Guide · Texas · Updated 2026-10-19

Filing a hail damage roof insurance claim in Texas

Texas sees more hail than almost any other state, and a bad storm can leave thousands of roofs damaged in a single afternoon. Most homeowners policies in Texas include wind and hail coverage, so a hail-damaged roof is usually a covered claim. What trips people up is not whether the damage is covered, but how the claims process works and which contractors to avoid once the storm chasers show up. This guide walks through the steps to file, the deadlines the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) holds insurers to, and the state law written specifically to stop roofing scams tied to insurance claims.

Step 1: Document the damage before you touch anything

TDI's guidance after hail or wind damage is to file quickly and document everything first. Take photos and video of the roof, gutters, siding and any interior leaks, and keep a written list of what is damaged inside and outside the home. Do not throw away damaged materials until your insurer has approved the claim. If a tarp or temporary repair is needed to stop further water damage, keep every receipt, since TDI notes that reasonable temporary repair costs may be reimbursed.

Step 2: File the claim and answer questions quickly

Call or go online to start the claim with your insurance company as soon as you can. TDI's consumer guidance says to answer the company's follow-up questions fully and quickly, and to write down the name, phone number and email of every adjuster or representative you speak with. Keep a log of every call and email, since disputes later often come down to who said what and when.

The deadlines your insurer has to meet

Texas law puts real deadlines on the insurance company's side of a claim, and TDI publishes them plainly for consumers:

Step	Deadline
Acknowledge your claim	15 business days after you report it
Accept or reject the claim	15 business days after the company has everything it needs from you (the company can ask for 45 more days if it tells you first)
Pay an accepted claim	5 business days after the company agrees to pay all or part of it

If the company rejects your claim, it must tell you why in writing. If you are filing against someone else's insurance rather than your own, that company does not have to meet the same deadlines, though TDI says it should still treat you fairly. When your own insurer pays, it subtracts your deductible from the payment, and you owe that deductible directly to the contractor doing the repair.

Texas law on roofers and your deductible

A wave of roofing scams after hail storms led the Texas Legislature to pass a law, effective 1 September 2019, that makes two things illegal statewide:

Waiving or rebating your deductible. TDI is direct about this: "It is illegal for contractors or roofers to offer to waive a deductible or promise a rebate for all or part of a deductible." A contractor caught doing it can face a fine of up to $2,000 and up to six months in jail. The usual pattern TDI warns about is a contractor who offers to cover your deductible, then cuts corners or inflates the invoice sent to your insurer to make up the difference.
Acting as your public adjuster while also doing the work. TDI's roofing and insurance page states plainly that "Texas doesn't allow a roofer or contractor to act as a public insurance adjuster on insurance claims if they're also doing the work." A roofer cannot negotiate your settlement, promise to get you the "maximum" payout, or claim to represent you on coverage questions while also bidding to repair your roof.

State law also requires that any contract for $1,000 or more tied to an insurance settlement include a written notice that you, the policyholder, are responsible for paying your deductible. Your insurer is allowed to ask for proof that you actually paid it. If a contractor offers to waive your deductible or tries to act as your adjuster, TDI's advice is to report it to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-621-0508.

Choosing a contractor while a claim is open

TDI's own tips for this stage are simple and worth following to the letter:

Get estimates from more than one contractor before you commit.
Check references, and look the company up with the Better Business Bureau.
Never sign a contract with blank spaces left in it.
Do not pay the full amount up front.
Make sure the adjuster can actually see all the damage when they inspect the roof.

Once you have a contractor, let them coordinate timing with your adjuster rather than starting a full tear-off before the inspection, since that can complicate the claim.

If your claim is denied or you disagree with the payout

TDI lays out a five-step path for homeowners who are not satisfied with how a claim was handled:

Go back to your insurer first. Many disagreements get sorted out by talking to the company or your agent directly, since the contact details are on your policy or available through TDI's help line.
Check whether your policy has an appraisal clause, or consider a public adjuster. Appraisal is a process built into many policies for resolving a dispute over the amount of a loss. A public adjuster is a licensed professional who can negotiate on your behalf, separate from your repair contractor, who by law cannot do this for you.
File a complaint with TDI. TDI's online complaint system lets you submit your complaint and attach photos or correspondence with the company.
Wait for TDI to review the company's response. TDI gives the company 15 days to respond, with a possible 10-day extension, then tells you what the response means for your case.
Consider legal help if you are still not satisfied. TDI's process does not force a company to pay, so a dispute that survives all of the above steps may need an attorney.

After the repair

Keep a copy of every document: the claim number, the adjuster's report, your contractor's invoice and any photos. For the law covering roofers and insurance in more detail, see TDI's own "Roofing and insurance: know the law" page in the sources below, and call TDI's consumer help line at 800-252-3439 with any questions along the way.

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Common questions

How long does my insurance company have to pay a hail damage claim in Texas?

Under Texas law, your insurer has 15 business days to acknowledge your claim, 15 more business days after getting everything it needs to accept or reject it, and 5 business days to pay once it agrees to pay, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.

Is it illegal for a roofer to waive my deductible in Texas?

Yes. Texas law makes it illegal for a contractor or roofer to offer to waive or rebate your insurance deductible. Violators can face a fine of up to $2,000 and up to six months in jail.

Can a roofing contractor negotiate my insurance claim for me?

No. Texas law does not allow a roofer or contractor to act as your public insurance adjuster while they are also the one doing the repair work.

What should I do right after hail damages my roof?

Photograph and video the damage, keep damaged materials until your insurer approves the claim, make temporary repairs to stop further water damage and keep the receipts, then file your claim as soon as you can.

Sources

Checked 2026-10-19.