Austin Hail Season: Before-and-After Roof Checklist

Central Texas hail season peaks in spring, and a single storm can damage thousands of roofs across Williamson and Travis counties in minutes. You can't stop hail, but you can make the aftermath less stressful and less expensive.

Before storm season (do this in winter)

• Photograph your roof and gutters from the ground (or with a drone, or have a roofer do it) so you have a dated "before" record.
• Find your policy declarations page. Note your wind/hail deductible. In Texas it's often a percentage of the dwelling coverage, not a flat dollar amount.
• Know your roof's age and material. Keep the invoice from the last replacement.
• Clean gutters so storm water drains properly.
• Trim branches that overhang the roof, outside oak wilt season for oaks.
• Pick a roofer now, before you need one. A local company you've vetted is better than whoever knocks first.

Right after a storm

1. Stay off the roof. Wet shingles are slick, and damage can hide weak spots.
2. Check from the ground: dented gutters and downspouts, dings on AC fins, broken skylights, granules piled at downspout exits, shredded window screens.
3. Look inside for ceiling stains or attic drips.
4. Take dated photos of everything, including hailstones next to a ruler or coin if you can.
5. Prevent further damage. Tarp an active leak if it can be done safely, and keep receipts.

Filing a claim

• Call your insurer yourself to start the claim. You don't need a contractor to do it for you.
• Be present for the adjuster's inspection, with your roofer if you like.
• Ask for the itemized estimate and the scope of covered repairs.
• Get bids against that scope. Compare apples to apples.
• Watch deadlines. Policies set time limits for reporting and repairs. Read yours.

Texas rules that protect you

According to the Texas Department of Insurance:

• Contractors can't waive, rebate or absorb your deductible. It's illegal in Texas, and contracts of $1,000 or more paid with insurance proceeds must include a notice that you're responsible for the deductible.
• A contractor can't act as your public insurance adjuster on a claim when they're also doing the work.

According to the Texas Attorney General:

• For covered door-to-door sales, you have a three-day right to cancel, and the seller must give you written notice of it.

Red flags after hail

• "We'll cover your deductible."
• Pressure to sign a contract or "authorization" on the doorstep.
• Out-of-state plates and no local address.
• Demands for full payment before work starts.
• Claims of being "approved by your insurance company."

Upgrading when you replace

If hail totals your roof, consider:

• Class 4 impact-resistant shingles, which may qualify for insurance discounts;
• standing-seam metal, for longevity, fire resistance in WUI areas and solar readiness;
• better ventilation, which extends any roof's life.

See Class 4 shingles vs. metal and our roofing guide.

Don't forget other damage

Hail also damages:

• AC condenser fins, which reduces efficiency. An HVAC technician can comb or assess them;
• siding and window screens;
• fences and patio covers;
• vehicles, which are covered under auto policies, not homeowners.

After the storm: a 48-hour plan

1. Stay off the roof. Wet, damaged shingles are slippery, and a fall is far costlier than any roof.
2. Document from the ground. Photograph dented gutters, downspouts, window screens, A/C fins, mailbox and car. Hail that dents soft metal often bruises shingles too. Note the date and time and save local hail reports.
3. Look inside. Check ceilings and the attic (with a flashlight, from the decking) for fresh stains or wet insulation.
4. Make temporary repairs if water is entering. A tarp to prevent further damage is normally expected by insurers. Keep receipts.
5. Read your policy. Know your deductible (many Texas policies use a percentage wind/hail deductible) and whether roof coverage is replacement cost or actual cash value.
6. Get an independent inspection from a roofer you chose, not one who chose you. Ask for photos of each damaged slope.

Keeping records for next time

Store the roof installation invoice, shingle model and impact rating, warranty registration and photos of the roof when new. These records speed up future claims and make the roof a selling point. If you upgrade to impact-rated shingles, ask your insurer whether a discount applies and what documentation they need.