What to do in the first day or two
Once it is safe, take pictures from the ground of anything you can see, note the date of the storm, and if water is getting in, get a tarp down to stop the damage from spreading. Then call a roofer for a real inspection. Do not let the first person who knocks on your door after a storm rush you into signing anything, and do not climb up yourself, because storm-damaged roofs are slick and unstable and this is exactly the wrong time to fall.
How the Texas claim actually works
You file a claim with your insurer, they send an adjuster to look at the roof, and the adjuster decides what storm damage they will cover. A good roofer meets that adjuster on the roof, shows them the hail bruising and wind damage in plain terms, and makes sure nothing gets missed, because adjusters look at a lot of roofs fast and things get overlooked. If the claim is approved, insurance pays for the covered damage minus your deductible, and you pay the deductible. That is the number that actually comes out of your pocket, not the full price of the roof.
What a roofer can and cannot promise
A straight roofer documents the damage honestly and works with your adjuster. What they cannot do is promise you a new roof for free, offer to eat your deductible, or guarantee the claim before the adjuster has even looked, and in Texas paying or waiving a customer deductible is not allowed. Those pitches are red flags. Real help sounds like we will document it properly and meet your adjuster, not we will get you a free roof.
Why local matters after a big storm
After a hurricane or a wide hail event, out-of-town crews flood in, do the work fast, and leave, and if something goes wrong with your roof two years later they are three states away and the warranty is worth nothing. A roofer based here is still here when you need them, knows the wind ratings the coast actually requires, and is not going to disappear the day after the check clears. The tradeoff is they may be booked, because everyone needs them at once, so getting on the list early helps.
The heat is part of why local crews do it better
Here is something the out-of-town storm crews consistently get wrong: the South Texas heat is genuinely dangerous to work in, and it starts early. A roof is the hottest place on the property, and inexperienced crews that rolled in from a cooler climate underestimate it, do not hydrate from the start of the day, and either slow down, cut corners, or put people at real risk by afternoon. Local crews plan around it, start at first light, keep water going all day, and know when the roof is too hot to do good work. It sounds small, but a crew that respects the heat does safer, cleaner work than one gutting it out in conditions they were not ready for.
How to tell a real roofer from the rest
Here is a simple test that sorts the honest roofers from the ones to avoid: a real roofer will not ask you for money up front, and will not try to lock you into a contract before they have walked you through your options. The good ones look at the roof, explain what they see and what your choices are, and give you a written quote you can sit with. The ones to walk away from want a signature or a deposit in your driveway before you have understood what you are buying, especially after a storm when they are counting on you being rattled. Take your time, get the options in writing, and never hand money to someone who is rushing you.
- Photograph everything before anyone climbs up, and keep your own copies
- A roofer documents damage for your adjuster; they do not get to promise you a free roof
- You choose your roofer, not the insurance company, and you can pick a local one
Questions people ask about storm and hail damage
What does hail damage actually look like up there?
Bruises, mostly: soft dark spots where granules got knocked loose, exposing the mat underneath to sun and water. From the ground it can look like nothing at all, which is why storms get inspected from the roof. Wind damage reads differently, lifted and creased shingles along edges and ridges.
The adjuster's number seems low. Am I stuck with it?
Not necessarily. Adjusters look at a lot of roofs fast, and things get missed. A roofer who documents properly can meet the adjuster, walk the damage, and submit supplements for what round one overlooked. That conversation between your roofer and your adjuster is normal process, not a fight.
Should I tarp now or wait until insurance sees it?
Photograph everything first, then protect the house. Policies expect you to prevent further damage, and waiting weeks with a hole while water pours in creates problems insurance may not cover. Pictures preserve the evidence; the tarp preserves the house. Do both, in that order, quickly.