Most Texas homeowner policies cover storm damage to your roof. Most denied and underpaid claims fail on process, not on whether the damage was real. Here’s how a claim actually works, from a roofer who has walked hundreds of Hill Country roofs with adjusters, including the metal-roof wrinkles that trip people up here.
Step 1: Inspect before you call
Filing puts a claim on your record whether or not it pays. Get a free inspection first. No damage: no claim. Damage: you file with dated photos and know what the adjuster should find.
Step 2: Read your policy
- RCV vs. ACV. Replacement Cost Value pays to replace the roof minus deductible, usually in two payments. Actual Cash Value pays a depreciated amount. Some carriers have moved older roofs to ACV.
- Wind/hail deductible. Often 1 to 2 percent of dwelling coverage, which on a $700,000 Fair Oaks Ranch home is $7,000 to $14,000.
- Cosmetic damage exclusion. Common on policies covering metal roofs: dents that don’t affect function aren’t covered. Functional damage to vents, sealant and fasteners is. This is the single most important clause for Hill Country homeowners with metal roofs.
Step 3: File
Call or file online with the storm date (we help identify it), a description of the damage and your contact details. You get a claim number and an adjuster assignment, typically within a week or two, longer after major storms.
Step 4: The adjuster inspection
Have your roofer there. On shingle roofs we point out test squares on every slope and every soft metal. On metal roofs we separate cosmetic dents from functional damage and make sure the functional items, vents, flashing, sealant and fasteners, are on the scope. On tile we document cracked tile and the underlayment beneath. We attend every adjuster meeting on claims we’re involved in, at no charge.
Step 5: Review the scope
Common omissions: ice-and-water shield, drip edge, ridge vents, steep-slope and high-roof charges, code upgrades, detached structures and barns, and on metal roofs the trim and flashing. Your roofer requests a supplement with photos. Routine, not adversarial.
Step 6: Work and final payment
You pay your deductible to the contractor. On RCV policies the insurer releases the recoverable depreciation when it receives the completion invoice. Your lender may be a co-payee.
Texas rules to know
- Deductibles cannot be waived. Since 2019 it’s a criminal offense for a contractor to waive or absorb one. Walk away from anyone who offers.
- You choose the contractor. Not the insurer’s preferred vendor unless you want to.
- Deadlines apply. Often one to two years from the storm date, sometimes shorter.
- Don’t sign at the door. Assignment-of-benefits forms hand your claim rights to a contractor. Don’t.
If the claim is denied or underpaid
Get the reason in writing, compare the adjuster’s findings to your roofer’s documentation and request a re-inspection. Most disputes resolve with evidence. For large claims that don’t, a licensed public adjuster or an attorney may be appropriate; a good roofer tells you when you’ve reached that point.
We handle this every storm season across Kendall County. How it works with A1 Boerne Roofing, and where to start.