Preservation-minded roofing for shotgun houses and historic bungalows, plus service for university-area rentals and new townhome infill near TSU and UH.
Third Ward is one of Houston's most historically significant neighborhoods. The blocks around Emancipation Park — the oldest park in Texas — and Emancipation Avenue still hold shotgun houses and early-1900s bungalows that tell the neighborhood's story, an architectural heritage that projects like Project Row Houses have worked to preserve. At the same time, Texas Southern University and the University of Houston anchor the eastern side of the neighborhood, supporting a large stock of rental housing, and new townhome infill has spread along the Almeda and Scott Street corridors. A roofing contractor working in Third Ward needs to respect all three of those realities.
Houston Roofing has worked in Houston's historic inner-loop neighborhoods for over 20 years. We understand that on an older Third Ward home, the right answer is sometimes a careful repair rather than a full replacement — and we will tell you which one your roof actually needs.
Shotgun House and Bungalow Reroofs. Shotgun houses have simple, steep gable roofs — small in area, straightforward in geometry, but usually sitting on plank decking that is a century old. We inspect the decking and framing before quoting, build contingencies into the estimate, and select shingle profiles that suit the home's original lines. See residential roofing for materials and process.
Repair-First Options. On many older homes in the neighborhood, targeted roof repairs — decking patches, new valley and chimney flashing, replacing brittle shingle sections — extend roof life for years at a fraction of replacement cost. We quote repair and replacement side by side so owners can make an informed call.
Rental and University-Area Properties. Landlords near TSU and UH need responsive service, clear documentation, and scheduling that works around tenants and semesters. We provide written condition reports useful for both maintenance planning and insurance.
Townhome Infill. Newer townhomes along Almeda and Scott commonly mix pitched shingle with low-slope sections. We service both, including the flat-to-pitched transitions where builder-grade installations most often leak.
Age and deferred maintenance. Many roofs in the neighborhood carry decades of layered patching. Old repairs fail before the roof around them does, so a careful inspection that maps what is actually up there is the right first step — especially before buying or renovating an older home.
Heat and ventilation. Homes in this area were built long before modern attic ventilation standards, and under-ventilated attics cook shingles from below in Houston summers. Ridge and soffit ventilation added during a reroof pays for itself in roof life and cooling bills.
Storm exposure. Hurricane wind and the occasional hail event hit older, brittle shingles hardest. After a storm we document damage with photos and provide reports owners can take to their insurance company.
Every estimate starts with an on-roof inspection and photos, and on older homes we look at the attic and decking wherever access allows. You get an itemized quote — and where repair is a legitimate option, a repair quote alongside the replacement quote so you can compare real numbers instead of taking our word for it. Any decking contingency is priced per sheet up front, so an older roof does not turn into an open-ended bill mid-project.
On workdays, we protect porches, gardens, and fences during tear-off, keep the site clean with daily magnetic sweeps, and haul away all debris. Most shotgun house and bungalow roofs finish in a single day once material is delivered; larger homes and townhomes typically take two to three. For rental properties, we coordinate directly with tenants on access and timing so owners do not have to play messenger.
Start with a free inspection. For full replacement, see residential roofing. After wind or hail, see storm damage repair.
Yes. We serve all of Third Ward — the historic blocks around Emancipation Park and Emancipation Avenue, the streets near Texas Southern University and the University of Houston, and the newer townhome infill along the Almeda and Scott Street corridors.
Yes. Third Ward's shotgun houses and early-1900s bungalows typically have simple gable geometry but older plank decking and framing that deserve careful handling. We inspect the structure first, write decking contingencies into the estimate, and choose materials and profiles that fit the home's original character.
Shotgun houses and smaller bungalows are among the more affordable roofs to replace because of their size and simple geometry — many fall in the $7,000-$15,000 range for architectural asphalt shingles, depending on decking condition. Larger two-story homes and townhomes run more. Free itemized estimates.
Yes. For many older Third Ward homes, a well-executed repair — decking patches, new flashing, targeted shingle work — buys years of service life at a fraction of replacement cost. We give you an honest read on whether repair or replacement makes better financial sense, and we do not push replacement when repair will do.
Tell us about your project and a roofing specialist will contact you within one business day.