Texas Hail Damage Insurance Claim Guide

If you live in DFW long enough, you will file a hail damage claim. The hail belt that runs from Wichita Falls down through the metroplex and east to Tyler is one of the most active in the country. Between 2019 and 2024, Texas led the nation in hail insurance claims every single year.

Here is the playbook — what to do, in order, when hail rolls through and you suspect damage. This guide assumes you have a standard Texas HO-3 homeowner's policy. If you have a different policy type, the broad strokes still apply but some specifics change.

Step 1: After the storm, walk your yard

You're not climbing the roof — that's the inspector's job. You're looking for the indicators that hail produced damage:

• Dented gutters and downspouts — soft aluminum dents at any hail size 1" or larger. Look at the topside of the gutter; sideways view doesn't show it.
• Bruised metal surfaces — A/C condenser fins, mailbox, exterior light fixtures, attic vents.
• Granules in downspouts and at the base of downspouts — heavy granule loss is a strong indicator of shingle impact.
• Dented vehicle hoods, fences, deck rails — these are proxies for what likely happened to the roof.

If you see any of these, the roof was likely hit. Move to Step 2.

Step 2: Get a free roof inspection — before filing the claim

This is the step most homeowners get wrong. They file the claim first and then look for a roofer. Better order: have the roofer inspect first, then file with the documentation in hand.

Why? Two reasons:

1. You learn whether you actually have a claimable loss. A reputable roofer will tell you honestly if the damage is below the threshold a carrier will cover (a few dings on the south slope, for example). Filing a claim that the carrier denies still counts on your loss history and can affect renewal premiums.
2. The roofer documents the damage to the carrier's standard. Photos, test squares, chalk-marked strikes per slope, code-required upgrades noted. This is the language adjusters speak.

A reputable roofer will inspect for free and give you a written assessment whether you file or not. Be wary of any roofer who pressures you to sign a contract before the inspection is even finished — that's a contingency-contract play that's not in your favor.

Step 3: File the claim with your carrier

Call your carrier's claims line (the number on your insurance card, not your agent). Have ready:

• Your policy number.
• The date of the storm.
• A description of what you observed (gutter dents, granules, etc.).
• The roofer's inspection summary if you have it.

You'll be given a claim number. Write it down. Every conversation references this number.

The carrier will schedule an adjuster to come out — typically within 7–14 days. In peak hail season this can stretch to 4+ weeks; that's a normal level of backlog.

Step 4: Meet the adjuster — with your roofer present

This is the single most important step in the process. You have the right to have your roofer present during the adjuster's inspection. Always exercise that right.

What happens during the meeting:

• The adjuster climbs the roof and inspects.
• Your roofer climbs alongside and points out specific damage the adjuster might miss.
• Together they agree on scope — which slopes are damaged, whether it's a full replacement or a partial.
• The adjuster takes their own measurements and photos.

If your roofer isn't there, the adjuster decides scope alone. Adjusters are professionals and most are fair, but they're also paid by the carrier and their job includes cost containment. A roofer present is a different conversation.

Step 5: Receive the carrier's scope-of-work and ACV check

Within a week or two of the inspection, the carrier sends you a "Statement of Loss" or scope-of-work document, often built in Xactimate. This is itemized by line item — shingles, decking, drip edge, ridge cap, ventilation, etc.

You will also receive an ACV (Actual Cash Value) check — the depreciated value of the loss, minus your deductible. This is the first of (typically) two payments. The second payment is the recoverable depreciation, which the carrier releases after the work is completed and they verify completion.

Important: the ACV check is made out to you and your mortgage lender if you have a mortgage. You'll need to endorse and forward to the lender, who endorses and returns it — or in some cases keeps it in escrow and disburses to the roofer as work progresses. The exact process depends on your lender.

Step 6: Verify the scope matches what's needed

Sit down with your roofer and the carrier's scope-of-work. Walk through it line by line. Common things missing or under-scoped:

• Code-required upgrades — current Texas building code may require items the original roof didn't have (drip edge on certain roof types, ice & water shield in certain areas, improved ventilation). These are covered under "Ordinance & Law" coverage if your policy includes it.
• Underlayment replacement — sometimes scoped only over the damaged area when full-slope replacement is appropriate.
• Decking replacement — typically allowed at 1 sheet per square (100 sq ft) plus damaged sheets identified onsite.
• Detached structures — separate detached garages, sheds, fences are covered under Coverage B on most policies but often missed initially.
• Gutters and downspouts — frequently underpaid; they were almost certainly damaged if the roof was.

If items are missing, your roofer submits a supplement to the carrier with photos and documentation. Supplements are normal — they're not adversarial — and most adjusters expect them.

Step 7: Sign with the roofer and schedule the work

Once scope is agreed, sign a contract with the roofer. Things the contract should include:

• Itemized scope matching the carrier's approved scope.
• Brand and specific product of shingle, underlayment, etc.
• Warranty terms — manufacturer (typically 25–50 years on shingles) and workmanship (typically 1–5 years).
• Payment schedule — typically the ACV check at job start, the recoverable depreciation at job completion, deductible due before or at start.
• License/registration info — Texas requires roofers accepting insurance work to register with the Texas Department of Insurance. The registration number should be on the contract.

Do not let a roofer pay your deductible for you. This is called "deductible eating" and it is a violation of Texas Insurance Code Section 27.02. It's also an indicator that the roofer is comfortable with insurance fraud, which says something about how they'll handle your job.

Step 8: Work is completed; carrier releases depreciation

After the work is done, the roofer submits a Certificate of Completion to the carrier with final photos. The carrier verifies completion and releases the recoverable depreciation as a second check (usually to you and your lender). You forward that to the roofer.

Common pushback from carriers

Even with a clean process, carriers sometimes push back. Common scenarios:

• "Only the south slope is damaged." Adjuster scopes a partial repair when full replacement is appropriate. Your roofer documents the other slopes and submits a supplement.
• "That damage is from prior storms." Carrier denies based on age. Counter with the inspection findings and storm date overlay.
• "Brittle test failed; the shingles weren't damaged by hail." This is a tactic that's been the subject of litigation in Texas. Your roofer's documentation and a TDI complaint are options.

If the pushback is significant and persistent, consider hiring a licensed Texas public adjuster. They're licensed by TDI to advocate for you with the carrier, and take a fee (usually 10%) of what they recover. Public adjusters are not the same as roofers — they're a separate licensed profession.

What to avoid

• Door-knocking storm chasers. Out-of-state crews who hit a market after a storm, sign as many contracts as they can, and disappear. Verify TDI registration. Verify Texas business address. Verify they were doing work in DFW before the storm.
• Roofers who don't pull a permit. Most DFW cities require a roofing permit. A roofer who works without permits is a problem.
• Anyone asking you to assign your insurance claim to them. Assignment of Benefits (AOB) agreements have been used by bad actors to inflate claims and litigate against carriers. Most reputable Texas roofers avoid these entirely.

For more on Texas insurance claims, see the Texas Department of Insurance.