Before you file a roof insurance claim in Texas, do three things: get a professional inspection, document the damage with photos, and confirm your deductible. Filing for damage that costs less than your deductible pays you nothing and still puts a claim on your record. In the video above, Stacie Feller, who runs KangaRoof, walks through the process so you can avoid the small mistakes that turn into big ones. The written version is below.
Step one: get an inspection before you call your insurer
The claim starts the moment you call, not the moment a check arrives. Once a claim is opened, it exists in your history whether it pays out or not. So the first call after a Round Rock hailstorm should be to a roofer, not to your carrier.
A professional inspection tells you two things you cannot see from the driveway: whether there is real, claimable damage, and roughly what it will cost to fix. Hail bruising on architectural shingles is often invisible from the ground. So is the difference between cosmetic granule scuffing and fractured shingle mat. KangaRoof inspections are free, and we will tell you if your roof does not need a claim.
Step two: know your deductible
Most Texas policies carry a separate wind and hail deductible, often set at 1% to 2% of your dwelling coverage. Check your declarations page for the actual figure. If the repair price is below that number, the claim will not pay, and you are better off handling the repair out of pocket. If the damage is a full replacement, the deductible is the part you pay and the insurer covers the rest of the approved scope. We go deeper on this in Will Insurance Pay for My Roof?
Step three: document everything
- Photos and video. Shoot the roof, gutters, downspouts, window screens, AC fins, fences, and anything else the hail hit. Dents in soft metal help establish the storm's severity.
- Dates. Note the date of the storm and the date you first noticed damage. Your policy has a filing window, and the adjuster will ask.
- Emergency repairs. If you tarp a leak or have a section patched to stop water, keep the receipt. Reasonable emergency work to prevent further damage is usually reimbursable.
- Interior damage. Photograph ceiling stains, wet insulation, and damaged belongings before you clean up.
A KangaRoof inspection includes a photo report you can hand directly to the adjuster.
One claim can affect your premiums
Insurers price policies on claim history. A single roof claim can raise your rate at renewal, and multiple claims in a short period can make a policy harder to keep. That is not a reason to skip a legitimate claim after a damaging storm. It is a reason not to file over a handful of missing shingles you could replace for less than your deductible. The inspection step is what tells you which situation you are in.
You file the claim, and you choose the roofer
Two things Texas homeowners should never hand over:
- The claim itself. The policyholder files. A roofer can help you prepare, meet the adjuster, and explain the scope, but the claim is yours and so is the relationship with your carrier.
- The choice of contractor. Your insurer may suggest a preferred vendor. You are not required to use one. Texas law lets you pick any roofer you trust.
Also know that since HB 2102 passed in 2019, a Texas roofing company cannot pay, waive, or absorb your deductible. Any contractor offering to do so is asking you to commit insurance fraud, and walking away is the right move. Real help looks like thorough documentation and a guaranteed price, not a disappearing deductible.
What happens after you file
The insurer assigns an adjuster who inspects the roof and writes a scope of work with a dollar figure. We recommend having your roofer on site for that inspection. KangaRoof meets adjusters regularly, and we walk the roof with them so nothing gets missed: hail hits on the back slope, damaged ridge vents, dented flashing, and the details of a code-compliant replacement. If the adjuster's scope leaves something out, we submit the documentation for a supplement. The full sequence is laid out on our insurance process page.
Once the scope is approved, you pick your roofer, schedule the work, and pay the deductible. The insurer typically pays in stages, with part released up front and the remainder after the job is complete. Your contractor should be able to explain each payment before you sign anything.
If your claim is denied or underpaid
Denials happen. Sometimes the adjuster missed the damage, sometimes the damage was attributed to age or wear, and sometimes the file was simply incomplete. A denial is not the end of the process. You can request a re-inspection, submit additional documentation, or ask for a second adjuster. We cover the options step by step in Roof Insurance Claim Denied in Texas: What Now?
What to do next
- After a storm, schedule a free inspection first. Do not call your carrier until you know what you have.
- Pull your declarations page and write down your wind and hail deductible as a dollar amount.
- Photograph the roof, gutters, and any interior damage, and save every receipt for emergency repairs.
- If the damage clearly exceeds your deductible, file the claim yourself and choose your own contractor.
- Have your roofer present for the adjuster's inspection, and keep copies of every document the insurer sends.
KangaRoof handles storm and hail damage across Round Rock, Austin, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, and Hutto, and you can see how we approach it on our storm and hail damage page. Before you file, call (512) 388-7663 and let us take a free look at your roof.
