Rockport After Harvey — The Roofing Standard That Survived
Harvey's impact on Rockport created a natural experiment in roofing performance that no test lab could replicate. Standing seam metal roofs with Kynar/PVDF coating and properly fastened underlayment survived with minimal damage at wind speeds that stripped shingle roofs completely. The post-storm damage patterns were visible block by block — metal roofs mostly intact, shingle roofs mostly gone, and the properties in between telling the story of varying installation quality.
Rockport homeowners who chose metal in the 2017–2020 rebuild window made a long-term decision that holds up well in retrospect. The 40–70 year metal roof lifespan means they will not face another replacement cycle at the scale of Harvey's aftermath. For Rockport homeowners still on asphalt shingle roofs — whether pre-Harvey or post-storm replacement that is now approaching 8–10 years — the case for metal at next replacement is stronger here than anywhere else in South Texas.