Hays County
San Marcos, Texas Roofing & Property Protection
Your San Marcos home deserves a documented review. The Roof Shepherd documents roof conditions, storm damage, and property concerns so you decide with full information.
Updated September 15, 2026
San Marcos At A Glance
What homeowners in San Marcos should know
In San Marcos, roofing permit and inspection rules are set by the city and can vary from one community to the next. Texas has no statewide roofing license, so confirm requirements with San Marcos’s building department before work begins. The Roof Shepherd documents your roof’s condition and explains your options. If you decide to move forward, The Roof Shepherd manages the whole project, from the contract and materials to the crew, the final walkthrough, and your written workmanship warranty.
Growth & Construction
San Marcos sits within Hays County, an area that has seen ongoing residential growth across Central Texas. New construction and resale inspections both benefit from a documented condition review before any roofing decision. U.S. Census data puts San Marcos near 70,900 residents, a Texas State University city where only about 31% of homes are owner-occupied and the median build year is around 2001, so many roofs are reaching the age where documentation matters.
Hail & Storm Exposure
NOAA’s 30 year record holds 90 verified hail reports within 10 miles of San Marcos since 1996, squarely on the I-35 hail corridor. The busiest single year in that record was 2021, with 13 reports inside the ring.
HOA & Material Considerations
Many Hays County neighborhoods have an HOA with rules on shingle color, material type and anything visible from the street. Confirm requirements with your HOA before selecting materials.
Common Roofing Issues
San Marcos’s large student rental market and rapid owner-occupied growth create two distinct property profiles, rental properties often carry deferred maintenance requiring documentation before any work.
San Marcos Snapshot
Weather history & local facts
Hail and wind on record here
San Marcos’s verified NOAA record since 2018 includes 3 inch hail at San Marcos Lowman Ar on May 9, 2024, 2 inch hail at San Marcos Lowman Ar on April 28, 2021, and 2 inch hail at San Marcos Municipal Airport on May 22, 2025. 31 thunderstorm wind events and 1 tornado report sit inside the same 10 mile window. Peak hail months here: April and May. Across Hays County as a whole, NOAA logged 63 hail events from 2016 through 2025, with hail to 3 inches, plus 37 damaging thunderstorm wind events and 4 tornado reports.
Worth Knowing
The San Marcos Springs are one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in North America, evidence of human presence dating back 12,000 years, and the water source for Texas State University’s river campus.
Local Note
San Marcos hosts one of the largest premium outlet shopping destinations in the U.S., drawing significant regional traffic from San Antonio and Austin.
What the storm record means locally
Storm facts were checked against NOAA and National Weather Service records and local news from the time.
On record
What has actually fallen on San Marcos
Reading the public storm record
Every figure below is the public storm record for a 10-mile radius around San Marcos, 2000-2026. It is not an estimate and not a sales figure. If your roof was under one of these dates, that is a documentation question worth answering.
| Hail events on record | 80 |
|---|---|
| Reached 1.75 in or larger | 21 |
| Largest stone recorded | 4.50 in · March 16, 2000 |
| Busiest year | 2021 · 13 events |
| Most common months | April and May |
| Strongest gust in the archive | 95 mph · April 25, 2007 |
| Radar hail days, 1 in or larger | 140 days · 2000-2026 · largest signature 4.00 in |
| Preliminary reports, last 12 months | none of 1 in or larger on file |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database · Hays County · 2000-2026 · within 10 miles of the San Marcos centroid. Counts are reported events, so they undercount: a stone that fell where nobody reported it is not in the record.
Checked September 7, 2026 against two feeds that do not share the archive's bias: radar hail signatures from the NEXRAD hail detection algorithm (NOAA NCEI Severe Weather Data Inventory, same 10 mile radius, 2000-2026), counted as days with a signature of one inch or larger, and the Storm Prediction Center's preliminary reports for the last 12 months, which are unreviewed and never a competing total. A radar day and a reported event are different units and are not expected to match: the archive needs a witness and undercounts, radar needs none and can flag hail that melted before it landed. What fell on one roof is settled by a documented inspection, not by any of these counts.
Year by year
Hail in San Marcos, 2006 to 2025
Twenty seasons, one row each
One row per year, newest first. Each row counts the hail reports of one inch or larger within ten miles of San Marcos, from the National Weather Service archive. 57 reports from 2006 to 2025, 17 of them at or above the 1.75-inch severe threshold. Counting only stones of one inch or larger, the busiest year in this table was 2021. If you owned your roof through any of these dates, the row is the reason to know what it took.
| Year | Reports 1 in+ | 1.75 in+ | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 3 | 2.50 in · May 22 |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 | 3.00 in · May 9 |
| 2023 | 6 | 1 | 1.75 in · March 2 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1.25 in · May 5 |
| 2021 | 12 | 4 | 2.00 in · April 28 |
Show all 20 years (2006 to 2025)
| Year | Reports 1 in+ | 1.75 in+ | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 in · April 3 |
| 2019 | 7 | 1 | 1.75 in · April 6 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | none reported |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 in · April 11 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 in · March 18 |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 in · April 16 |
| 2014 | 4 | 1 | 1.75 in · May 27 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 1.00 in · April 29 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | none reported |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | 1.00 in · September 29 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | none reported |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | none reported |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | below 1 in |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | below 1 in |
| 2006 | 3 | 3 | 4.25 in · April 20 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, hail events 2006 through 2025 within 10 miles of the San Marcos centroid. Reports are observer-driven, so a stone that fell where nobody reported it is not in the record, and small towns are undercounted relative to cities. Full calendar years only; the current year is not shown until it is complete.
Hays County Storm Record
Documented storm exposure in San Marcos
Hail Frequency
NOAA storm records log 46 hail events within 10 miles of San Marcos since 2018, 28 of them inside the city’s immediate 6 mile ring. The largest verified stone measured 3 inches on May 9, 2024 at San Marcos Lowman Ar. Since 2018, hail here peaks in April and May.
Largest Recorded
The defining Hays County disaster is the May 2015 Memorial Day flood: the Blanco River at Wimberley rose more than 20 feet in an hour to a record crest above 40 feet, destroying more than 320 homes countywide. Spring hail and damaging wind also reach San Marcos, Kyle, and Buda (NWS Austin/San Antonio).
What the storm record means locally
After major hail events, out-of-state contractors arrive quickly. Documentation before any contractor conversation gives you a written record of visible conditions, and protects your position whether you file a claim or not. The Roof Shepherd documents first. Decisions come after.
Neighborhood Exposure
Active neighborhoods in San Marcos: Blanco Vista, Trace, Hills of Hays, La Cima, Kissing Tree. Hail exposure changes with lot height, tree cover and open ground nearby. A record of your block beats an estimate for the whole area.
How these figures are corroborated
Hail data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center (SPC) filtered reports. Reports reflect spotter-confirmed events of 1″ or larger within 10 miles of city center. Not a formal risk assessment.
Verified Storm Record
Verified hail, wind, and flood history for Hays County and the Central Texas Hill Country, the region San Marcos sits in. Roof condition changes with every storm season, which is why the homeowner should own the documentation.
April 6 ping pong ball size hail
NOAA verifies 1.5 inch hail in San Marcos on April 6, 2019, a ping pong ball size stone.
April 29 quarter size hail
NOAA verifies 1 inch hail in San Marcos on April 29, 2013, a quarter size stone.
April 20 softball size hail
NOAA verifies 4.25 inch hail in San Marcos on April 20, 2006, a softball size stone.
March 16 softball size hail
NOAA verifies 4.5 inch hail in San Marcos on March 16, 2000, a softball size stone.
Where these figures come from
Figures drawn from public NOAA, National Weather Service, U.S. Census, and Texas Department of Insurance records and contemporaneous reporting. Not a formal risk assessment.
Live NOAA record Since August 2024, NOAA has logged 8 hail reports within 10 miles of San Marcos, 3 of them inside 6 miles. The largest measured 2.5 inches on May 22, 2025, about 7.9 miles away. Damaging wind has been reported 2 times in the same period, most recently 59 mph on June 2, 2026. These are NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary reports covering August 13, 2024 to September 11, 2026. A report near a property confirms hail fell nearby. It does not confirm that any particular roof was damaged, and it is not a coverage determination.
About San Marcos
Local ground truth for San Marcos properties
San Marcos sits in Hays County in Central Texas, home to roughly 74,316 residents (Census Bureau estimate, 2024). NOAA storm records log 46 hail events within ten miles since 2018. The largest stone in the full NOAA archive, 2000 to 2026, measured 4.5″ on March 16, 2000.
Roof age, by the census
How old the roofs in San Marcos are likely to be
When the houses went up
San Marcos has 29,892 housing units in the Census Bureau's latest five-year estimate. The median home was built in 1998. 52 percent were built before 2000 and 39 percent before 1990; 31 percent have been built since 2010. Half or more of the homes here predate 2000. An original asphalt-shingle roof from that era is at or past the 20-to-30-year service life typically cited for asphalt shingles, and many will already be on a second roof, which is worth confirming from a permit or a receipt rather than assuming.
| Year built | Homes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Built 2020 or later | 1,141 | 4% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8,163 | 27% |
| Built 2000 to 2009 | 5,024 | 17% |
| Built 1990 to 1999 | 3,852 | 13% |
| Built 1980 to 1989 | 4,277 | 14% |
Show all ten brackets (1939 or earlier to 2020 or later)
| Year built | Homes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Built 1970 to 1979 | 2,920 | 10% |
| Built 1960 to 1969 | 1,374 | 5% |
| Built 1950 to 1959 | 1,558 | 5% |
| Built 1940 to 1949 | 717 | 2% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 866 | 3% |
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 five-year estimates, tables B25034 and B25035, San Marcos city. ACS figures are estimates with published margins of error; shares are rounded to whole percents. Year built is the structure, not the roof: it says when the first roof went on, not whether it is still there.
Roofer Near San Marcos
Everything we cover in San Marcos
What we cover in this city
The Roof Shepherd is a documentation-first roofing contractor serving San Marcos homeowners from its Round Rock, Texas base. Every roof gets a documented condition record before any repair or replacement decision, so you decide from evidence, not sales pressure.
Services available in San Marcos
Every service below is available to San Marcos homeowners, delivered with the same documentation standard.
Roofing
Storm and insurance documentation
Painting, exterior and interior
Austin Zone
How service works in San Marcos
Who runs the inspection
Every San Marcos project starts the same way. David Rodrigues, based in Round Rock, Texas, explains what he sees and writes it down first. When a homeowner chooses to move forward, The Roof Shepherd manages the roofing work and subcontractor crews working across the Austin metro do the installation under our direction, so we can fully manage essentially any roofing job in San Marcos. How every job is managed, and who does the hands-on work, is explained on our project delivery page.
Local Conditions
What is different about working on San Marcos homes
What roofs face in this market
San Marcos sits in Hays County, population 74,316. Counting hail reports of every size, the NOAA Storm Events archive logs 80 hail reports within ten miles of San Marcos from 2000 to 2026, 21 of them at or above the 1.75 inch severe threshold, the size generally associated with roof damage. The largest stone in that record measured 4.5 inches. Counting reports of every size, 2021 was the busiest year in that record, with 13 reports. Activity concentrates in April and May. The strongest recorded wind gust nearby reached 95 mph on April 25, 2007.
The largest hail recorded near San Marcos, by date:
| Date | Largest stone |
|---|---|
| May 9, 2024 | 3.0″ |
| April 20, 2006 | 4.25″ |
| March 16, 2000 | 4.5″ |
If your roof was on the house for any of those dates, that is worth documenting whether or not you ever filed anything. A dated condition record is far easier to produce now than to reconstruct later.
Permits are a San Marcos question, not a Texas question. Texas has no statewide building code for residential roofing. Each city and county adopts its own, so the threshold that triggers a permit, the fee, and whether a deck inspection is required before cover-up are all set locally in Hays County. A contractor who cannot tell you which jurisdiction issues your permit, and who pulls it, has not done this here often. We pull it in our own name.
Useful locally: City of San Marcos official site for permit and inspection rules; NWS forecast for San Marcos before scheduling work.
Storm figures: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events within a 10 mile radius, 2000 to 2026. Windstorm territory per Texas Windstorm Insurance Association county designations.
The rules here
Roof permits and code in San Marcos
What the city's own documents say
San Marcos does not require a permit for a like for like re-roof unless the new covering is heavier than the old one; shingle to tile does need one, and the city decides re-roofs case by case on its Permit Requirement Determination form. That is the city's published guidance; confirm with the building department before work starts. San Marcos is on the 2021 IRC (Ordinance 2023-09, adopted February 7, 2023).
The city runs a contractor license program (Chapter 14, Article 11 of its code) with an exam and five years of documented experience. Roofing is not named in it, roofers on the city roster hold builder licenses, and which credential a roofer needs is not published; we treat the Building license as required until the city says otherwise in writing.
Read at the city's ordinances, fee schedule and permit pages on August 28, 2026, re-checked at least yearly; the city's current document governs if it changes. The full table for thirteen Central Texas cities, with the three where the website and the ordinance disagree, is on our permits and codes by city page.
Exterior & Painting
What San Marcos homeowners should know about exterior work
Local Paint & Exterior Note
San Marcos’s proximity to the river creates elevated humidity conditions, exterior paint products with mildewcide additives are recommended for properties within a mile of the San Marcos River.
Sequence Matters
Get the roof documented first. Painting and exterior repairs come after. Condition notes from a roof visit often surface fascia rot, gutter separation, and trim damage that affect painting scope and cost before a single brush stroke is applied.
Google Reviews
Homeowner Reviews
These are verified Google reviews from homeowners we’ve served across Central Texas.
If you’re looking for a roof replacement, look no further than the Roof Shepherd himself, David. A few months ago, an exterminator discovered a hole in our roof while checking for squirrels. David and his crew went out of their way and placed a solid, temporary patch over the hole. David and his crew did this at 11:30 at night, hours before severe weather hit the area. David did this right at the beginning of the process which most roofers would never bother to do. David and the crew did an excellent job, along with the full replacement of our gutters!!! The roof looks great and we are extremely happy with the result. David stayed in constant contact throughout the process and explained how to smoothly get things done with the insurance company, which we all know can be a pain. David’s knowledge in roofing is second to none, so if you are close to replacement, or have questions about the process, trust me, call the Roof Shepherd!!!
Owner Response
Lonnie, thank you for the incredible review and for trusting The Roof Shepherd team with your home in Cedar Park. That late-night emergency response was definitely one of those real roofing moments, but the goal was simple: protect the home before the weather moved in and keep a roof opening from turning into interior damage. I’m grateful we were able to help at the very beginning of the process, then follow it through with the full re-roof and gutter replacement. I also appreciate you mentioning the communication side of the job. Roofing and insurance-related work can be stressful, so my goal is always to keep homeowners informed, prepared, and protected from start to finish. Thank you again for the trust, the kind words, and the opportunity to take care of your home.
David and his crew did a fantastic job inspecting our home. When they did the inspection in the attic they found subpar work done by the home builder which, if it had not been discovered, would have cost us well over $10K to correct. Roof joists were two feet short and not attached to anything — just left hanging, with no joist brackets. In time our roof would have collapsed. Thank you, Roof Shepherd.
Owner Response
Andrew, thank you for trusting us with your home in Round Rock. I’m grateful we were able to take the time to look beyond the surface of the roof and evaluate the attic, ventilation, and structural conditions affecting the roof system. A roof can look prematurely aged for reasons that aren’t always visible from the outside. In this case, the attic inspection and documentation helped identify serious underlying concerns before they became a much larger and more expensive problem. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. This is exactly why The Roof Shepherd focuses on careful inspection, clear documentation, and helping homeowners understand what is really going on with their roof before making major decisions. Thank you again for the opportunity to help.
David was an absolute pleasure to work with. He showed up right on time for the quote on our repairs and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. Great communicator, clear explanations, and genuinely easy to deal with from start to finish. If you’re looking for someone reliable who actually cares about doing things right, David is your guy. Highly recommend.
Owner Response
Thank you for the thoughtful review. It was a pleasure meeting with you in Georgetown, Texas, and helping you review the roof repair options for your home. I really appreciate you mentioning the communication, timing, and clear explanations. Even when a homeowner decides to go a different direction, my goal is still the same: show up on time, explain the roof concerns clearly, provide a straightforward repair quote, and help you make a confident decision. Thank you again for the kind words and recommendation.
San Marcos FAQs
Common questions in San Marcos
Does The Roof Shepherd serve San Marcos regularly?
San Marcos is an extended-range market, served on a case-by-case basis, particularly after significant hail or wind events for The Roof Shepherd. Round Rock is home base. The badge on this page shows how often we are in San Marcos.
How quickly can I get a roof inspection in San Marcos?
Scheduling depends on current deployment frequency to San Marcos and the nature of the request. Active leaks and post-storm documentation are prioritized. Contact us with your address and situation for a current estimate.
Does Hays County have HOA restrictions on roofing materials?
Many neighborhoods in Hays County have HOA architectural review requirements covering shingle color, material type, and visible modifications. Confirm requirements with your HOA before selecting materials, and ask us to document the approval process.
What roofing materials hold up best in San Marcos?
Architectural asphalt shingles remain the most common choice in Hays County. Class 3 and Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are worth discussing given Central Texas hail exposure, particularly for homes carrying higher deductibles.
Is San Marcos in a hail-prone area?
NOAA records log 46 hail events within 10 miles of San Marcos since 2018. The largest stone in the full NOAA archive, 2000 to 2026, measured 4.5 inches on March 16, 2000. San Marcos sits in the I-35 corridor, one of the most hail-active zones in the United States. Documenting visible roof and gutter conditions after any significant storm is good practice.
How do I get started in San Marcos?
Use the Get Help form with your San Marcos address and a description of your concern. The Roof Shepherd reviews each submission and follows up with relevant context before any site visit.
Who is a trusted roofer near me in San Marcos?
The Roof Shepherd serves San Marcos with documented inspections, photo condition records, and education-first guidance, based in Round Rock, Texas. Trust is verifiable: BBB accreditation, public reviews, and a documentation record you keep. Call or text 512-575-5052.
How much does roof replacement cost in San Marcos?
Roof replacement cost in San Marcos depends on roof size, pitch, material choice, decking condition, and ventilation work. Rather than quoting blind, The Roof Shepherd documents your roof first so any price you evaluate is grounded in your roof’s actual condition.
Still don’t see your question?
Get a straight answer and your real options, no obligation, never a hard sell.
Prefer a person? Call or text 512-575-5052, 8am to 9pm, seven days a week.
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Nearby areas we serve
Cities within our daily route
The Roof Shepherd also documents and serves these Central Texas communities. Distances are straight-line miles from the center of San Marcos, and each hail figure is the count of NOAA-verified hail events within 10 miles of that city since 2018:
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