Updated June 2026 • DFW Roofing Pros

North Texas is one of the most hail-prone places in America, and Tarrant County roofs take a beating every spring. If a storm just rolled through, here’s exactly how the insurance process works — and where homeowners lose money.

Step 1: Get a Professional Inspection First

Before you call your insurer, have a roofer document the damage. Most hail damage is invisible from the ground: bruised shingle mats, granule loss, cracked fiberglass. A good inspection produces dated photos of every slope plus collateral damage (gutters, screens, AC fins, fence caps) that proves the storm hit your property. If there’s no real damage, a reputable roofer tells you that too — filing a claim that gets denied helps nobody.

Step 2: File Promptly

Texas policies require “prompt notice,” and most insurers expect claims within one year of the storm date. Don’t wait — damage compounds, and late claims get scrutinized. When you file, you’ll get a claim number and an adjuster appointment.

Step 3: Have Your Roofer Meet the Adjuster

This is the single highest-leverage move. The adjuster works for the insurer and inspects quickly; your contractor walks the roof with them, points out every damaged slope, and makes the case shingle by shingle. Claims with contractor representation routinely get fuller scopes than claims without.

Step 4: Review the Scope and Supplement What’s Missing

The insurer issues an estimate (usually in Xactimate format). Common omissions: drip edge, starter strip, ridge cap, proper ventilation, steep/high charges, and code-required upgrades. Your contractor files a supplement with documentation for anything missed. This is normal and expected — not adversarial.

Step 5: Understand How You’re Paid

• First check (ACV): actual cash value — replacement cost minus depreciation and your deductible.
• Second check (recoverable depreciation): released after the work is complete and invoiced, if you have a replacement-cost policy.
• Your deductible: you always pay it. In Texas it’s typically 1–2% of dwelling coverage.

Will My Rates Go Up?

Texas insurers can’t surcharge you individually for a single weather claim. Hail-zone rates rise regionally regardless of whether you file. Not filing a legitimate claim just means you absorb the damage while paying hail-zone premiums anyway.

Deadlines That Matter

• Claim filing: typically within 1 year of the storm (check your policy).
• Insurer response: Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act sets statutory clocks — acknowledgment within 15 days, decision generally within 15 business days after they have what they need.
• Recoverable depreciation: usually must be claimed within a set window after completion — don’t sit on finished paperwork.

We Handle This Every Spring

DFW Roofing Pros inspects free, documents thoroughly, meets your adjuster, and supplements properly — across Arlington, Keller, Southlake, and all of Tarrant County. Call (817) 646-0070 before you call your insurer, and you’ll go into the claim with evidence instead of hope.