What to do about your roof after a Texas storm

A practical Texas guide to storm-damage roof claims: post-storm documentation, adjuster process, deductible requirements, and timing rules that affect coverage.

Texas regularly sees severe storm activity, and storms are the largest category of billion-dollar weather losses in the state according to NOAA/NCEI. After a hail or wind event, the goal is simple: document conditions early, get a professional inspection, and move through the claim process on a clear timeline.

Focus — Storm response and claims
Reading time — 12 min
Key risk — Waiting too long to act

Storm damage does not always look obvious — but it gets worse with every season you wait.

Roof damage is often easiest to prove right after the event, when fresh evidence is available. Waiting can make causation harder to document because additional weather, normal wear, and temporary repairs can blur the timeline. Texas Department of Insurance guidance also emphasizes prompt reporting and complete documentation. Acting quickly usually improves clarity for both the homeowner and the carrier.

What to do after a major storm hits your area

Do a safe ground-level check within the first 24 hours — Walk the perimeter of your home. Look for downed shingles or roofing debris in the yard, dented gutters and downspouts, cracked or pitted siding, damaged window screens, and dented outdoor HVAC units. If hail was large enough to dent aluminum gutters or outdoor furniture, it was almost certainly large enough to damage asphalt shingles. Do not climb onto the roof — a professional inspection is safer and far more thorough.
Document everything you can see — photos, video, and dates — Take clear photos and video of visible conditions from the ground, including roofline views, soft-metal impacts (gutters/downspouts), and related exterior damage. Record the storm date and keep weather alerts/reports for your area. Organized documentation makes the adjuster review faster and reduces back-and-forth.
Schedule a professional roof inspection within 72 hours — A qualified inspection can identify damage patterns that are not visible from the ground. Ask for a written report with photos and line-item notes. You do not need to commit to a contractor to get inspection evidence; the immediate goal is an accurate condition record.
File the insurance claim promptly if damage is confirmed — Open the claim with your carrier as soon as damage is confirmed. Share your storm date and documentation package, and request the claim number and adjuster contact details. Under Texas prompt-payment rules, carriers generally must acknowledge claims within 15 days, decide within 15 business days after receiving required items, and pay within 5 business days after approval.
Have your roofer present during the adjuster inspection — Having your inspection professional present can improve technical clarity during the field review. The objective is a complete, well-documented scope so there is less dispute later.
Do not sign a roofing contract before the claim is settled — Review the estimate and claim scope before committing to final pricing. Also remember Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 requires the insured to pay the deductible; no contractor can legally waive or absorb it.

Common storm-claim friction points and how to avoid delays

Treating interior leaks as the first signal — By the time interior symptoms appear, documentation is usually weaker and repair scope may be larger. Ground-level exterior evidence and early professional inspection are usually more useful than waiting for indoor signs.
Waiting too long to file — Policies define reporting windows and claim obligations. Even when coverage exists, delay can complicate causation and scope discussions. Prompt filing generally gives the cleanest path to resolution.
Limited documentation at inspection time — If field notes and photos are incomplete, supplemental requests take longer. A clear damage packet and a technical representative at inspection can reduce revision cycles.
Choosing a contractor before vetting credentials — Before signing, verify local operating history, insurance, references, and scope transparency. A documented scope and accountability after install matter more than speed alone.
Stopping after the first scope disagreement — If inspection findings differ, you can request re-inspection and submit supplemental documentation. Keep all communications and reports organized so the file can be re-evaluated efficiently.

Storm damage and insurance questions

Will filing a storm damage claim raise my insurance rates?: It can, depending on your insurer, claims history, and whether the storm triggered widespread claims in your area. Some carriers apply surcharges after claims; others do not for weather-related events. However, not filing when the roof has legitimate storm damage can lead to much larger problems — a failing roof, interior water damage, mold, and eventual out-of-pocket replacement cost that dwarfs the potential rate increase. Weigh the cost of the deductible and any rate impact against the cost of ignoring the damage.
What if the adjuster and my roofer disagree about the damage?: This happens regularly. You have the right to request a re-inspection, provide supplemental evidence from your roofer, or hire a public adjuster to perform an independent assessment. Many disputes are resolved through the supplemental claim process, where additional damage found during tear-off or documented by a second professional opinion results in an adjusted claim amount. Our storm damage restoration service includes adjuster coordination and supplemental documentation so the claim scope reflects the actual damage.
Does my homeowner insurance cover solar panel damage from hail?: Most standard Texas homeowner policies cover solar panels as part of the dwelling structure, similar to roofing or siding. However, coverage details, deductible structure, and claim limits vary by carrier and policy. If you have solar panels, confirm with your insurer how a combined roof-and-solar claim would be handled, whether the panels are covered under the dwelling or personal property section, and whether the detach-and-reset cost for accessing the roof is included in the claim scope.
How long does the insurance claim process take in Texas?: Simple claims can resolve in weeks; complex files can take longer. Texas prompt-payment rules generally require acknowledgement within 15 days, a decision within 15 business days after required documentation is received, and payment within 5 business days after approval.
What size hail causes roof damage that requires repair?: There is no single universal threshold because damage depends on material type, roof age, wind, impact angle, and installation condition. Any storm with notable hail or wind should be evaluated by a professional inspection rather than judged by diameter alone. Our hail and wind damage roof inspection covers the full exterior assessment with a written report you can use for your claim.
Should I make temporary repairs before the adjuster comes?: Yes — and your insurance policy typically requires it. You have a duty to mitigate further damage, which means covering exposed areas with tarps, catching active leaks, and preventing water from reaching the interior. Document everything you do with photos, keep receipts for any materials purchased, and do not make permanent repairs until the adjuster has inspected. Temporary protective measures are typically reimbursable as part of the claim.

Get a professional roof inspection before the damage gets worse.

If a storm recently came through your neighborhood, a free inspection can tell you whether there is claimable damage — before the filing window closes or the next storm compounds the problem.

Schedule a free storm inspection

Contact Texas Solar & Roofing Pros

Free estimates, no pressure, and no commitment. Numbers on this site are Central Texas ranges; your roof, usage, utility, and insurance carrier change them.

Phone — (512) 775-0561
Email — info@texassolarandroofingpros.com
Address — 1700 Pagedale Cove, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Service area — Austin, Texas, Round Rock, Texas, Georgetown, Texas, Cedar Park, Texas, Pflugerville, Texas, Kyle, Texas, Bastrop, Texas, Dallas, Texas, San Antonio, Texas, Waco, Texas, San Marcos, Texas

Machine-readable resources

Any public page on this site returns Markdown when the request prefers text/markdown (Accept: text/markdown). HTML clients that are not browsers receive this lightweight document; browsers receive the designed page.