The hail stopped. The door knockers started. That is not a coincidence.
If you are searching for what to do after hail damage roof Texas, listen closely. Your first job is not to pick a roofer. Your first job is to protect your family, protect your evidence, protect your house, and protect your insurance money.
Because the biggest financial damage may not be on your shingles.
It may happen on your front porch tomorrow morning when some smooth talking storm chaser says, “Sign here and we will handle everything.”
Handle everything?
Have you lost your mind?
It is your house. It is your policy. It is your insurance money. Not theirs.
I have installed roofs with my own back and two hands since I was 13 years old. I have watched DFW hailstorms bring out the best roofers and the worst scammers in the same neighborhood on the same day. I have seen homeowners do everything right. I have also seen homeowners get fast talked into contingency agreements, fake deductible deals, blank contracts, and insurance-money traps before they even knew whether the roof needed replacement.
Do not be fooled.
This after hailstorm checklist is written for you, the homeowner, the morning after the storm.
Not the sales person.
Not the door knocker.
You.
HAIL DAMAGE ROOF STEPS: FIRST, MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE
Before you think about insurance, shingles, contractors, or anything else, check your family and your property from the ground.
Do not climb on a wet roof.
Do not climb on a damaged roof.
Do not let your neighbor talk you into climbing a ladder because he wants to “take a quick look.” That is how people get hurt.
Walk around the property carefully. Look for broken glass, fallen limbs, downed power lines, sharp metal, loose gutters, broken skylights, damaged fences, and water coming inside.
If you see water entering the house, put buckets down and move furniture out of the way. If a ceiling is sagging, stay out from under it. If power lines are down, stay away and call the utility company.
Your roof matters. Your life matters more.
AFTER HAILSTORM CHECKLIST STEP 1: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING BEFORE CLEANUP
This is a Biggy!
Before you throw anything away, take photos and videos. The Texas Department of Insurance tells homeowners to take pictures and video of all damage after a storm. They also tell homeowners not to throw things away until the adjuster tells them to.
Why?
Because evidence disappears fast.
Hail melts. Water dries. Debris gets cleaned up. Gutters get emptied. Screens get tossed. Then a week later everyone is arguing about what happened.
Don’t do that.
Start with simple photos from the ground:
- Hail stones next to a tape measure, coin, golf ball, or your hand
- Dented gutters and downspouts
- Dented metal vents, chimney caps, roof jacks, and flashing if visible from the ground
- AC condenser fins with dents
- Damaged window screens
- Broken skylights or cracked windows
- Fence damage
- Patio furniture damage
- Granules piled in gutters, at downspout exits, or on patios
- Water stains on ceilings or walls
- Attic leaks if you can safely check from inside
- Vehicles, sheds, and anything else damaged by hail
Take wide photos and close photos. Take video while walking around the house. Say the date, time, city, and what you are seeing out loud in the video.
Was the hail quarter size? Golf ball size? Baseball size? Was the wind blowing it sideways? Did it come from the west side of the house? Did windows break on one elevation?
Write it down.
In late April 2026, DFW had reports of damaging hail across the region with average reported hail around 1.48 inches and maximum reports around 3.50 inches. Some areas near Cresson and Godley had reports up to 4.5 inches. That is not little pea hail bouncing off your driveway.
That is roof damage weather.
But here is the honest part. Not every roof hit by hail needs to be replaced. Some roofs need repair. Some may qualify for restoration. Some are truly totaled. You do not know until a real inspection is done by somebody who knows what hail bruising, granule loss, mat damage, collateral metal damage, and roof age actually mean.
Not a sales person with a clipboard.
A real roofer.
For more on what hail damage can look like, read How to Deal With Hail Damage on Your Roof.
AFTER HAILSTORM CHECKLIST STEP 2: MAKE TEMPORARY REPAIRS ONLY
If water is coming in, stop the water from causing more damage.
That does not mean you replace the roof before the adjuster sees it.
The Texas Department of Insurance tells homeowners to make temporary repairs to prevent more damage, cover broken windows and holes, keep repair lists, and save receipts. TDI also says not to make permanent repairs before the insurance adjuster sees the damage.
That is plain common sense.
If a tarp is needed, get a tarp. If a window is broken, cover it. If water is getting into the attic, protect the inside of the house.
Save every receipt.
Take photos before and after the temporary repair.
Do not let anyone turn an emergency tarp into a full roof contract unless you understand exactly what you are signing. A temporary repair authorization should be priced, limited, and clear. No blank spaces. No hidden contingency agreement. No “we get the job if insurance approves it” sneaking around in the paperwork.
Smoke and mirrors.
That is how they get a foot in the door.
HAIL DAMAGE ROOF STEPS STEP 3: CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY OR AGENT
Call your insurance company or agent and report the damage promptly.
TDI says to file a claim as soon as you can. Many Texas wind and hail policies have prompt-notice rules, and some have a one-year clock or similar deadline. Pull your policy. Call your carrier. Do not wait three months because some door knocker told you he is “watching the neighborhood.”
Ask for:
- Your claim number
- Adjuster contact information
- Inspection date or next steps
- Your deductible amount
- Whether your policy is ACV or RCV
- Whether there are special roof age or cosmetic damage rules
- What temporary repairs they approve
- How to submit photos, videos, and receipts
And then write down who you spoke with, the date, and what they said.
Do you see what we are doing here?
We are keeping you in charge.
Not the contractor. Not the storm chaser. Not the guy who knocked on your door 14 hours after the hail stopped.
You.
If you want more detail on claim filing basics, read Tricks To Filing a Roofing Insurance Claim.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING WITH A DOOR KNOCKER
Here comes the part that makes me angry.
After every major hailstorm in DFW, the door knockers show up. Some are local. Some are from out of town. Some are trained commission sales people who have never installed a roof in their life.
They will say things like:
- “We are already doing your neighbor’s roof.”
- “Insurance will pay for everything.”
- “You do not have to pay your deductible.”
- “Just sign this so we can inspect.”
- “We handle your claim.”
- “We work directly with your insurance company.”
- “We are only in the neighborhood today.”
All Lies? Not every sentence from every contractor is a lie.
But every one of those statements should make you slow down.
A real roofer can inspect your roof without trapping you in a contract. A real roofer can answer construction questions without asking for power of attorney. A real roofer can give you a written estimate instead of demanding your insurance paperwork first.
So ask one simple question:
“Am I signing anything that commits me to use you?”
If they dance around the answer, shut the door.
Read Warning Signs of a Storm Chaser before you let any stranger tell you how this works.
THE TEXAS DEDUCTIBLE LAW IS NOT A GAME
Let’s talk about the “free roof” hustle.
You will hear it after hail.
“We can waive your deductible.”
“We can cover your deductible.”
“We will rebate it back.”
“No out of pocket.”
Oohhh!! Wow! What a kind and thoughtful contractor!
Stop it.
Texas Business & Commerce Code Section 27.02 says a contractor working on insurance-funded property repairs cannot knowingly help you avoid paying your deductible by paying, waiving, absorbing, rebating, crediting, or otherwise making it disappear without insurer consent. For contracts of $1,000 or more paid from insurance proceeds, the law also requires a deductible notice in bold type.
Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 says the insured shall pay the deductible applicable to the claim. It also allows insurers to require proof you paid it before releasing certain replacement cost holdback money.
TDI says it in plain English: contractors cannot waive your deductible or help you avoid paying it.
Why does this matter?
Because the deductible is not magic money. If a contractor says he will “eat it,” where do you think that money comes from?
Inflated paperwork?
Cheap materials?
Cut labor?
Missing ventilation?
No real warranty?
Roofers who waive deductibles are cutting corners. TDI said that. I agree with it.
Read The Truth About the Free Roof Offer and Why a Contractor Who Offers to Waive Your Deductible Is Breaking the Law before you let someone drag you into that mess.
Your deductible is your responsibility. Your insurance money is your money. Keep everything legal. Keep proof of payment.
That is the honest way.
A ROOFER CAN DOCUMENT DAMAGE. A ROOFER SHOULD NOT TAKE OVER YOUR CLAIM.
This is where homeowners get confused.
Can a roofer take photos of damage? Yes.
Can a roofer explain construction scope, materials, code items, measurements, ventilation, flashing, drip edge, gutters, and roof accessories? Yes.
Can a roofer meet an adjuster and point out physical roof damage? Yes, if the homeowner wants that and the roofer stays in the construction lane.
But can a roofing contractor act like your public insurance adjuster while also trying to sell you the roof work?
Now we have a problem.
Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 says a person cannot act as or hold themselves out as a public insurance adjuster in Texas unless licensed. Section 4102.163 says a contractor may not act as a public adjuster or advertise to adjust claims for property for which the contractor provides or may provide contracting services.
That matters.
When a contractor says, “We negotiate your claim,” ask them what exactly they mean.
Are they giving construction facts?
Or are they trying to take control of your claim, your rights, and your money?
Big difference.
HonestRoof does not handle claims or deductibles for homeowners. Your claim stays your claim. Your insurance money stays under your control. If you ask us a construction question or need documentation from an inspection, we can answer questions. But filing the claim, managing the claim money, and paying the deductible stays with you.
Why?
Because that is clean. That is legal. That keeps the homeowner in charge.
GET A REAL ROOF INSPECTION, NOT A PANIC REPLACEMENT PITCH
After hail, everyone wants to sell you a roof.
Of course they do.
A full roof replacement is a big ticket job. Commission sales people know it. Middleman contractors know it. Storm chasers know it.
But what if your roof can be repaired?
What if it can be restored?
What if only certain slopes are damaged?
What if the roof is older and needs replacement, but the gutters and accessories also need proper documentation?
What if the shingles are bruised in a way you cannot see from the ground?
This is why you need a documented inspection before panic replacement.
At HonestRoof, we look at restoration possibilities first where it makes sense. Not every roof needs full replacement. If your roof truly needs replacement, we will tell you. We replace roofs every day. But I am not interested in selling you a $15,000 replacement if a proper repair or restoration path is the honest answer.
Do you know how rare that is in this business?
Most sales people want the biggest job they can close. They do not care if the homeowner spends more than needed. They care about commission.
Sales People Are Not Roofers!
DEMAND A REAL WRITTEN ROOF ESTIMATE
Written estimates will speak volumes.
I have said it before, and I will keep saying it until every homeowner in DFW hears it.
ALWAYS demand written estimates.
A real roof estimate should include:
- Company name, address, phone, and letterhead
- Roof measurements or squares
- Tear-off details
- Shingle brand, line, and color
- Underlayment type
- Ice and water shield where needed
- Starter shingles
- Hip and ridge shingles
- Drip edge
- Flashing details
- Pipe jacks and vents
- Ventilation method
- Decking replacement price if needed
- Gutters or accessories if included
- Labor and material scope
- Warranty information
- Payment terms
- Total price
Not “insurance proceeds.”
Not “price to be determined.”
Not “we do the job for whatever insurance pays.”
That is not an estimate. That is a blank check sales tactic.
Your insurance estimate and a contractor estimate are related, but they are not the same thing. The adjuster estimates covered damage. The roofer prices the actual job. You compare them. You ask questions. You stay in charge.
Read Why Demanding a Written Roof Estimate Is So Important before you give anyone your insurance paperwork.
MEET THE ADJUSTER AND POINT OUT ALL DAMAGE
If possible, be home when the adjuster comes.
Walk the property with them if they allow it. Point out the gutters, screens, AC fins, fence, interior leaks, attic stains, skylights, and anything else you documented.
Do not throw damaged items away until the adjuster tells you. Do not make permanent repairs too early. Keep receipts for temporary work.
TDI says insurance companies have 15 business days to acknowledge the claim, start review, and ask for needed information. After receiving requested information, they generally have 15 business days to accept or reject the claim. They can extend by 45 days if they explain why, and catastrophe rules can add more time. After they agree to pay all or part of a claim, TDI says they must pay within five business days.
Those timelines matter because you should not be sitting in the dark wondering what is going on.
Ask questions. Take notes. Keep copies.
If the insurance check includes your mortgage company, do not panic. That happens. TDI says the mortgage company must contact you within 10 days of receiving the payment. Stay organized.
For help reading the paperwork when it arrives, read How To Read Your Insurance Claim Papers.
COMPARE THE INSURANCE PAPERWORK WITH YOUR ROOF ESTIMATE
This is where the money gets dangerous.
A lot of homeowners think the insurance paperwork is the roofer’s paycheck.
Wrong.
The insurance check is not automatically the roofer’s check.
It is your insurance money. Your money. Your repair budget. Your responsibility.
Compare the adjuster’s estimate with the contractor’s written estimate. Look for missing roof items, code items, gutters, vents, flashing, screens, interior damage, depreciation, deductible, and payment timing.
If something is missing, document it. Ask questions. If a supplement is needed, it should be based on real construction facts, photos, measurements, and code requirements. Not drama. Not threats. Not a contractor pretending he owns your claim.
If a contractor refuses to give a written estimate because he wants to see the insurance paperwork first, be careful.
Why does he need your budget before giving you his price?
Would you take your car to a mechanic and say, “Here is my insurance check. Just take all of it”?
No?
Then why would you do that with your roof?
DO NOT PAY IN FULL UP FRONT
TDI warns homeowners not to pay in full upfront. They also warn people not to sign contracts with blank spaces and to get written bids.
Common sense again.
A real contractor should have clear payment terms. A local company should have a real address, proof of insurance, references, and a written scope.
In North Texas, this is not hypothetical. Patrick Jenkins of SOS Roofing and Construction was sentenced to 8 years in prison in a case involving 41 victims, theft between $150,000 and $300,000, and $230,000 in restitution. The pattern involved door-to-door solicitation, collecting initial payments, promising work, and not completing it.
That is why I get angry.
Good homeowners get scared after storms. Scammers know it. They use urgency to separate you from your money.
Do not be the low hanging fruit.
YOUR SIMPLE AFTER HAILSTORM CHECKLIST
Print this. Screenshot it. Send it to your neighbor.
- Make sure everyone is safe.
- Stay off the roof.
- Photograph and video everything before cleanup.
- Save hail size evidence if possible.
- Write down date, time, city, wind, hail size, and damage noticed.
- Stop active leaks with temporary repairs only.
- Save all receipts.
- Call your insurance company or agent promptly.
- Get your claim number and adjuster information.
- Do not sign a contingency agreement at the door.
- Do not sign blank paperwork.
- Do not give anyone power of attorney.
- Do not let a contractor “handle your claim” without understanding Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102.
- Do not accept any deductible waiver, rebate, credit, or “free roof” pitch.
- Get a documented inspection from a local, established roofer.
- Ask whether repair, restoration, or replacement makes sense.
- Demand a real written estimate.
- Compare the estimate with the insurance paperwork.
- Choose the contractor after you understand the numbers.
- Pay your deductible legally and keep proof.
That is the order.
Protect the evidence. Protect the house. Protect the money.
CALL HONESTROOF FOR A DOCUMENTED INSPECTION
If your roof got hit by hail last night, don’t panic and don’t get bullied.
Call HonestRoof for a documented inspection. We will look at the actual roof, the collateral damage, the age and condition of the shingles, and whether repair, restoration, or replacement is the honest path.
We are not here to take over your claim. We are not here to play games with your deductible. We are not here to turn your insurance money into our blank check.
We are here to tell you the truth.
Doing business since 1954 means something to us. Hands-on roofing means something to us. Written estimates mean something to us.
Want a roofer who will inspect it, document it, explain it, and let you stay in charge?
Call HonestRoof.
FAQ
Make sure everyone is safe, stay off the roof, document all damage with photos and video, make only temporary repairs to stop further damage, save receipts, and call your insurance company promptly. Do not sign anything with a door knocker before you understand what it says.
Should I call insurance or a roofer first after a hailstorm?
If you have obvious damage or active leaks, call your insurance company or agent promptly and get a claim number. You can also schedule a local roofer for a documented inspection, but do not let a contractor take over your claim or your insurance money.
Can a roofer waive my deductible in Texas?
No. Texas law requires the policyholder to pay the deductible. Texas Business & Commerce Code Section 27.02 makes it an offense for a contractor to waive, absorb, rebate, credit, or otherwise help you avoid paying the deductible without insurer consent. Keep proof that you paid it.
Can a roofing contractor negotiate my insurance claim in Texas?
A roofer can document construction damage and explain roof scope, but Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 draws a serious line around public adjusting. A contractor should not act as your public adjuster or advertise that they adjust claims for work they may perform.
What should a written roof estimate include after hail damage?
A written roof estimate should include company information, roof measurements, materials, tear-off scope, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, accessories, labor, warranty, payment terms, and a total price. If the contractor only says “insurance proceeds,” that is not good enough.
