Slow storm seasons push roofers to widen their work
A quiet storm season can leave roofers with fewer claims. Contractors in a recent industry report found other ways to keep work moving, from adding related services to following up with homeowners.
Roofing work can rise and fall with the weather. When storms are quiet, contractors may need other ways to keep crews busy and stay in touch with customers.
Roofing Contractor reported that roofing-related claims were down 11.9% through August compared with the same period in 2025, citing Verisk data. Contractors interviewed at the 2026 Win the Storm event in Dallas said the slowdown looked different from one market to another.
Some contractors described a quiet season. Others said storm work remained strong in their areas. Their accounts point to a practical lesson for service businesses: do not rely on one source of demand when customers need related work too.
Offer work close to the core service
Aaron Sanchez of Sanchez Services in Del Rio, Texas, said his company took on gutters, fascia, siding and soffit work before a larger storm brought more roofing jobs. He advised contractors to look for work that is familiar and related to what they already do.
Related jobs can help keep a crew working while also giving customers another reason to call. A homeowner who hires a roofer for siding or gutters may remember that company when roof work is needed later.
The key is to stay within the team’s skills. An added service should fit the tools, training and work the company already knows how to do. Owners can also explain clearly which jobs they take on and when a specialist is needed.
Follow up before chasing new territory
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, X Roofing and Solar focused on reaching homeowners who may have been missed after earlier storms. The company’s Christopher Perez said some homes had not been reached, or had not received a follow-up after an earlier contact.
That points to work many service businesses already have in their records. Past estimates, missed calls and old customer inquiries can be useful places to start, especially when a crew has room in its schedule.
A follow-up should be helpful, not pushy. The owner can ask whether the customer still needs an inspection or repair, give a clear next step and stop contacting people who say they are not interested.
Trust matters when demand is uneven
Contractors in the report also stressed the value of a good customer experience. Hugo Flores of Vora Exteriors in New Orleans said his company tried to educate customers and show that they mattered, rather than focus only on making a sale.
That approach matters in a market where storm chasers and scammers can make homeowners wary. David Simbayna Loja of Stormcare Roofing in Boston said those operators can harm trust in the industry. Clear explanations, steady follow-up and work the company can stand behind help owners protect their reputation.
Some companies also had both insurance restoration and retail work, along with financing and promotions, according to Roofing Contractor. That mix gave customers different ways to proceed, while reducing the company’s dependence on a single kind of job.
Not every service business needs to add a new service or financing plan. The useful step is to check where demand comes from, what customers already ask for and what the crew can deliver well. Owners can then make a small change before a slow stretch becomes a bigger problem.
What an owner can do this week
- List two or three related jobs customers already ask the crew to handle, and choose only those the team can do safely and well.
- Review old estimates and unanswered inquiries, then contact a short list of customers with a simple, useful follow-up.
- Check whether the company’s service list and customer messages explain what work it handles, what it does not handle and how to book.
- Track new calls and booked jobs by service, so the owner can see which work helps fill gaps in the schedule.