical.

Why Local Knowledge Matters

Roofing challenges vary greatly by region. A professional roofing company in Lewisville or Plano understands the nuances of Texas weather and works with materials best suited for the area. Local contractors also know state regulations (e.g., fire-resistant requirements for wood roofs) and can help you make informed decisions.

Getting Insurance to Do More

If your roof has sustained storm damage, navigating an insurance claim can be daunting. Reputable residential roofing contractors, like Renown Roofing, can guide you through the insurance claim process so you get the maximum compensation for necessary repairs or replacements.

Choosing the Right Residential Roofing Contractors

Picking the right contractor can be the difference between a stress-free project and years of unnecessary repairs. Here’s what to look for:

  • Experience : Contractors with extensive experience in residential roofing can identify and resolve potential issues before they escalate.
  • Onsite Project Management : A dedicated roofing manager ensures every detail of your project is handled properly.
  • Lifetime Warranty : Companies like Renown Roofing back their work with lifetime warranties , giving you peace of mind.
  • Customer Service : Responsive teams that keep you informed throughout the project are invaluable.

How to Protect and Maintain Your Roof

Once you’ve installed your new roof, proper maintenance is key. Here are a few tips:

  1. Regular Inspections : Schedule assessments at least twice a year or after major storms.
  2. Gutter Cleaning : Clear debris to prevent water buildup and roof damage.
  3. Address Repairs Immediately : Ignoring minor issues like loose shingles can lead to costly problems later.
  4. Ventilation : Ensure your roof is properly ventilated to avoid mold or excessive heat buildup.

Why Renown Roofing Is the Right Choice

At Renown Roofing, we combine decades of experience with a commitment to customer satisfaction. Our services include onsite project management, expert handling of insurance claims, and a lifetime warranty, so you get the most out of your investment.

We’re proud to serve homeowners across Lewisville, Fort Worth, Plano, and beyond, delivering high-quality solutions.

Get in Touch Today

If you’re ready to take the next step in protecting your home, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us at 972-782-5489 or visit us at Renown Roofing to schedule your free consultation.

How Wind Damage Really Affects Asphalt Shingles in Flower Mound

By Adam Buttorff • February 19, 2026
If you live in Flower Mound, you already know the wind here has personality. It does not gently pass through the neighborhood. It shows up like it’s late to something important and takes it out on your patio furniture. One minute it’s calm. The next minute your grill cover is in the next zip code. And while you’re watching your trees bend dramatically, your asphalt shingles are going through something. Most Flower Mound homeowners assume wind damage only happens when shingles are completely missing. If nothing is in the yard, everything must be fine. Not exactly. Wind damage is often subtle. It starts small. It hides. Then one rainy day your ceiling joins the conversation. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we inspect roofs across Flower Mound and the DFW area every week. Wind damage is one of the most misunderstood roofing issues we see. Let’s talk about what wind actually does to your roof.

Why Choosing a Certified Roofing Contractor Protects Your Warranty

February 10, 2026
Your roof warranty looks impressive on paper. Long years. Big promises. Lots of confidence. Then one small thing goes wrong and suddenly the warranty vanishes like it never existed. What happened? Nine times out of ten, the answer is not the shingles. It’s who installed them. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we see this constantly. Homeowners do everything right. Quality materials. Storm coverage. Maintenance. Then a claim gets denied because the installer skipped a step, ignored a guideline, or thought the rules were more like “suggestions.” This blog explains why choosing a certified roofing contractor is the difference between having a warranty and having a very expensive piece of paper.

The Most Common Insurance Claim Mistakes Homeowners Make

February 3, 2026
Filing a roof insurance claim should be simple. Storm hits. Roof gets damaged. Insurance helps pay for repairs. Everyone moves on with their life. That is how it works in theory. In reality, insurance claims are where good roofs go to die and bad decisions go to multiply. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we see the same mistakes over and over again. Smart homeowners. Good intentions. One wrong move. Thousands of dollars gone. This blog breaks down the most common insurance claim mistakes homeowners make, why they happen, and how to avoid turning a covered loss into an out of pocket nightmare.

How a Free Infrared Roof Scan Works and What It Reveals

January 27, 2026
Your roof is excellent at lying to you. From the street, it looks calm. Confident. Maybe even smug. “Everything’s fine up here,” it says. Meanwhile, it could be hiding moisture, insulation failure, and the early stages of a leak that is quietly planning to ruin your ceiling at the worst possible time. That’s where an infrared roof scan comes in. At Renown Roofing & Construction, our free infrared roof scans have exposed more secrets than a group text accidentally sent to the wrong person. This is how they work, what they reveal, and why homeowners love them once they realize how much trouble they just avoided.

The Signs of Hidden Hail Damage You Can’t See From the Ground

By Adam Buttorff • January 20, 2026
After a hailstorm passes, many North Texas homeowners step outside, look at their roof from the driveway, and assume everything is fine. No missing shingles. No obvious holes. No leaks inside the home. Unfortunately, this false sense of security is one of the biggest reasons hail damage goes untreated until it becomes expensive. Hail damage is often subtle. In many cases, it weakens your roof without creating immediate leaks. Weeks or even months later, those weakened areas fail, leading to water intrusion, mold, and premature roof replacement. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we inspect hundreds of roofs every year that homeowners believed were undamaged, only to uncover widespread hail impact once we got up close. This article explains the hidden signs of hail damage you cannot see from the ground, why they matter, and how to protect your roof before small impacts turn into major problems.

How Heat and UV Exposure Break Down Shingles in DFW

By Adam Buttorff • January 12, 2026
North Texas roofs endure more heat and sun exposure than most homeowners realize. In the Dallas–Fort Worth area, summer temperatures regularly climb past 100°F, and roofs absorb even more heat than the air around them. Day after day, intense sunlight and ultraviolet radiation slowly wear down roofing materials, even when no storms are present. Many homeowners assume hail or wind causes most roof damage. In reality, heat and UV exposure quietly do just as much damage, often shortening a roof’s lifespan long before storms ever strike. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we frequently inspect roofs that look intact from the ground but are already failing due to prolonged heat and sun exposure.  This article explains how heat and UV rays break down shingles in DFW, the warning signs homeowners miss, and how proper materials and installation protect your roof.

Why Roof Decking Matters More Than Most Homeowners Think

By Adam Buttorff • January 6, 2026
When homeowners think about their roof, they usually picture shingles. Color. Style. Warranty. Very few think about what those shingles are attached to. That hidden layer, the roof decking, is one of the most critical parts of your entire roofing system. In North Texas, where heat, hail, wind, and humidity constantly stress homes, roof decking often determines whether a roof lasts decades or fails early. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we regularly uncover decking problems on roofs that look fine from the outside. In many cases, the decking is the real reason for leaks, sagging roofs, and denied insurance claims.  This article explains what roof decking does, why it matters so much in Texas, and how ignoring it can cost homeowners far more than they expect.

How to Tell if Your Roof Was Installed Correctly

By Adam Buttorff • December 16, 2025
A new roof should give you peace of mind for decades. Unfortunately, many roofing problems in North Texas are not caused by storms or age. They are caused by poor installation. A roof can look fine from the street and still fail prematurely if it was not installed correctly. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we inspect roofs across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex every day. We often find installation errors on roofs that are only a few years old. These mistakes lead to leaks, higher energy bills, voided warranties, and costly repairs that homeowners never expected.  This guide explains how to tell if your roof was installed correctly, what red flags to look for, and how to protect your investment.

Why North Texas Homes Need Impact Resistant Shingles

By Adam Buttorff • December 9, 2025
North Texas homeowners deal with some of the most intense and unpredictable weather patterns in the country. Spring hailstorms. Sudden high wind events. Extreme summer heat. These conditions punish roofing systems year after year. Many standard shingles simply cannot handle the repeated impacts and temperature swings that define the Dallas–Fort Worth climate. Impact resistant shingles are designed to solve this exact problem. They are built to withstand the kind of weather that destroys ordinary roofs. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we’ve inspected and replaced thousands of roofs across DFW. We’ve seen the difference that high quality, impact resistant shingles make for homeowners, especially after severe storms.  This guide explains why impact resistant shingles are a smart investment, how they work, and how they protect your home and wallet in a region where hail is almost guaranteed.

The Real Cost of Ignoring Small Roofing Issues in Texas

By Adam Buttorff • December 2, 2025
Texas homeowners face some of the most punishing weather in the country. Extreme heat. High winds. Hail that can tear through shingles in seconds. With this constant pressure on your roof, even small issues can turn into expensive problems faster than most people expect. What starts as a loose shingle, minor leak, or tiny puncture often goes unnoticed until it becomes water intrusion, mold, or structural damage. At Renown Roofing & Construction, we’ve inspected thousands of roofs across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. Again and again, we see homeowners pay thousands more because small problems were ignored for too long.  This guide explains why delaying repairs is risky, what subtle issues to watch for, and how quick action protects your home and wallet.