Guide: hail and insurance
Hail hit your roof. Here is what happens next in Texas.
Fort Bend and west Harris County see hail most springs. This is the order of operations we walk homeowners through, written by a roofing contractor, so it covers the roof and the paperwork without pretending to be insurance advice.
Updated
First 24 hours
Stay safe and write things down.
Stay off the roof
Wet shingles and hail-loosened granules are slippery, and a damaged roof can hide soft decking.
Note the date and time
Insurers ask when the storm happened. National Weather Service storm reports can confirm hail size and location later.
Photograph from the ground
Dented gutters, downspouts, vents, AC fins, mailboxes and car hoods, hailstones next to a coin or ruler, and any water inside.
Stop water only where it is safe
Move belongings and catch drips. Do not climb a ladder in wind or rain.
Is the roof damaged?
What hail damage on shingles actually looks like.
Hail hits on asphalt shingles show up as dark, random spots where granules were knocked off, soft bruises that feel spongy, or cracks and fractured mats. Wind damage looks different: creased, lifted or missing tabs, usually on the side that faced the storm.
Hail around one inch and larger is commonly cited as the size that can damage asphalt shingles, but older roofs can be damaged by smaller hail, and newer Class 4 shingles resist larger stones. That is why a ground-level look is not enough and why dented gutters alone do not prove the roof is damaged.
A roof inspection documents the hits per slope with dated photos and measurements, and just as importantly says so when the roof is fine.
The claim
How a roof insurance claim generally works in Texas.
Check your policy
Find your wind and hail deductible on the declarations page. Many Texas policies use a percentage of the home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount.
Report the damage
Contact your insurer directly. Policies set deadlines for reporting storm damage, so do not wait for a leak.
Adjuster inspection
The insurer sends an adjuster to inspect the roof and decide what the policy covers. You may have your contractor present to point out documented conditions.
Estimate and decision
The insurer issues its estimate and decision. If the roof needs work, your contractor provides a construction scope and price for the agreed repair or replacement.
Work and closeout
After the work, keep the final invoice, photos and warranty paperwork. Some policies hold back part of the payment until the work is complete.
Texas law
No roofer can pay your deductible.
Texas law prohibits a contractor from paying, waiving, rebating or advertising to absorb an insurance deductible. A door knocker who offers a "free roof" by covering your deductible is asking you to take part in something illegal.
Other red flags after a storm: pressure to sign on the spot, a contract that assigns your claim to the contractor, out-of-state trucks with no local address, and anyone who says they can guarantee what your insurer will pay.
Planning ahead
If you replace, consider Class 4 shingles.
Impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles are tested to resist hail better than standard shingles, and Texas insurers must offer a premium discount on qualifying impact-resistant roofs. The discount varies by insurer, so ask for the number before you choose.
Common questions
Hail claim questions
Will filing a hail claim raise my premium?
Weather claims are rated differently from claims within your control, but every insurer handles this differently. Ask your agent before filing if it is a concern.
Can I get a roofer to look before I call my insurer?
Yes. Many homeowners start with an inspection, at no charge for homes, to learn whether there is damage worth reporting at all.
Do you deal with my insurance company for me?
No. We document roof conditions and provide a construction estimate you can share. Coverage, negotiation and settlement stay between you and your insurer.
What if the adjuster and the roofer disagree?
Ask the insurer what documentation it needs, and share the dated photos and measurements. Policies also describe their own dispute steps, which your agent can explain.
Contractor disclosure
Who decides what.
We are a roofing contractor, not a public insurance adjuster or law firm. We can inspect and document roof conditions, provide a construction estimate, and discuss technical information about the proposed work. Coverage, claim, and settlement decisions belong to you and your insurer.
Start with a clear conversation
Tell us what decision you are trying to make.
Share the property, what you noticed, and the decision you need to make. We’ll confirm fit and explain the clearest next step.