Do you offer free estimates?

Yes! We provide free, no-obligation estimates for all roofing services. Call us at (956) 600-0501 or visit our contact page to get started.

How long does a roof replacement take?

Most residential roof replacements are completed in 1–3 days, depending on the size and complexity of your roof. We work efficiently while maintaining the highest quality standards.

How long have you been in business?

Baccaro Roofing has served South Texas for over 5 years, with more than 500 completed projects and a 5.0-star rating across our 20+ Google reviews. Ronnie Baccaro is the owner-operator and personally inspects every job. We're built on RGV referrals — most of our work comes from neighbors recommending us.

Do you help with insurance claims?

Absolutely. We have extensive experience working with insurance companies. We'll document the damage, meet with adjusters, and ensure you get the coverage you deserve.

What does a typical roof replacement cost in the RGV?

Most full residential replacements in the Rio Grande Valley range from $8,000 to $18,000, depending on roof size, slope, material (asphalt shingle vs. metal), and decking condition. Use our free Roof Cost Calculator at /roof-cost-calculator for an instant estimate, or call (956) 600-0501 for a no-pressure on-site inspection.

What roofing materials do you use?

We use top-quality materials from trusted manufacturers including architectural shingles, metal roofing, and flat roofing systems. We'll recommend the best option for your home and budget.

What warranty do you provide?

Every new roof comes with the manufacturer's material warranty (typically 30–50 years on architectural shingles, lifetime on metal) plus our 5-year workmanship warranty on installation. If anything fails because of how we installed it, we come back and fix it free. No fine print, no hassle.

What areas of the Rio Grande Valley do you serve?

We serve all 45+ cities across the Rio Grande Valley — Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, and Starr counties — including McAllen, Brownsville, Edinburg, Pharr, Mission, Harlingen, Weslaco, San Juan, Alamo, and South Padre Island. If you're in the RGV, we'll come give you a free inspection.

Do you work in Spanish too?

Yes — completely. Ronnie and most of the Baccaro crew are native Spanish speakers, and we run the entire job in Spanish if that's what you prefer: inspection notes, written quote, insurance adjuster meeting, daily progress check-ins, final walkthrough. The /techos/ section of our site and our Spanish blog posts are written in native Spanish, not translated. Roofing decisions are too important to lose detail in a language gap. Call (956) 600-0501 and ask for Ronnie en español.

Do you work on commercial roofs?

Yes. Baccaro Roofing handles flat and low-slope commercial systems — TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, and metal — across the RGV. We work with property managers, HOAs, retail centers, and small industrial clients. Same free inspection policy: we'll diagnose what's wrong and quote it honestly before any contract.

Can I finance my roof?

Yes — financing is available on roof replacements through partner lenders so you don't have to cover the full cost upfront. Most homeowners qualify, the application is quick during your inspection visit, and we don't pull credit unless you ask. Visit baccaro-roofing.com/financing for current options, or just mention it during your free inspection and Ronnie will walk through what fits. No pressure if cash works better for you — we won't push financing on anyone.

Back to Blog

Baccaro Roofing GuideMcAllen Roofing Contractor: How to Choose One in 2026

Q: Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. Baccaro Roofing is fully insured for general liability and workers' comp, and operates across the Rio Grande Valley with all required local permits pulled on every job. We carry full documentation on every job site and can provide certificates of insurance on request before any work begins.

June 6, 202610 min read

The honest McAllen roofing contractor guide nobody hands you

Hiring a McAllen roofing contractor is one of the largest single-purchase decisions most Rio Grande Valley homeowners ever make. A re-roof on a typical 2,200 square foot home off Bicentennial Blvd or near Trenton Crossing runs from the mid-teens into the upper twenties of thousands of dollars. And yet most homeowners spend more time vetting a used car than the company they hand a five-figure check to and trust to keep the rain out of their kitchen for the next 25 years.

I am Ronnie Baccaro. I own Baccaro Roofing. We are an owner-operated McAllen company with 5+ years of focused work in Hidalgo County, 500+ completed projects across the Valley, and a 5.0-star average across 20 Google reviews. I am going to tell you exactly what to ask, what paperwork to demand, and where the traps are — including the legal trap that has put a lot of Valley homeowners on the wrong side of an insurance claim.

If you only remember three things from this article, remember these: (1) Texas does not license residential roofers at the state level. (2) Any contractor who offers to 'waive' or 'eat' your insurance deductible is asking you to commit a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Insurance Code §707. (3) You should never pay a large deposit before materials arrive at your driveway.

Everything else below is the long version.

What 'licensed roofing contractor' actually means in Texas

This is the single most misunderstood phrase in the McAllen roofing market. Homeowners ask, 'Are you licensed and insured?' — and almost every contractor in the Valley says yes. Here is the reality.

Texas does not issue a residential roofing license at the state level. There is no Texas Roofing Board. Unlike electricians or plumbers, residential roofers in Texas operate without a state-issued occupational license. You can confirm this directly with the [Texas Department of Insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/) and the [Texas Attorney General consumer protection](https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/) division. The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas runs a voluntary registration program, but membership is not a license and a non-member is not breaking any law.

So when a McAllen contractor says 'licensed and insured,' what they should mean is:

- They hold a City of McAllen general business license (or business license in the city where they are based). - They carry general liability insurance, typically a $1M policy. - They carry workers compensation insurance covering every crew member on your roof.

That is it. There is no state roofing license to verify. The vetting burden sits on you, the homeowner. That is why the rest of this guide matters so much.

For context on how widely this is misunderstood, the [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/) lists roofing as one of the top categories for consumer complaints nationally year after year. The [National Roofing Contractors Association](https://www.nrca.net/) has been lobbying for state licensing in Texas for over a decade without success.

The 9 questions to ask any roofing contractor in McAllen before signing

Print this list. Bring it to every estimate. If a contractor flinches at any of them, you have your answer.

1. How long has your business operated under this exact name and EIN in Hidalgo County? Storm chasers reincarnate under new LLCs every 18-24 months to dodge warranty claims. Look for at least 3-5 years of continuous operation under the same legal entity. Baccaro has 5+ years.

2. Can I see a current Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming me as the certificate holder for this project? A real COI lists general liability and workers comp carriers, policy numbers, and expiration dates. Call the agent listed on the COI to confirm the policy is active. Without active workers comp, if a roofer falls off your house, your homeowner policy and your personal assets are exposed.

3. Will you pull the Hidalgo County or City of McAllen permit in your name? Permits in your name as the homeowner are a red flag — it means the contractor is hiding from inspection records. The permit must be pulled by the contractor and posted at the job site per City of McAllen building department procedure.

4. What is the exact product line you install, and are you an approved installer for that line? Baccaro installs GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed product lines. We do not say 'certified roofer' because that phrase is loosely used in this industry — what matters is whether your specific shingle carries an enhanced manufacturer warranty (often called a System Plus or similar program) when installed by an approved company. Confirm this with the manufacturer directly. GAF lets you verify approved installers at [gaf.com](https://www.gaf.com/).

5. Who is on the crew, and are they W-2 employees or day-labor subcontractors? This affects warranty enforcement, accountability, and workers compensation coverage.

6. What is your written workmanship warranty? Not a verbal promise — a written, signed warranty document. Industry standard for a reputable McAllen company is 5-10 years on labor. The shingle manufacturer warranty is separate and is on the materials only.

7. How is the payment structured? I will get to this in detail below, but the short answer: no large deposit, and progress payments tied to material delivery and physical milestones.

8. Can I have three local references from completed projects in Hidalgo County within the last 12 months? Not nationwide. Not from three years ago. Recent, local, verifiable.

9. Will you commit in writing that you will not ask me to waive my insurance deductible? This is the AOB trap question. Any contractor who hesitates here is one you walk away from. See the next section.

The AOB trap and Texas Insurance Code §707

AOB stands for Assignment of Benefits. It is a legal document that transfers your right to receive insurance proceeds directly to a contractor. Storm-chaser companies that descend on the RGV after every named storm push AOB hard because it lets them control the claim, negotiate directly with your carrier, and bill for inflated scopes you never agreed to.

Here is the part most homeowners do not know. Under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707, it is a Class A misdemeanor for a contractor to pay, waive, rebate, credit, or offset all or part of an insurance deductible as an inducement to the sale of goods or services. The [Texas Department of Insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/) enforces this. It is criminal on the contractor side, and it is insurance fraud on the homeowner side — because the homeowner is certifying to the insurer that they paid a deductible they did not actually pay.

The pitch sounds friendly: 'Do not worry about your deductible, we will cover it.' What it actually means is: the contractor is going to inflate the claim to your insurer by the amount of the deductible plus a margin, you become a participant in insurance fraud, your carrier can void the claim and drop your policy, and you are personally liable.

The [Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety](https://ibhs.org/) and the Texas Attorney General office both publish guidance on this. If a McAllen contractor offers to handle, waive, eat, or absorb your deductible, end the conversation. That is not a roofer. That is a problem.

A legitimate [roofing contractor in McAllen](/areas/mcallen) will collect your deductible from you, the homeowner, before or at completion, and will document it for the carrier.

The paperwork you must have in hand before the first nail flies

Reputable [McAllen roofing services](/areas/mcallen) always come with paperwork. If a contractor wants to start work on a handshake or a one-page proposal, that is the entire warning sign. Demand these documents:

A line-item written quote. Not 'complete tear-off and re-roof, $18,500.' A real quote breaks out: tear-off and disposal (count of layers, dump fees), decking inspection and replacement (per-sheet pricing for plywood or OSB), synthetic underlayment (brand and weight), ice and water shield (linear feet at eaves, valleys, and penetrations), drip edge (linear feet), starter strip, shingle line (brand, model, color), ridge cap, vents (count and type), pipe boots (count), flashing (linear feet of step and counter), labor, warranty, and any optional upgrades.

The Hidalgo County or City of McAllen permit number. This must be posted at the job site. Without it, you will fail final inspection and may have insurance coverage issues on a future claim.

A current Certificate of Insurance. Naming you as certificate holder for the project address.

A written workmanship warranty. Signed, dated, with specific language about what is covered, for how long, and what is excluded.

A payment schedule that does not include a large upfront deposit. More on this in the next section.

Manufacturer warranty registration. After installation, your contractor should register the shingle warranty with the manufacturer and send you the confirmation. This is how the GAF, Owens Corning, or CertainTeed warranty becomes enforceable on your specific roof.

How payment should be structured

This is one of the cleanest red-flag detectors in the industry. The right payment schedule for a McAllen re-roof on a standard residential project looks like this:

One third on material delivery. When the shingles, underlayment, and decking land in your driveway and you can physically see them.
One third at dry-in. After tear-off, decking inspection, ice-and-water and synthetic underlayment installed, drip edge on. Your roof is now weather-tight even if it rains tonight.
One third on completion and final inspection. After the City of McAllen or Hidalgo County final inspection passes and you have walked the site with the foreman.

What you should not do: pay a large deposit before materials are on site. A small deposit to cover initial permit and scheduling — typically a few hundred to a couple thousand on a larger project — can be reasonable. A five-figure deposit before any work or any materials is how Valley homeowners lose tens of thousands of dollars to contractors who simply vanish. The BBB complaint database is full of these cases.

For homeowners who need to spread payments, we offer [financing](/financing) options that do not require any upfront cash from the homeowner. That is a different structure than a deposit and it goes through a licensed lender.

Local McAllen contractor vs out-of-state storm chaser

After every named storm that brushes the Valley, out-of-state contractors flood McAllen with door-knockers in branded trucks. The pitch is always the same: free inspection, we will handle your insurance claim, sign here.

I am not going to tell you every out-of-state contractor is bad. Some are legitimate national companies. But the structural problems are real.

Warranty enforcement. A 10-year workmanship warranty from a company headquartered in Florida or Oklahoma is only as good as that company willingness to send a crew back to McAllen three years from now to fix a leak. Local companies cannot disappear because we have to drive past our work every day. Our trucks are parked in McAllen. My number, (956) 600-0501, has been the same number for years.

Permit knowledge. Hidalgo County and the City of McAllen have specific permit, inspection, and code requirements. Local companies know the inspectors, know the process, and know the typical correction items. Out-of-state crews routinely fail final inspection on McAllen jobs because they used the wrong nailing pattern for the 130 mph wind zone or skipped the ice-and-water shield requirement at penetrations.

Insurance claim handling. A local company that builds long-term relationships with State Farm, Allstate, USAA, and Farmers adjusters operating in the Valley moves your claim faster than a national firm running it through a centralized call center. For more on the claim process specifically, see our guide on [insurance adjuster tactics](/blog/insurance-adjuster-tactics) and our local [McAllen insurance claim](/areas/mcallen/insurance-claim) help.

McAllen-specific code: wind zone, ice-and-water, and Hidalgo County permits

A few code points matter specifically in Hidalgo County and the 78501, 78503, and 78504 ZIP codes.

Wind zone. McAllen sits in a 130 mph design wind zone under the Texas Department of Insurance windstorm map. This affects nailing pattern (6 nails per shingle is standard, not 4), starter strip requirement, ridge cap method, and edge metal attachment. A code-compliant install in McAllen is not the same as a code-compliant install in Dallas.

Ice and water shield. Required at all eaves, valleys, and penetrations under the residential code adopted by the City of McAllen and Hidalgo County. This is the self-adhered membrane that keeps wind-driven rain out even if shingles lift.

Permit posting. The Hidalgo County or City of McAllen permit must be posted at the job site, typically in a clear sleeve attached near the front door or in a front-facing window. No posted permit, no legitimate project.

If you are near the McAllen Convention Center, La Plaza Mall, or in the older neighborhoods off North 10th Street, you may also be dealing with original 1970s and 1980s decking that does not meet current uplift standards. A real estimate accounts for partial decking replacement.

What a Baccaro estimate looks like

When we come out for a free inspection as a [full-service McAllen replacement](/areas/mcallen/roof-replacement) provider — whether you are near UTRGV McAllen Teaching Site, in Sharyland, in Las Brisas, near the McAllen Development Center on Pecan Boulevard, or anywhere else in 78501, 78503, or 78504 — here is what you get.

A walk of the entire roof with photos. A written line-item quote on letterhead. A copy of our current Certificate of Insurance. A written workmanship warranty. A payment schedule structured as described above. A clear answer on which GAF, Owens Corning, or CertainTeed product line we recommend for your specific house and budget. A clear answer on whether you should file an insurance claim or pay out of pocket — and we will tell you honestly when out of pocket is cheaper.

No pressure. No same-day signing discount. No deductible games. No AOB.

If you would like a rough budget number before scheduling, our [roof cost calculator](/roof-cost-calculator) gives you a starting range, and our deeper [roof replacement cost McAllen](/blog/roof-replacement-cost-mcallen) guide walks through what drives the number up or down. If you are already deep into the process and comparing companies, our piece on the [best roofer McAllen TX 2026](/blog/best-roofer-mcallen-tx-2026) round-up may help.

For specific service needs, we also handle [McAllen roof repair](/areas/mcallen/roof-repair), [storm damage repair](/areas/mcallen/storm-damage-repair), and [emergency roof repair](/areas/mcallen/emergency-roof-repair) for roofer McAllen calls of any size.

Common questions

Do I need a state-licensed roofer in Texas? No. Texas does not license residential roofers at the state level. Vet on business history, insurance, references, warranty, and paperwork instead. The Texas Department of Insurance confirms this directly.

How do I verify a McAllen contractor insurance? Ask for a Certificate of Insurance naming you as certificate holder for the project address. Call the agent listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active and covers roofing work.

Is it legal for a McAllen roofer to waive my deductible? No. Under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707, it is a Class A misdemeanor for a contractor to waive, eat, or absorb an insurance deductible. The Texas Department of Insurance and Texas Attorney General both publish guidance on this.

How much should I pay as a deposit? A small deposit for scheduling and permit work can be reasonable. A large deposit before materials arrive at your driveway is a red flag. The standard structure is one third on material drop, one third at dry-in, one third on completion.

What permits do I need for a re-roof in McAllen? A building permit from the City of McAllen or Hidalgo County, depending on jurisdiction. The contractor pulls the permit in their name and posts it at the job site.

How long does a typical McAllen re-roof take? A standard 2,200-2,800 square foot single-story home is one to two days for a competent crew, plus inspection. Two-story or complex roofs take longer.

What warranty should I expect? Manufacturer warranty on materials (varies by product line — GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed all offer enhanced programs when installed by approved companies) and a separate written workmanship warranty on labor from the contractor, typically 5-10 years for reputable McAllen companies.

Can I get a free inspection without committing? Yes. Baccaro provides free inspections with no pressure and no obligation. Call (956) 600-0501.

Get a quote

Ronnie Baccaro answers the phone. Free inspections across McAllen, including 78501, 78503, 78504, Sharyland, Las Brisas, Trenton Crossing, and the neighborhoods around Bicentennial Blvd and Pecan Boulevard. We will walk your roof, hand you a written line-item quote, show you the COI, and let you decide. No pressure. No AOB. No deductible games.

Call (956) 600-0501 or request a free inspection through our [Baccaro McAllen](/areas/mcallen) page. If you already know you need a full tear-off, jump straight to our [McAllen roof replacement](/areas/mcallen/roof-replacement) page for the full-service McAllen replacement scope and what to expect.