The Texas Roof Insurance Claim Process, Step by Step, for DFW Homeowners

General education, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy and your insurer decide coverage and deadlines.

Call a roofer or your insurer first?

Call a reputable local roofer first, so you know whether the roof has real storm damage before you open a claim. If it does, report it to your insurer promptly. A claim for damage that is not there, or that costs less than your deductible, pays nothing, and your agent can tell you whether it would still count in your claim history.

That order matters most after a light storm, when it is not obvious from the ground whether anything happened. After a severe one, with shingles in the yard or water in the house, report the claim right away and get the inspection in the same few days. The Texas Department of Insurance’s first piece of advice after hail is simply to file as soon as you can.

The claim, step by step

From the storm to the last check, a roof claim follows a predictable order. Knowing it helps you spot when something has stalled, and it tells you which paperwork belongs to which step. Here is the sequence we see on most DFW hail and wind claims, and what we contribute along the way.

1. Stop further damage. Tarp active leaks, move belongings, photograph everything first and keep receipts. The Texas Department of Insurance notes your policy may pay for temporary repairs.
2. Get the roof inspected. We document each slope, the soft metals and the attic with dated photos, and tell you plainly whether there is a claim.
3. Report the claim. By phone, online or through your insurer’s app. Write down the claim number and the date of loss.
4. The insurer acknowledges and starts investigating. It may ask for photos, a signed proof of loss or other documents.
5. The adjuster inspects. Be there, and have your roofer there if you can. See our adjuster meeting guide.
6. The insurer decides and sends its estimate. If it accepts, a first payment follows. On a replacement cost policy, that first check is usually the actual cash value.
7. Compare scopes. Put the insurer’s estimate next to your roofer’s. Missing items get documented and sent back to the insurer for review.
8. The work is done. Permit pulled where the city requires one. See our permit guide.
9. Final invoice and depreciation. The insurer releases any recoverable depreciation after the work is complete. Details are on our ACV vs. replacement cost page.

Deadlines Texas law sets for your insurer

Texas Insurance Code Chapter 542 sets the clock for most homeowners claims. Your insurer must acknowledge the claim and start investigating within 15 days of notice, accept or reject it in writing within 15 business days of receiving everything it asked for, and pay within five business days of agreeing to pay.

Sources: Texas Insurance Code Chapter 542 and TDI, Steps to getting your claim paid. Surplus lines insurers and suspected arson have different timelines.

Deadlines that apply to you

Your own deadline to report a roof claim comes from your policy, not from a single Texas statute. Look for the sections on your duties after a loss and on legal action against the insurer. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that some policies have a one-year deadline unless you can show good cause for the delay.

Read those sections the week of the storm, not the month before a deadline. Two other dates are worth knowing:

• Your duties after a loss. Most policies require prompt notice and reasonable steps to protect the property. Waiting makes it easier for an insurer to argue the damage came from a different storm or from wear.
• Notice before a lawsuit. For a weather-related claim, Texas Insurance Code §542A.003 generally requires written notice to the insurer at least 61 days before filing suit. That is a question for an attorney if you get there.

If you cannot find your deadline, call your agent or the Texas Department of Insurance Help Line at 800-252-3439.

What to keep in your claim file

A claim file is the record of what happened, what you were told and what you paid. Keep it in one folder or one email thread from the first day. It makes the adjuster visit faster, makes a dispute easier, and it is what the insurer will ask for when it releases the final payment.

• Claim number, date of loss, and the adjuster’s name, phone and email.
• Dated photos and video of the damage, inside and out, before any repair.
• Your roofer’s inspection photos, measurements and itemized scope.
• Receipts for the tarp and any other temporary repairs.
• The insurer’s estimate and every letter it sends.
• A short log of each call: date, who you spoke with, what was said.
• Proof you paid your deductible. Insurers can ask for it before releasing depreciation.

We give you copies of everything we produce. If hail or wind has hit your roof, book a free inspection or call (817) 754-9484, and see the claim guide overview for the other topics in this series.