How to File a Roof Insurance Claim in Texas: A Homeowner's Walkthrough

Filing a roof insurance claim in Texas is a homeowner-driven process. You file the claim. You talk to the adjuster. You receive any payment your carrier issues. A good contractor documents damage and shows up at the inspection — but the claim itself is between you and your insurer.

This guide walks through the sequence in plain English, so you can step into the conversation with your carrier already organized.

Before You File: Get Your Footing

Step 1 — Safety first

• Do not climb on a damaged roof yourself
• Watch for downed power lines or electrical hazards
• If there is significant structural damage, stay out of the home
• Address emergency mitigation to prevent further damage (a tarp on an active leak is fine; do not let a door-knocker tarp it in exchange for a signature)

Step 2 — Document what you can safely see

• Photographs: wide shots of the property and close-ups of visible damage
• Video walkthrough: a single continuous video of the exterior
• Date and time of the event: when the storm hit and when you first noticed damage
• Weather records: save the local storm report and an Interactive Hail Maps snapshot for your block
• Physical evidence: if shingles or granules came down, bag them

Step 3 — Get a professional inspection before you call your carrier

This sequence matters. An inspection first means you know what is on your roof before you ever pick up the phone. A HAAG-certified inspector will do a hands-on roof inspection, photograph every slope, and write up a report you keep. At Hive that inspection is free and the report is yours regardless of whether you hire us for the work.

You should not file a claim before you know what the damage is. A claim filed without supporting evidence can be denied, and denied claims can stay on your record.

Filing the Claim Itself

Step 4 — Contact your insurance carrier

You call your carrier. Here is what they typically ask for:

• Policy number
• Date and time of the storm
• Description of the damage
• The inspection report, if you have one
• Photos and video

You speak to your carrier directly. We do not get on the call with you, and we do not script what you say to your insurer — that is the line between a contractor and a public adjuster, and only licensed public adjusters can cross it under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 4102.

When you call, write down:

• Your claim number
• The assigned adjuster's name and contact info
• The expected timeline for the adjuster's visit
• Any immediate steps the carrier requires

Step 5 — Prepare for the adjuster's visit

Before the visit:

• Ask your contractor to be on-site at the same time
• Organize your documentation
• List the damage areas you have identified
• Clear access around the property
• Have your inspection report ready

During the visit:

• Walk the property with the adjuster
• Point out areas of damage
• Ask questions when something is unclear
• Request a copy of the adjuster's report and photos
• Do not sign anything on the spot that you have not read

If we are on-site at your request, our job is to walk the inspector through what we documented. We are not your representative in the claim; we are an additional set of HAAG-trained eyes on the roof.

Step 6 — Review the carrier's estimate

Within a few weeks you will receive an itemized estimate from your carrier. Read it carefully:

• Are all damaged areas listed (roof, gutters, siding, windows)?
• Do line items match the actual damage and materials?
• Are exclusions consistent with your policy language?
• Are depreciation calculations laid out clearly?

If the estimate does not reflect the damage your inspection documented, that is your call to discuss with your carrier. The decision to push back is yours; the policy is yours; the conversation is yours.

Step 7 — Supplemental claims, if needed

If the carrier's estimate misses items, or if hidden damage is uncovered once the project is underway, you can request a supplemental claim from your insurer. If you ask, we provide updated documentation — photos, measurements, and notes from the worksite — that you submit to your carrier. The supplemental request itself is yours to file.

Common reasons supplements come up:

• Hidden damage discovered once shingles come off
• Items missed in the original inspection
• Code-upgrade requirements pulled by permit
• Material or labor cost adjustments

How Insurance Payments Typically Work

First payment (ACV — Actual Cash Value)

• Issued after the carrier agrees on a covered claim
• Equals the carrier's estimated cost minus depreciation minus your deductible
• Made out to you, and to your mortgage lender if you have one

Second payment (depreciation recovery)

• Issued after the work is complete and verified
• Releases the depreciation withheld up front
• May include amounts from approved supplements

Working with your mortgage company

If you have a mortgage, insurance checks are usually made out to both you and your lender. The process generally looks like:

1. You endorse the check on the back
2. You send it to your mortgage company for endorsement
3. The lender may hold funds in escrow and release them in stages
4. Some lenders require a completion inspection before releasing the final payment

Insurance proceeds go to you and your lender. You pay Hive directly per the terms of our contract. We do not endorse, pick up, or hold your insurance checks.

Timeline Expectations

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Filing before you know what the damage is. Get the inspection first.
• Skipping the contractor at the adjuster's visit. An extra set of HAAG-trained eyes on the walk catches things.
• Making permanent repairs before the claim is resolved. Emergency tarping only.
• Signing an "assignment of benefits" or anything similar. That paper hands your claim to a third party. Never sign one.
• Not reading your policy. Your declarations page is the rulebook. Read it before storm season.
• Letting a roofer "waive" your deductible. That is insurance fraud under Texas law. Walk away.

Your Rights as a Texas Policyholder

• Right to choose your contractor — carriers cannot require a specific roofer
• Right to a written denial — if denied, you are entitled to an explanation in writing
• Right to appraisal — if you disagree with the amount, most policies allow appraisal
• Right to prompt payment — undisputed claims within 5 business days under Texas law
• Right to file a complaint — the Texas Department of Insurance investigates unfair practices

How Hive Fits Into Your Claim

• Free 47-point inspection with photos and a written report you keep
• On-site at the adjuster's visit at your request, to walk through findings together
• Updated documentation for any supplement you choose to submit to your carrier
• Quality installation by GAF Master Elite crews
• Coordination with mortgage-company inspection requirements when the depreciation release is being processed

What we do not do: file claims for you, speak to your carrier on your behalf, negotiate, adjust, or settle. Those are licensed activities in Texas, and they belong to you and your carrier — not your roofer.

Next Steps

If you have storm damage, or even suspect you might, do not wait. Inspect first, document the report, then talk to your carrier.

Schedule a free 47-point inspection. We will hand you a written report, walk you through what we found, and step out of your way. The decision to file is yours, and the conversation with your carrier is yours.