After the hail: how to document damage and file a claim

Spring storms are part of owning a house here. What to photograph, what to keep, how the deductible works and which contractors to avoid — from the Texas Department of Insurance.

November 13, 2026

The first hour after a hailstorm decides how smoothly the claim goes. Stay off the roof — a ladder on wet, damaged shingles is how a claim becomes an injury — and work from the ground and inside the house.

Document it

Take photos or video of the damage, inside and outside the house — and of the car, if it was out. The Texas Department of Insurance lists this first.
Make a written list of everything damaged, inside and out, while it is fresh.
Shoot wide as well as close. A close-up of a dented gutter means more next to a photo showing which side of the house it is on.
Keep the damaged things. TDI’s advice is not to throw anything away until your insurance company says you can.

Stop it getting worse

If water is getting in, cover the opening — a tarp over a broken skylight, plywood over a window — and keep the receipts for anything you spend on temporary repairs. TDI says to save them; they are usually part of the claim.

File, and know your deductible

File quickly. The deadline is set by your policy, not by state law, so read it — or call the TDI Help Line at 800-252-3439 with questions.
Check the declarations page for your wind and hail deductible. TDI notes it is often a percentage rather than a flat dollar amount — 2% is common for wind and hail — so it is worth knowing the number before a roofer quotes you.
Nobody can waive it for you. It is illegal in Texas for a contractor to waive or absorb your deductible, including by inflating the estimate. Your insurer can ask for proof that you paid it. TDI says to report an offer like that to the Texas Attorney General’s consumer protection hotline at 800-621-0508.

Choosing who fixes it

Storms bring roofers from out of town, and TDI’s guidance on them is consistent:

Avoid contractors going door to door after a storm.
Get at least three written bids.
Check references, and ask for proof of insurance or bonding.
Do not pay in full up front, and be wary of anyone who wants money before materials are on site.
Never sign a contract with blank spaces.