Getting a WPI-8 for a new coastal roof, one step at a time

Step 1: Confirm the property is in the program

Start with TDI's designated catastrophe area map. TDI notes that the catastrophe areas did not change when it adopted the 2024 codes, and that in Harris County a structure must sit east of Highway 146 and inside one of the mapped cities (TDI). If your lender requires windstorm coverage, this is the step that decides whether TWIA is an option at all; TDI points out that windstorm insurance is not required by law, but lenders near the coast usually want it.

Step 2: Pick the inspection path before tear-off

The choice you make before the old roof comes off sets the rest of the process.

• Ongoing construction (WPI-8). Inspections happen while the work is underway. Either a TDI inspector or an appointed qualified inspector can do them, and TDI keeps a list of appointed inspectors.
• Completed construction (WPI-8-E). A Texas licensed professional engineer inspects the finished roof. TDI warns that because a completed structure is harder to check for code compliance, this route may cost more.

TDI's WPI-8 fact sheet says you can request a free TDI inspector, or hire a licensed engineer or appointed inspector, and that TDI does not regulate what private inspectors charge. Ask your roofer, in writing, which path they plan to use and who will schedule the inspections.

Step 3: Build to the code TDI now certifies against

Starting April 1, 2026, TDI requires windstorm applications to be certified to the 2024 International Residential Code or the 2024 International Building Code. The required wind speed is set by each structure's location, which TDI suggests checking with web tools such as the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool, and TDI notes that most of the catastrophe area now falls in the windborne debris region.

For the roof itself, TDI's storm repair guidance spells out the details an inspector will look at:

1. Have the roof deck inspected and replace any deteriorated or damaged decking before the new covering goes on.
2. Underlayment may be No. 15 or No. 30 felt, synthetic, or self-adhered modified bitumen; at wind speeds of 140 mph and higher, No. 30 felt is required (TDI).
3. Roofing nails must be galvanized or stainless steel, at least 12-gauge with a 0.105-inch shank and a 3/8-inch head, and the code does not permit staples (TDI).
4. Asphalt shingles go only on slopes of 2:12 or steeper and must follow the wrapper's installation instructions (TDI).
5. Metal panels, metal shingles and concrete tile must follow the manufacturer's tested high-wind installation, which you can look up in TDI's product evaluations.

Step 4: Get the certificate, then verify it

When the inspected work complies, TDI issues the certificate of compliance, Form WPI-8, to TWIA. TDI says every certificate it has issued for ongoing or completed construction is published online, so you can confirm yours by address in the certificate search. TDI also advises holding the final payment until the contractor has finished and the WPI-8 has been issued.

If the roof is already finished: the WPI-8-E route

TDI's completed construction page lists what it needs before it can issue a WPI-8-E: a signed WPI-2E application, and a sealed post-construction inspection report with supporting documentation or a sealed design. It notes that engineers who are not appointed by TDI can inspect only completed construction. You can look up an engineer's license on the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors roster.

Older certificates and the WPI-8-C

Between January 1, 2017 and May 31, 2020, TWIA issued its own completed-construction certificates, the WPI-8-C. TWIA says those are not available on TDI's website and must be requested through its certificate lookup. Since June 1, 2020, TDI has issued all certificates of compliance, according to TWIA.

Work that needs no inspection

TDI publishes a list of repairs that skip the windstorm inspection. For roofs, the relevant items are:

• protective measures before a storm and temporary repairs after one;
• roof repairs of less than 100 square feet that do not involve decking or framing;
• fascia repairs, and gutter repair or replacement.

A full replacement is not on the list.

Credits for impact-resistant roofing

TWIA offers premium credits for impact-resistant roof coverings. TDI's roofing discounts page says the product must be classified under UL Standard 2218, its label must show a UL label (or one from another TDI-approved lab), the impact class, the manufacturer, the year made and the brand, and the contractor must complete TDI form PC068 after installation.

Contractor warning signs TDI lists for the coast

Beyond familiarity with the program, TDI's repair guidance flags contractors who are not established, who lack insurance or a bond, who offer "specials" or "extra-cheap work," and who have only out-of-state references or no physical address in your area. With no state roofing license in Texas, those checks carry the weight; the National Roofing Directory's Texas licensing page explains the local layer, and its storm damage repair guide covers the claim that often starts the job.

Frequently asked questions

Does a small roof repair need a windstorm inspection?

Not if it is under 100 square feet and does not involve roof decking or framing, according to TDI's exemption list. A roof replacement does need one.

What is the difference between a WPI-8 and a WPI-8-E?

A WPI-8 covers ongoing construction inspected while the work is underway; a WPI-8-E covers completed construction inspected afterward by a Texas licensed professional engineer (TDI). Both are issued by TDI and both appear in its certificate search.

Can any engineer do my windstorm inspection?

Any Texas licensed professional engineer can inspect completed construction, but inspections during construction require a TDI inspector or an engineer TDI has appointed (TDI). Check the appointed inspector list before work starts.