Roofing Blog
February 5, 2025 · 5 min read
Every year after hailstorm season hits the DFW Metroplex, something predictable happens: dozens of out-of-state roofing companies descend on North Texas neighborhoods. They go door to door, offering free inspections and too-good-to-be-true promises. In the industry, we call them "storm chasers" — and while not all of them are dishonest, choosing one over a local contractor is a gamble that often doesn't pay off.
At Hobaugh's Construction & Roofing, we've been based in North Richland Hills since 2000. We've watched storm chasers come and go while we've stayed put, serving the same communities year after year. Here's why choosing a local DFW roofer matters more than most homeowners realize.
When a storm damages your roof, time is critical. Every hour your roof is exposed increases the risk of water damage to your home's interior — ruined drywall, damaged insulation, mold growth, and destroyed personal belongings. A local contractor can be at your property within hours, not days.
Our office is located right on Mid Cities Blvd in North Richland Hills. When severe weather hits the HEB area, Hurst, Fort Worth, or Arlington, we're already mobilizing before the storm has fully passed. We can have crews performing emergency tarping and temporary repairs the same day, minimizing the damage to your home while we plan the full repair or replacement.
Storm chasers, on the other hand, are often coordinating crews from out of state. They may take days or even weeks to begin work, leaving your home exposed to further damage in the meantime.
A local roofer's reputation is everything. We live and work in the same communities we serve. Our kids go to the same schools. We eat at the same restaurants. We shop at the same stores. That kind of proximity means accountability — we can't afford to do bad work, because we'll hear about it at the grocery store.
When you hire a local contractor like Hobaugh's, you can easily verify our track record:
Storm chasers operate under a different model. They may use temporary business names, PO boxes, or out-of-state addresses. By the time you discover a problem with their work, they may have already moved on to the next storm zone in another state — and good luck getting them to come back for warranty work.
This is perhaps the most important reason to choose local. A warranty is only as good as the company backing it. At Hobaugh's, we offer a Lifetime Workmanship Warranty on every project, and because we've been in the same location for 25 years, you know we'll actually be here to honor it.
Additionally, as an Owens Corning Certified contractor, we can offer manufacturer warranties that many non-certified companies cannot. These warranties cover not just the shingles but the entire roofing system — underlayment, flashing, ventilation, and labor. Some of these manufacturer warranties are transferable if you sell your home, adding real value to your property.
Storm chasers may offer impressive-sounding warranties on paper, but if the company dissolves or relocates (which happens frequently), that warranty becomes worthless. We've seen it happen time and again — a homeowner calls a warranty number two years later, and the phone just rings.
DFW is a patchwork of municipalities, each with their own building codes, permit requirements, and inspection processes. What's permitted in Fort Worth may differ from Arlington, which may differ from Hurst or Colleyville. An out-of-state contractor may not be familiar with these local requirements, which can lead to failed inspections, code violations, and headaches for you down the road.
We've pulled permits and passed inspections in virtually every DFW municipality over the past 25 years. We know the inspectors, we know the codes, and we know what HOAs in different neighborhoods require. That institutional knowledge ensures your project goes smoothly from start to finish.
When you hire a local roofer, your money stays in the DFW economy. It pays local workers, supports local suppliers, and contributes to the community you live in. Our crews are DFW residents with families here. Our materials come from local supply houses. Our profits get reinvested in the same community.
Storm chasers funnel that money out of your community. Their crews are temporary, their supply chains are from elsewhere, and their profits leave Texas when they do. Choosing local isn't just smart — it's an investment in your own neighborhood.
Here are some red flags that the roofer at your door might not be local:
We're not the flashiest roofing company in DFW. We don't have Super Bowl commercials or celebrity endorsements. What we have is 25 years of honest work, thousands of satisfied customers, and a commitment to being here for you — not just this storm season, but every season after that.
Call us at (817) 999-1067 for a free roof inspection, or schedule online. We're BBB A+ Accredited, Owens Corning Certified, and we're not going anywhere.
25 years in DFW. Thousands of roofs. One phone call.