Texas roof insurance claim guide, step by step
This guide puts our Texas roof-claim articles in the order you are likely to need them. Each article links the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) page or statute it draws on. It is general information, not legal advice; your policy wording controls.
1. Right after the storm: make it safe and document it
Photograph the damage before anything is moved or repaired. TDI says reasonable temporary repairs to prevent more damage are fine, but permanent work should wait until the adjuster has seen the roof. Keep every receipt. Your policy type (home, flood or windstorm) decides who you file with.
- After Hail or Wind: TDI’s Temporary Roof Repair Checklist
- TDI: Temporary Roof Repairs OK, Permanent Work Waits
- Tree Fell on Your Roof? What Texas Insurance Usually Covers
- Edouard Cleanup: FEMA Debris Gap and Roof Stabilizing
- After Edouard: Check the Roof Before You File in East Texas
- After Edouard: Still Peak Season to Inspect Your Roof
- TDI on Additional Living Expenses: Receipts and Limits
2. Before you file: know your policy
Read your declarations page before you call. Check the deductible type (a percentage wind/hail deductible can wipe out a smaller claim), whether the policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value, and any cosmetic-damage exclusion. In the 14 first-tier coastal counties and part of Harris County, windstorm coverage may come from TWIA instead of your home policy.
3. Filing and deadlines
Your policy sets its own deadline for reporting a claim. After you file, the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act generally gives the insurer 15 days to acknowledge it (Tex. Ins. Code 542.055), 15 business days after it has everything it asked for to accept or reject it (542.056), and 5 business days after approval to pay (542.057).
4. The adjuster and the inspection
The insurance adjuster inspects for the insurer. A roofer can document damage and meet the adjuster, but in Texas a roofing contractor cannot act as a public adjuster on a property it is repairing (Tex. Ins. Code 4102.163). Roof condition, not just roof age, is what TDI says insurers should look at.
5. Getting paid
Replacement-cost and actual-cash-value policies pay differently, and replacement-cost claims are often paid in two checks. If you have a mortgage, the claim check may not come to you directly. Never let anyone waive or absorb your deductible.
6. If you disagree with the insurer
If the amount is the problem, many policies have an appraisal clause. If the insurer is not responding or you believe it handled the claim wrongly, TDI has a complaint process. A licensed public adjuster can negotiate for you; TDI says their fee can be up to 10% of the settlement.
7. Choosing and contracting a roofer
TDI says to collect at least three written bids and to avoid door-to-door repair pitches. If you sign at home, Texas law usually gives you a 3-business-day right to cancel, and homestead contracts have their own lien rules. How the contract is written also affects sales tax.
- Avoid Roof Contractor Scams After a Storm (TDI Tips)
- TDI After a Storm: Get Three Bids, Never Waive a Deductible
- Signed a Roofing Contract at Home? Texas 3-Day Cancel
- Texas Homestead Roof Contract: Liens and the 10% Reserve
- Is There Sales Tax on a Roof Replacement in Texas?
- Roof Replacement Permits in Tyler and Longview: What to Know
- HOA Roof Shingle Rules in Texas: What Section 202.011 Allows
- Roof replacement cost in East Texas: what drives the price
Ready to talk to a roofer?
Get a free roof quote from a local roofer. No obligation. Your request is sent to one participating local roofer who pays for the referral.
Get My Free Roof Quote →Or pick your town: Livingston · Lufkin · Nacogdoches · Huntsville · Conroe · Onalaska · Trinity · Corrigan · Jasper · Cleveland
8. After the claim: the next roof and the next storm
Some insurers discount stronger roofs, and TDI has encouraged discounts for FORTIFIED roofs. Regular checks of the roof and attic help you spot problems before the next storm season.
- TDI Wants Insurers to Discount Stronger, FORTIFIED Roofs
- Metal Roofs and Texas Home Insurance: 4 TDI Facts
- TDI Roof Maintenance Checklist Before the Next Storm
- Attic Ventilation and Moisture: What to Check With Your Roof
- Cool Roof Shingles in East Texas: What DOE’s Guide Says
- Thinking About Solar? Check Your Roof First
- Labor Day Roof Check for East Texas: Summer Heat Damage
- Heat Advisory Meets Peak Hurricane Week: Inspect Your Roof
- Peak Hurricane Day + East Texas Heat: Check Your Roof
Roof claim questions
How long does a Texas insurer have to handle a roof claim?
Your policy sets its own deadline for reporting a claim. After you file, the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act generally gives the insurer 15 days to acknowledge it (Tex. Ins. Code 542.055), 15 business days after it has everything it asked for to accept or reject it (542.056), and 5 business days after approval to pay (542.057).
Can I make repairs before the adjuster comes?
Photograph the damage first. TDI says reasonable temporary repairs to prevent more damage are fine, but permanent work should wait until the adjuster has seen the roof. Keep every receipt.
Can my roofer negotiate my insurance claim?
No. In Texas a roofing contractor cannot act as a public adjuster on a property it is repairing (Tex. Ins. Code 4102.163). A roofer can document damage and meet the adjuster.
What if I disagree with the insurer?
If the amount is the problem, many policies have an appraisal clause. If the insurer is not responding or you believe it handled the claim wrongly, TDI has a complaint process. A licensed public adjuster can negotiate for you; TDI says their fee can be up to 10% of the settlement.
East Texas Roof Quotes is a referral service run by TX Lead Forge. It is not an insurance company, adjuster or law firm. How it works