Hail Damage Roof Insurance Claim: Steps, Deadlines and How Payment Works

Most home policies cover hail, but whether a roof claim is paid, and how much, depends on your policy, your wind and hail deductible and what the insurer’s adjuster finds. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) lists “Windstorm, hurricane, and hail” among the risks most home policies cover, except on the Gulf Coast, and adds that an insurer “won’t pay for a new roof just because it’s old or worn out.” Take photos from the ground and, if water is getting in, have a roofer put on a temporary cover right away; then get a licensed roofer’s opinion, report the claim, meet the adjuster and wait for a written decision. Texas law sets insurer deadlines (table below). Check your declarations page and ask your insurer.

Is hail damage covered on your policy?

“Coverages vary by company,” TDI’s home insurance guide says. Three things shape a hail claim before anyone looks at the roof:

Where you live. If your home is on the Texas coast or in Harris County on Galveston Bay, TDI says your home policy might not cover wind and hail; the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) sells that coverage separately.
Your deductible. Many policies set wind and hail deductibles as a percentage of coverage, “for example, 1%, 2% or 5%,” the Colorado Division of Insurance notes; below the deductible, the insurer “will not issue a payment.” How those deductibles work is covered in wind and hail deductibles.
Your roof’s age. “As roofs age, some companies will switch to actual cash value,” TDI writes, so check renewal papers for a change in roof coverage.

From the storm to the insurer’s decision

Write down the date and take photos from the ground. TDI says to take pictures and video, list damage inside and outside, and keep damaged items until your insurer says otherwise. Stay off the roof; photograph it, the gutters and siding from the yard, and ceiling stains inside. For past seasons, the hail history tool shows NOAA hail reports by county.
Stop more water getting in right away, and keep the receipts. TDI’s first step: “Do what you need to keep the damage from getting worse, like covering it with a tarp or making temporary repairs.” Have a roofer put the cover on; don’t climb up yourself. TDI warns a claim can be denied if permanent repairs come before the insurer sees the damage, and adds, “Your policy may pay for temporary repairs.” More in storm damage to a roof: first steps.
Have a licensed roofer inspect. The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) advises having the roof inspected “by a trusted roofing contractor,” then contacting the insurer once you have a repair estimate. TDI says to file “as soon as you can.” The regulators differ on order; if unsure, ask your insurer. See what a hail roof inspection covers and how to choose a roofer after hail.
Report the claim by phone, online or in the insurer’s app, and keep a list of everyone you talk to there (TDI).
Meet the adjuster. “The adjuster works for the insurance company paying the claim,” TDI writes, and may inspect in person or estimate from pictures. TDI suggests being there for the visit and says “It’s a good idea to have your contractor with you.” The Colorado Division of Insurance suggests asking the adjuster “for an itemized explanation of the claim settlement offer.”
Get the decision in writing. In Texas, a rejection must state its reasons (§542.056(c)); Colorado’s division advises asking for the policy language behind any denial.

Claim deadlines set by Texas law

Most of these deadlines bind the insurer once you have filed; the TWIA filing deadline binds you. Other states set their own; ask your state insurance department.

Step	Deadline	Texas Insurance Code
Acknowledge the claim, start the investigation, ask for the items it needs	15 days after written notice of the claim (30 business days for an eligible surplus lines insurer)	§542.055
Accept or reject in writing	15 business days after receiving all items, statements and forms it requires (30 days if it suspects arson)	§542.056(a)–(b)
More time needed	The insurer must say why within that period, then decide within 45 days of telling you	§542.056(d)
Pay an accepted claim	5 business days after notice that it will pay (20 business days for an eligible surplus lines insurer)	§542.057
Weather-related catastrophe or major natural disaster, as defined by the commissioner	The claim-handling deadlines above get 15 more days	§542.059(b)
TWIA policy: file the claim	By the first anniversary of the date of the damage; the commissioner may extend this by up to 180 days for good cause	§§2210.573(a), 2210.205(b)
TWIA: accept or deny	60 days after receiving the claim or requested information, unless the commissioner extends it	§2210.573(d)
TWIA: pay	10 days after notice of acceptance	§2210.5731

Your own deadline to report is in your policy. TDI notes that “Some policies have a one-year deadline unless you can show good cause for the delay.”

How the payment is worked out

After the deductible, it depends on whether your policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value. TDI’s example: a roof bought 10 years ago now costs $10,000 to replace. With replacement cost coverage and a $2,000 deductible, the company would pay $8,000. With actual cash value coverage, the roof’s value “might be $7,000,” and after the deductible the company would pay $5,000.

With replacement cost coverage, TDI says most companies pay in two checks: the first is the estimated repair cost “minus depreciation and your deductible,” and the second, for the depreciation held back, comes after the company gets the bill for the finished job. TDI adds, “You usually must complete repairs within a certain period of time.” In its May 2026 guidance after the Enid storms, the Oklahoma Insurance Department says replacement cost policies require the work to be done within six months of the date of loss to get the withheld payment; it cites no statute, so ask your insurer what your policy says. Texas Insurance Code §707.004 lets an insurer hold that second payment until you show reasonable proof you paid your deductible. If you have a mortgage, TDI says the repair check is made out to both you and the mortgage company.

If you disagree with the estimate

Tell the insurer why and send documents that back you up, such as your roofer’s estimate, TDI suggests. If repairs uncover more storm damage, Colorado’s division says to report it “before allowing repair work to continue”; the insurer may then issue a supplement. TDI describes three options:

Appraisal, which is “for disputes about the amount of your claim,” not about whether the policy covers the loss. Each side hires an appraiser, the two pick an umpire, and the umpire’s decision binds both you and the insurer. You pay your appraiser plus half the umpire’s expenses.
A written complaint to TDI.
A lawsuit.

Separately, TDI notes you can hire a licensed public adjuster to help negotiate; they work for you and charge fees.

Deductibles, contractors and your premium

Texas Insurance Code §707.002 says the insured “shall pay any deductible,” and TDI’s hail checklist warns, “It’s illegal to waive a homeowners deductible under state law.” Minnesota §325E.66 bars a residential contractor from promising to pay any part of the deductible and requires an itemized good-faith estimate along with any agreement authorizing repairs. TDI adds: never sign a contract with blank spaces, and don’t pay in full up front.

Will a hail claim raise your premium? In Texas, §551.107 leaves claims “resulting from a loss caused by natural causes” out of the claim count that allows a renewal surcharge or nonrenewal. But under §551.107(f), losing a credit or moving to another rating tier doesn’t count as a surcharge, and TDI cautions you could lose a credit for having no claims.

Common questions

Is hail damage covered by homeowners insurance?

On most policies, yes, per TDI’s list of commonly covered risks. Coverage still depends on your policy and deductible, and coastal Texas policies may leave wind and hail out.

How long do you have to file a hail damage claim?

Your policy sets it. TDI notes some policies allow one year unless you show good cause; TWIA policies require filing within a year of the damage, which the commissioner may extend by up to 180 days for good cause (Texas Insurance Code §§2210.573, 2210.205).

Should I file a claim if the repair is close to my deductible?

TDI says that if repairs cost about the same as or less than your deductible, “you may decide it’s not worth filing a claim.” The Oklahoma Insurance Department makes the same point.

Can a roofer pay or waive my deductible?

Not in Texas: TDI says “It’s illegal to waive a homeowners deductible under state law,” and Insurance Code §707.002 requires the insured to pay it. In Minnesota, §325E.66 bars contractors from promising to pay it.

Questions to ask your insurer

Is my roof covered at replacement cost or actual cash value?
What is my wind and hail deductible in dollars?
How long do I have to report the claim, and to finish repairs to get held-back depreciation?
Will the adjuster inspect in person or work from photos?
Will the payment be made out to my mortgage company too?
What paperwork do you still need from me?

Still unsure whether the storm hurt your roof at all? The hail damage check walks through it question by question.