Hail and wind damage,
claim handled with you
Storm damage is not always visible from the ground, and by the time it is, the claim window may have closed. We inspect free, document everything properly, meet your adjuster on the roof, and handle the back and forth so you are not relaying messages between two parties who both think the other is wrong.
The four questions nobody wants to ask out loud
Some do, usually because the damage was reported as storm related when it was age related, or because it was filed without evidence. We inspect first and tell you honestly which one you have. If it is not a claim, we say so before anything is filed, because a denied claim sits on your record and helps nobody.
A weather claim is not treated the same as an at-fault claim, and in most cases a single storm claim does not move an individual premium. Rates across a whole region often move after a major hail event whether you claim or not. Your agent can tell you exactly how your policy treats it, and that is a question worth asking before you file.
On an approved claim, no. You pay your deductible and the insurer pays the rest. If their first estimate comes in short of what the job actually costs, we file a supplement with the documentation to support it. That process is normal, it is our job, and it does not come out of your pocket.
That is the storm chaser pattern, and it is why we are the ones still answering the phone in this town two years after a bad season. We are local, we are here next year, and our crews are employed by us rather than assembled from whoever showed up after the hail.
Five steps, and we are with you for all of them
Free inspection first, before you file
We get on the roof and document what is actually there. Hail bruising, wind lift, granule loss, damage to vents, gutters and soft metals. You get the photos and a written assessment saying whether this is a claim or not. If it is not, we tell you and you have lost nothing.
You file the claim
You file it, not us. Contractors cannot file on your behalf and anyone offering to is a problem. We give you the date of loss, the photos and the documentation so the call takes five minutes instead of forty.
We meet the adjuster on the roof
This is the part that matters most. We walk the roof with them, point out every area of damage, and make sure nothing gets missed. An adjuster working alone in twenty minutes sees less than one walked through it by someone who inspected it properly.
Approval and supplement if needed
If the approved scope does not cover what the job actually needs, we file a supplement with photographs, measurements and line item justification. This is routine and it happens on a good share of claims. You are not involved in it and it does not cost you anything.
Work scheduled and completed
Materials ordered, date set, permit pulled. You pay your deductible, we invoice the insurer for the rest, and the warranty documents are handed over with the final paperwork.
Sudden damage, not wear
This is the line insurers draw, and understanding it before you file saves a lot of frustration.
Usually covered
Damage that happened on a specific date because of a specific event.
- Hail impact bruising and granule loss
- Wind lifted or missing shingles
- Fallen limbs and impact damage
- Damaged vents, flashing and soft metals
- Interior water damage caused by the above
- Emergency tarping and mitigation
Usually not covered
Damage from time, neglect, or something that was already failing.
- A roof that has simply reached the end of its life
- Leaks from deferred maintenance
- Damage present before the policy started
- Poor original installation
- Wear on flashing and boots from sun exposure
- Cosmetic marks with no functional damage, on some policies
Hail damage is not always visible from the ground. Bruising can look like nothing from a driveway and still have broken the mat under the granules, which is what shortens the roof's life. That is why an inspection matters and why waiting until you see a leak often means waiting past the claim window.
Where the money actually comes from
Most policies here are replacement cost value, which pays what it costs to put the roof back as it was. Some older or cheaper policies are actual cash value, which pays the depreciated value and leaves you covering the difference.
Check which one you have before you file. It is one line on your declarations page and it changes the whole conversation. If you cannot find it, send us the page and we will point at it.
On a replacement cost policy the sequence is simple: they pay an initial amount, you pay your deductible, the work gets done, and they release the rest once it is complete.
A typical approved claim
Example figures on a demo site. Your deductible, policy type and approved scope decide the real numbers.
Nobody can legally waive, absorb or discount your deductible. In Texas it is insurance fraud, for the contractor and for you. Any company offering to cover it, or to inflate an invoice so you do not have to pay it, is telling you exactly what kind of company they are. Walk away and tell your insurer.
Four things that catch people out
You choose the contractor
Your insurer may recommend a preferred vendor. They are allowed to recommend. They cannot require. Whoever you pick, the claim is paid the same way, and you are entitled to a contractor who works for you rather than for them.
There is a time limit
Most policies require the claim to be filed within a set window of the date of loss, often a year, sometimes less. If a storm came through months ago and you have not looked, look now rather than after the next one.
Document before you repair
Emergency tarping is fine and expected. A permanent repair before the adjuster has seen the damage can compromise the claim. Photograph everything and call before anyone makes it look better.
Get the date of loss right
Claims are tied to a specific storm date. We check hail and wind reports for your address to establish it, which matters if a few storms came through in the same season.
What people ask
Should I file the claim before you inspect?
Do you file the claim for me?
What if my claim gets denied?
How long does the whole thing take?
Someone knocked on my door offering a free inspection. Should I let them?
Do you charge for the inspection or the claim help?
Find out if you have a claim
Free inspection, photos you keep, and an honest answer on whether this is storm damage or age. If it is not a claim, we will tell you before anything gets filed.
Example figures and demo content. Not a real business. Nothing here is insurance or legal advice.
Roofing Houston since 2004
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