The storm passed overnight. This morning there are shingle tabs in the yard, a few dents on the gutters and, by lunch, a stranger at the door offering a free roof inspection. If that's where you are right now, take a breath. A roof claim is a process, and it goes much better when you run it in order.
We're an independent agency in Friendswood. We don't adjust claims, but we help our clients through them every storm season. This guide covers the whole claim, start to finish. If you want the math behind roof settlement terms first, read our explainer on replacement cost versus actual cash value roofs.
The first 48 hours after hail or wind
The short answer: Stay safe, photograph the damage from the ground, cover openings with temporary repairs, keep receipts, and report the claim quickly without signing anything with a contractor yet.
Texas leads the country in major hail events. The Insurance Information Institute, citing NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, reports 902 major hail events in Texas in 2025, the most of any state. And TDI said in June 2026 that wind and hail averaged 62% of Texas homeowners losses since 2019.
The Texas Department of Insurance's home insurance guide, last updated June 1, 2026, gives the core steps:
Report it promptly
TDI says to tell your company as soon as possible, because most policies have deadlines. Write down your claim number.
Photograph before fixing
Photos and video of the roof from the ground, damaged gutters, vents and siding, and any interior ceiling stains. Stay off the roof.
Temporary repairs only
Tarp openings to prevent more damage and keep the receipts. TDI says not to make permanent repairs before the insurer inspects.
Keep a log
TDI's storm tips say to keep a record of everyone you talk to at your company, and to ask about an advance payment if you need help quickly.
You don't have to pick a roofer on day one. A door-to-door pitch the morning after a storm is a sales process, not your claim.
Should you file? Do the deductible math first
The short answer: Compare a written repair estimate with your wind and hail deductible in dollars, because many Texas policies use a percentage deductible that can swallow smaller roof repairs entirely.
Many Texas homeowners policies carry a wind and hail deductible written as a percentage of the dwelling limit. On a $350,000 dwelling limit, a 2% deductible is $7,000. If the repair estimate is $5,500, the policy pays nothing on the roof.
That's why we suggest a written estimate from a contractor you chose, or a call to us, before you file on minor damage. Our guide to how Texas wind and hail deductibles work converts each percentage into dollars.
If the damage is clearly larger than the deductible, file. Under Insurance Code §551.107, natural-cause claims don't count toward the three-claims-in-three-years non-renewal rule. Our article on Texas non-renewal rules explains the details.
The adjuster inspection: how to prepare
The short answer: Be home for the inspection, have your photos and receipts ready, invite your contractor if you have one, and ask for the adjuster's written estimate so you can compare it line by line.
TDI recommends being present when the adjuster inspects and says your contractor can be there too, so estimate questions get answered on the spot. Bring photos, repair receipts and anything showing the roof's pre-storm age and condition.
After the visit, ask for the adjuster's estimate in writing. It usually lists each item, such as shingles, underlayment, flashing, vents, drip edge and labor, with quantities and prices.
TDI's storm tips say to get multiple bids from contractors and compare them with the adjuster's report before settling the claim. Missing items are normal and fixable: your contractor documents them, and you send that to the adjuster as a supplement.
The two checks, the holdback and the mortgage company
The short answer: Replacement cost policies usually pay actual cash value first and release the withheld depreciation after the work is done, and your insurer can require proof you paid your deductible before releasing it.
TDI describes the typical replacement cost flow in its home insurance guide: a first check after the adjuster inspects, then a second check for the amount withheld for depreciation once the insurer gets the bill for the finished job. TDI adds that you usually must complete repairs within a certain period of time. That period is set by your policy, so look it up as soon as the first check arrives.
| Step | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| First check | Replacement cost minus depreciation minus your deductible | Sign a contract with a roofer you've vetted |
| Deductible | You pay it to the roofer, like any other part of the bill | Keep the canceled check, card statement or receipt |
| Work completed | Roofer issues a final invoice | Send the invoice and proof of payment to your adjuster |
| Second check | Withheld depreciation released, based on the actual cost | Watch your policy's completion deadline |
The deductible step is written into Texas law. Insurance Code §707.004, in effect since September 1, 2019, lets an insurer refuse to pay withheld recoverable depreciation until it receives reasonable proof that you paid the deductible. Acceptable proof includes a canceled check, money order receipt, credit card statement or a financing agreement. In plain English: pay your deductible in a way that leaves a paper trail.
If you have a mortgage, TDI says the insurer will make the repair check out to both you and your mortgage company. Call your lender's loss-draft department early; many require endorsements or inspections before releasing funds.
What Texas law says about roofers and your claim
The short answer: You must pay your own deductible, contractors can't waive it or act as your public adjuster, and a contract signed after a door-to-door pitch generally comes with a three-business-day right to cancel.
Four rules do most of the work. TDI's page Roofing and insurance: Know the law explains the first two.
You pay the deductible
Insurance Code §707.002 says a person insured under a property policy shall pay any deductible on a first-party claim. Under Business and Commerce Code §27.02, a contract of $1,000 or more expected to be paid from a property insurance claim must include a notice, in at least 12-point bold type, that Texas law requires you to pay your deductible. A seller who waives, absorbs or rebates it without the insurer's consent commits a Class B misdemeanor.
Your roofer can't be your adjuster
Insurance Code §4102.163 says a contractor may not act as a public adjuster, or advertise to adjust claims, on any property where it is or may be doing the work. That holds even if the contractor has a public adjuster license or a power of attorney from you. TDI gives examples of what crosses the line, such as offering to negotiate your settlement or promising to recover "every dime you are owed."
Three business days to cancel a door-to-door contract
Texas's home solicitation law, Business and Commerce Code chapter 601, covers most sales over $25 that are solicited and agreed to away from the seller's business. Section 601.052 requires a written notice that you may cancel before midnight of the third business day after the transaction. In plain English: if you signed at your kitchen table after a knock on the door, you generally have a short window to change your mind.
Nobody licenses roofers
Texas doesn't require roofing contractors to hold a state license, as Houston Public Media reported in June 2024. A 2025 bill to create licensing through TDLR, HB 3344, died when the session ended. Vetting a roofer is your job, and ours if you call us.
Contractor red flags, and what good looks like
The short answer: Walk away from anyone who offers to cover your deductible, promises to handle your insurance company, rushes you to sign, or can't show a local address, references and a written, itemized estimate.
"We'll take care of your deductible"
That's the conduct §27.02 makes a crime. TDI warns it often means an inflated estimate or cut corners on materials.
"We'll deal with your insurance company"
Negotiating your settlement is adjusting. §4102.163 bars your contractor from doing it on a job they're bidding.
Sign today, before the adjuster comes
Pressure to sign at the door, before you know what the claim pays, puts the roofer's timeline ahead of yours.
No local footprint
TDI's hail advice: check a contractor's references and phone numbers, and get more than one written estimate. A roofer with no local address is a reason to slow down.
What good looks like is boring: a local business with references you can call, proof of its own liability insurance, a written and itemized estimate, the §27.02 deductible notice in the contract, and a plan to pull the city permit. Houston and Friendswood both publish residential re-roof permit applications through the Houston Permitting Center and the City of Friendswood.
Pay in stages tied to completed work rather than a large sum up front, and don't sign over your insurance check before the job is done. If a contractor offers to waive your deductible, TDI says to report it to the Texas Attorney General's consumer protection hotline at 800-621-0508.
Coastal roofs: TWIA, WPI-8 and the one-year clock
The short answer: In the designated coastal area, a TWIA wind claim must be filed within one year, and most roof work needs a WPI-8 windstorm inspection while the job is underway to keep the home eligible for TWIA.
The designated catastrophe area covers the 14 first-tier coastal counties, including Galveston and Brazoria, plus the part of Harris County east of Highway 146. In county-line cities like Friendswood, League City and Pearland, only the Galveston or Brazoria side is designated. Our guide to TWIA, WPI-8 and private wind covers the map, and our Galveston County home insurance guide shows how it plays out locally.
- File within a year. TDI's guide says TWIA policyholders have one year from the date of damage to file a claim, matching Insurance Code §2210.573.
- Book the inspection before work starts. TDI says a WPI-8 certificate is required for TWIA eligibility. TDI inspectors must see the work in progress; an appointed engineer can inspect during construction, or after it for a WPI-8-E.
- Small repairs may be exempt. TDI lists roof repairs of less than 100 square feet that don't involve decking as exempt from inspection.
After a hurricane, wind and water damage go to separate policies. Our article on separating flood and wind damage explains how adjusters draw that line, and our storm-season playbook covers the rest. Homeowners in the city can also see our Houston home insurance guide.
Your insurer's deadlines, and the 61-day notice
The short answer: Most private insurers must acknowledge your claim within 15 days, decide within 15 business days of receiving what they asked for, and pay within 5 business days of accepting, with 15 extra days after declared catastrophes.
These come from the Prompt Payment of Claims Act in Insurance Code chapter 542. Under §542.056, an insurer that needs more time must tell you why, and then has up to 45 more days to decide. Under §542.059, all the deadlines stretch by 15 days after a weather catastrophe or major natural disaster, as the commissioner defines it. TWIA runs on its own schedule: TDI says it has 60 days to decide and 10 days to pay once it accepts.
The decision clock starts when the insurer has everything it reasonably asked for, so send a complete package early.
If a dispute heads toward a lawsuit, Insurance Code §542A.003 requires written notice at least 61 days before filing suit on a weather-related property claim, stating the amount owed and attorney's fees. TWIA claims follow their own dispute rules instead. TDI also notes that claims under $20,000 can go to Justice Court.
If the numbers don't add up: reinspection, appraisal and public adjusters
The short answer: Start by asking for the estimate line by line and a reinspection, then consider your policy's appraisal clause for amount disputes, and hire a licensed public adjuster only if you need full-time help.
Many disagreements come down to measurements, missing line items or pricing. Ask the adjuster to walk you through the estimate, send your contractor's documentation, and request a reinspection if something was missed.
If you and the insurer still disagree on the amount, many policies include an appraisal clause. TDI explains how it works: you and the company each hire an appraiser, the two pick an umpire, and if the appraisers don't agree, the umpire's decision is binding on both sides. You pay your appraiser and half of the umpire's costs. Appraisal settles how much, not whether something is covered.
Public adjusters represent you, not the insurer, and must be licensed by TDI under Insurance Code chapter 4102. Section 4102.104 caps their fee at 10% of the settlement, and §4102.103 gives you 72 hours after signing to cancel their contract in writing. You can also file a complaint with TDI at 800-252-3439.
Texas law, in Insurance Code §4102.051, also lets the licensed agent who wrote your policy act for you on a loss under it, so start with us. We can't overrule a carrier, but we can read the estimate with you and tell you whether something looks off. If your roof terms surprised you, a coverage-first quote comparison or a look at our home insurance options can prevent a repeat.
The bottom line
A Texas roof claim goes best in order: document and protect the house, do the deductible math, meet the adjuster with your evidence, then choose a roofer who follows the law. Pay your deductible with a paper trail, send the final invoice, and watch your policy's deadline for the second check.
The laws are on your side when you know them. Your roofer can't waive your deductible or negotiate your claim, coastal roofs need a WPI-8, and your insurer has deadlines too.
We're an independent agency in Friendswood. Call us when the claim starts, or better, before the next storm, and we'll read your roof terms with you. (832) 703-1289.
Last reviewed by the Watson Insurance team on October 2, 2026. Statutes, TDI guidance and TWIA claim rules are re-verified before every update. Educational only, not personalized insurance or legal advice.
