Hail Damage Roof Insurance Claim in Texas: A Step by Step Guide

Wet, damaged roofs are slippery and can have weak spots you cannot see. Leave roof walking to professionals with fall protection.

• Check inside for active leaks, wet ceilings, or sagging drywall
• Keep clear of downed power lines and report them to your utility
• Move valuables away from leaks and put out buckets or towels
• If water is near light fixtures or outlets, shut off power to that area

Document everything

Good records make the claim process smoother. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends photographing damage, keeping receipts, and keeping a log of everyone you talk to at your insurance company.

• Take dated photos and video of hail on the ground (a coin or ruler helps show size)
• Photograph dents on gutters, downspouts, vents, AC units, mailboxes, and cars
• Photograph interior water stains and wet areas
• Write down the date and time of the storm
• Keep damaged items until your insurer says you can discard them

Add temporary protection

Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to keep damage from getting worse. That usually means tarping holes, covering broken skylights, and drying out wet areas. Your policy may pay for these temporary repairs, so save every receipt.

Hold off on permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage. If you need emergency tarping, our storm damage restoration crew can help.

Hail damage is easy to miss from the ground. Bruised shingles, cracked mat underneath the granules, and broken seal strips often only show once you are on the roof.

A local roofer can tell you whether there is damage worth claiming before you file. If the damage is minor and falls under your deductible, you may decide a claim is not worth filing. Stone Castle Roofing offers free roof inspections with photos of what we find, and we are glad to tell you when we do not see storm damage.

If the roof does need to be replaced, it is a good time to consider Class 4 impact-resistant shingle roofing or metal roofing, which tend to stand up better to the next hail storm. Smaller damage can often be handled with a straightforward roof repair.

A few policy terms decide much of what you receive. Look for them on your declarations page or ask your agent.

Deductible type

Many Texas homeowners policies use a separate wind and hail deductible. It may be a flat dollar amount or a percentage deductible, which is a percentage of your home's dwelling coverage, not of the claim. On a higher value home, a percentage deductible can be larger than many people expect. Texas law also makes it illegal for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate, or absorb your deductible, and your insurer may ask for proof you paid it.

Actual cash value vs replacement cost

Roof payment schedules

Some policies use a roof schedule that pays a set percentage of the roof's value based on its age and material. If you see this language, ask your agent how it would apply to your roof.

File with your insurance company

The Texas Department of Insurance advises filing as soon as possible after a storm. Policies set their own reporting requirements, so check yours and do not wait. When you call or file online:

• Give the date of the storm and a short description of the damage
• Share your photos and the inspection findings
• Write down your claim number and the name of everyone you speak with
• Ask what the next steps are and when to expect the adjuster

Meet the adjuster, with your roofer if you want

The insurance adjuster will inspect the roof and write an estimate. You can ask your roofer to attend. A roofer at the meeting can point out damage, share photos, and make sure nothing is missed, such as damaged vents, flashing, or gutters.

There is a limit, though. Texas law does not allow a roofer to act as a public adjuster on a claim for work they are doing. That means a contractor cannot negotiate your settlement or claim to represent you on coverage. Your roofer documents the damage and the work; you and your insurance company handle the claim.

Supplements

Once the roof is opened up, the crew may find items that were not visible during the adjuster visit, like damaged decking or code required components. Your roofer can document these with photos so the additional cost can be submitted to the insurance company for review. The insurer decides whether to pay.

If you disagree with the estimate

Sometimes the adjuster's estimate misses damage or leaves out items your roofer found. Start by asking your insurance company to explain how they reached their numbers, and send any added photos or documentation. Your policy describes the options available when you and the insurer disagree. If you have questions about your rights, the Texas Department of Insurance has a consumer help line and can explain the general process.

After big hail, out of town crews knock on doors across Pearland and Houston. Some do fine work. Many disappear when problems show up. Watch for:

• Offers to waive or cover your deductible (illegal in Texas)
• Promises to get you a new roof or to "handle everything" with your insurer
• Pressure to sign the same day, or contracts with blank spaces
• Any document asking you to sign over your claim rights or insurance payments to the contractor
• Large payments up front before materials arrive

The Texas Department of Insurance also suggests getting more than one estimate and not making final payment until work is complete. Our full list of storm chaser roofer red flags covers more.

All of Brazoria and Galveston counties, plus the part of Harris County east of State Highway 146, sit in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) designated catastrophe area. Much of Pearland and part of Friendswood fall in that area. If your wind coverage is through TWIA, roof work generally must be inspected and certified to the windstorm building code to keep your eligibility. Not every repair requires an inspection, so confirm for your address with the Texas Department of Insurance. Stone Castle Roofing installs to the windstorm code and coordinates the required inspection when a project needs one. Our WPI-8 windstorm certification guide explains the process.

Stone Castle Roofing is locally owned and works with insurance adjusters on storm claims across Pearland, Friendswood, and Greater Houston. If hail just came through your neighborhood, schedule a free inspection or contact us. If you would rather talk it through first, call (281) 250-1265. We will show you what we find, including when there is nothing worth claiming.