A roof replacement is not necessarily the last time a roofing contractor should see a house.
This home in Merriman Park Estates in Lake Highlands is a good example. Bert Roofing replaced the roof after a major Dallas storm in 2019. Seven years later, we returned for several small repairs and preventive maintenance items.
None of the 2026 work called for another roof replacement. The roof itself was still performing well. The issues involved plumbing vent collars, a heater vent, debris from mature trees, and a few other maintenance items that develop over time.
A Lake Highlands storm we remember well
The original roof replacement followed the severe storm that moved through Dallas on June 9, 2019.
That storm hit Lake Highlands particularly hard. Strong winds knocked down trees throughout the neighborhood, damaged homes, blocked streets, and caused widespread power problems. Hail was also reported in the area.
I remember that storm for a different reason.
My wife Patti and I were on a beach in Maui with our two boys. We had been watching the sea turtles that are common along the shoreline when our phones suddenly started lighting up with texts from friends and people back in Dallas.
We live in Lake Highlands ourselves, so it became obvious very quickly that something significant had happened back home.
One of the homes damaged during that storm was this property in Merriman Park Estates.
A Class 4 roof replacement in 2019
The insurance claim resulted in a complete roof replacement.
We installed GAF ArmorShield II Class 4 impact-resistant shingles in Weathered Wood. The project was approximately 48 squares and included much more than simply removing and replacing shingles.
The roofing work also included new roofing underlayment, drip edge, valley metal, ridge shingles, chimney flashing, step flashing, roof vents, turbine vents, plumbing penetrations, and skylight work.
The homeowner is an architect and is very familiar with construction and roofing. This was our first project together. We have continued to take care of the roof when something needs attention.
That ongoing relationship is important because even a properly installed roof occasionally needs maintenance.
Seven years later, the squirrels found the plumbing vents
When we inspected the roof again in 2026, one of the more interesting problems involved the plumbing vent collars.
Squirrels had chewed on several of the lead collars.
This is not particularly unusual in heavily treed Dallas neighborhoods. Lead makes a very durable plumbing vent flashing, but squirrels sometimes chew on the exposed lead.
We replaced five damaged plumbing vent flashings with Bullet Boots.
There is no perfect plumbing vent material.
Traditional rubber compression-style pipe flashings are generally not attractive to squirrels. Their weakness is prolonged exposure to North Texas sunlight. Over time, ultraviolet exposure can cause rubber components to dry out, crack, and deteriorate.
Lead avoids much of that UV deterioration but occasionally attracts unwanted attention from squirrels.
This is one reason plumbing penetrations should be checked during periodic roof inspections.
Heater vents need attention after HVAC work
We also addressed the heater vent penetration.
When a furnace or heater vent is repaired, moved, or replaced, the roofing components around that penetration can be disturbed. The storm collar and surrounding flashing need to remain properly sealed.
This can fall into a gray area between HVAC and roofing work.
HVAC contractors understandably concentrate on the mechanical system. In many cases, they do not perform detailed roofing work on the exterior penetration. That does not mean anything was done incorrectly. It simply means the roof connection should be checked afterward.
On this home, we resealed the vent area as part of the repair work.
Small details around roof penetrations account for a disproportionate number of roof leaks. A relatively inexpensive maintenance item can prevent a much more expensive interior problem later.
Mature trees also mean roof maintenance
Merriman Park Estates and much of Lake Highlands have large, mature trees.
They are one of the things that make these neighborhoods attractive. They also drop a remarkable amount of material onto roofs.
During our 2026 visit, we found acorns and other debris collecting in portions of the roof. We cleaned the accumulated material as preventive maintenance.
It will come back.
That is simply part of owning a house underneath large North Texas trees.
Valleys and other areas where roof sections meet deserve particular attention. Leaves, acorns, twigs, and other organic debris can collect there and slow drainage. Keeping those areas reasonably clear helps water leave the roof the way the roofing system was designed.
Roof repair does not always mean something failed
There is an important distinction between roof maintenance and premature roof failure.
This roof was approximately seven years old when we returned in 2026. It did not need replacing.
Instead, it needed several relatively small items addressed:
- Five squirrel-damaged plumbing vent collars were replaced.
- The heater vent area was resealed.
- Minor sealing work was completed.
- Accumulated acorns and roof debris were removed.
- Matching GAF ArmorShield II material was used where shingle work was required.
That is a much better outcome than waiting for a small maintenance issue to become an interior leak.
For homeowners in Lake Highlands, especially neighborhoods with heavy tree cover, occasional roof maintenance should be expected. Plumbing vents, flashing, penetrations, valleys, and roof accessories often deserve attention long before the shingles themselves reach the end of their useful life.
Bert Roofing has worked on homes throughout Lake Highlands and East Dallas since 1988. For homeowners in Merriman Park Estates and the surrounding Dallas 75231 area, our goal is not simply to replace roofs. It is to help keep a properly installed roof performing as long as it reasonably should.
