Texas Hail Damage Homeowner Checklist: What to Do From Hour 1 to Claim Settled

The Complete Hail Damage Checklist at a Glance

Use this table as your quick reference. Each phase is covered in detail below. The order matters — do not skip ahead to contractor negotiations before you have your documentation complete.

Step 1: Stay Safe in the First Hour

A hail storm serious enough to cause roof damage also leaves behind wet, debris-covered surfaces and potentially compromised structural elements. The first hour is not for inspection — it is for safety assessment from the ground.

Immediate checks (ground level only)

• Look for downed power lines near or on your home. Do not approach them. Call your utility provider and 911 immediately.
• Smell for gas. If you detect a gas odor, evacuate all occupants, leave the door open as you exit, and call your gas provider from a safe distance.
• Check for visible structural damage — a sagging roofline, collapsed eaves, or significant water intrusion visible from the ground.
• Do not enter a structure that shows signs of serious structural compromise until it has been evaluated by a professional.

Once you have confirmed the structure is safe, you can begin the documentation phase. Do not climb onto a wet, hail-damaged roof. If you need roof-level photos, hire a professional inspector or wait until conditions are safe.

Step 2: Document Everything Before Touching Anything

Thorough documentation is the foundation of a successful hail damage claim. Photograph damage before making any repairs, before cleaning up debris, and before a contractor or adjuster visits the property. Metadata embedded in smartphone photos — including timestamps and GPS coordinates — can be important evidence.

Exterior documentation

Start outside. Walk the full perimeter of your property and photograph the following from multiple angles:

• Roof: Missing shingles, impact dents, cracked tiles, damaged ridge caps, and granule displacement (look for dark bare spots or significant granule accumulation in gutters)
• Gutters and downspouts: Dents, separation from fascia, or granule buildup inside gutters
• Siding: Dents, cracks, or chipped paint on wood, vinyl, fiber cement, or stucco
• Window screens and frames: Torn screens, bent frames, cracked glass
• Skylights: Cracked or shattered glass, damaged frames
• Outdoor HVAC unit: Dented fins, damaged refrigerant lines, compressor housing
• Fencing, deck, patio furniture: Visible impact damage
• Vehicles: Document car damage separately for your auto insurer; keep home and auto claims separate

Interior documentation

After the storm, check your home's interior for signs of water intrusion, which may take hours or days to appear:

• Ceiling stains, bubbling paint, or soft spots in the ceiling drywall
• Wet insulation in the attic (use a flashlight and do not walk on joists — step only on structural members)
• Water around chimney bases, skylights, or plumbing vents
• Wall staining near windows or exterior walls

Step 3: Make Temporary Repairs to Prevent Further Damage

Your insurance policy almost certainly includes a provision requiring you to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage after a loss. Failing to act — and then suffering water damage that could have been prevented — may give your insurer grounds to deny or reduce the additional claim.

Common temporary measures after hail damage include:

• Tarping exposed areas: A waterproof polyethylene tarp secured over any opening in the roof surface. Photograph the tarp installation before and after.
• Boarding broken windows: Plywood or polycarbonate sheeting to prevent rain from entering through broken glass or screens.
• Placing buckets: Contain any active drips until permanent repairs can be made.
• Removing standing water: Use a wet-vac or towels to remove standing water from floors to prevent mold.

Keep every receipt. Materials, emergency labor, and equipment rentals used for temporary repairs are typically reimbursable under your dwelling coverage. Photograph receipts in case paper copies fade.

Step 4: Review Your Policy Before Filing

Thirty minutes spent reading your policy before you call your insurer can prevent weeks of confusion later. Find your declarations page — the one or two-page summary at the front of your policy — and confirm the following.

Key policy terms for hail claims

If you cannot locate your policy or do not understand a provision, call your insurer or your independent agent before filing. Understanding your deductible type is especially important — a percentage-based hail deductible can significantly change the math on whether filing makes financial sense.

Step 5: File Your Claim and Know the Texas Deadlines

Once you have documented the damage and reviewed your policy, file your claim promptly. Most insurers allow online or app-based filing. You will need:

• Your policy number
• The date of the storm (look up official storm reports if uncertain)
• A description of the damage
• Your contact information and preferred method of communication

Texas prompt payment deadlines (Texas Insurance Code Ch. 542)

Texas law gives homeowners enforceable deadlines for insurer response. If your insurer misses these deadlines, they may owe you an 18% annual interest penalty on the unpaid amount plus attorney's fees.

Keep a written log of every contact with your insurer: date, time, representative name, and summary of the conversation. Follow up verbal conversations with an email confirming what was discussed.

Step 6: Get Independent Contractor Estimates Before the Adjuster Visits

Many homeowners wait until after the adjuster visit to contact contractors. This is a mistake. Having two or three independent written estimates in hand before the adjuster arrives gives you a basis for comparison when you receive the insurer's scope of loss. If the adjuster's estimate is significantly lower than independent estimates for the same work, you have documentation to support a dispute.

When getting estimates, ask contractors to itemize the scope of work — material quantities, unit prices, and labor — rather than providing a single total. An itemized estimate is far more useful for claim negotiation than a lump-sum number.

See our Roof Insurance Claim Checklist for a detailed list of what to have ready for the adjuster visit.

Step 7: The Adjuster Inspection — What to Expect and How to Prepare

Your insurer will send a claims adjuster to inspect the damage. This may be a staff adjuster employed by the insurer, or an independent adjuster contracted to handle claims. Be present for this inspection — do not allow access to your property without you or a trusted representative present.

What to have ready for the adjuster

• Your complete photo documentation, organized by area (roof, gutters, siding, interior)
• Any official weather records confirming the storm event (NWS data, local news coverage)
• Receipts for temporary repairs already made
• Written estimates from independent contractors
• Your policy declarations page

During the inspection

• Walk the property with the adjuster. Do not sit inside while they inspect alone.
• Point out damage areas you documented — do not assume they will find everything.
• Ask the adjuster to note all damage items in writing before they leave.
• Do not sign anything at the inspection that waives your right to future claims or supplements.
• If you hired a public adjuster, they should attend in your place or alongside you.

Step 8: Review the Scope of Loss Document Carefully

After the inspection, your insurer will send a "scope of loss" — their written breakdown of what damage they found, what they will pay to repair it, and at what unit prices. This document determines your initial settlement amount.

Do not assume the scope of loss is complete or accurate. Compare it line-by-line against:

• Your photo documentation
• Your independent contractor estimates
• A checklist of every damage area you identified

Common items that are missed or undercounted in initial scopes of loss include: granule loss on shingles (which shortens roof life even without visible punctures), damaged soffits and fascia, HVAC coil fin damage, and secondary damage inside the attic from wind-driven rain.

If you identify discrepancies, respond in writing within the timeframe specified in your policy. State specifically what damage was not included, provide supporting photos and contractor documentation, and request a supplemental review. Keep copies of all correspondence.

Step 9: Choosing the Right Contractor

After major hail events, out-of-state and unlicensed contractors flood Texas markets. These "storm chasers" often do poor work, may not pull proper permits, and disappear before warranty issues arise. Choosing the right contractor is as important as any part of the claims process.

Do not sign a contract that includes an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) clause or language waiving your right to manage your own claim. Do not make more than a small deposit before work begins — never pay in full before the job is complete and inspected.

Step 10: Recognizing and Reporting Hail Damage Scams

Texas homeowners are targeted by fraud after every major hail event. Recognizing these patterns can protect you from financial loss and legal liability.

Step 11: Completing Repairs and Collecting Your Full Payment

If your policy provides Replacement Cost Value (RCV) coverage, you will receive two payments. The first payment — issued after the claim is approved — is the Actual Cash Value (ACV): the depreciated value of the damaged materials. The second payment, called the "recoverable depreciation," is released only after you have completed repairs and submitted proof.

How to collect the recoverable depreciation

1. Complete all repairs using a licensed contractor who provided a written contract.
2. Obtain a final itemized invoice from the contractor.
3. Take "after" photos showing completed repairs.
4. Submit the invoice and photos to your insurer with a written request to release the held depreciation.
5. Keep records of everything — your insurer may require this documentation if there is any question about the work scope or completion.

Most policies require you to submit proof of completion within 6 to 24 months of the initial payment. Missing this deadline means forfeiting the recoverable depreciation. Check your policy for the specific timeframe.