What to Do After a Hailstorm: A West Texas Homeowner's Checklist

Hail on the South Plains tends to arrive fast and leave a mess. Most of it falls in spring and early summer, but damaging hail has come as late as October. In Midland, an Oct. 5, 2023 storm brought golf-ball-size hail and 60 mph winds that blew shingles off homes, according to a local TV report.

This checklist is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy and your insurance company have the final word on coverage.

Your after-hailstorm checklist

1. Put safety first

Wait until lightning has passed. Watch for downed power lines, broken glass and hanging limbs. Don't climb onto the roof: hail-damaged shingles are slick, and loose granules roll underfoot. If water is coming through a ceiling, keep people away from sagging drywall and light fixtures.

2. Check for damage from the ground

Walk the yard and look at gutters, downspouts, roof vents, window screens and your AC unit's fins. Dents in soft metal mean the roof took hits too. Our guide to the signs of hail damage on your roof shows what to look for and what isn't hail.

3. Photograph and date everything

Take wide shots of every side of the house, then close-ups of dents, cracked windows, siding and any interior water stains. Set a coin or ruler next to hailstones before they melt to show their size. Keep the original photo files, which record the date and time, and write down when the storm hit.

4. Protect the interior

Move furniture and electronics away from drips, set out buckets and towels, and keep receipts for anything you buy. If the roof is open, a tarp keeps rain out until permanent repairs are approved. Emergency roof repair and tarping can stop active leaks quickly.

5. Who should you call first after hail damage?

Call your insurance company first. The Texas Department of Insurance advises contacting your insurer before you hire a roofer after a storm. Ask how to report the damage, what your deductible is, and when an adjuster will inspect. Write down your claim number, then schedule a roof inspection so you know what's up there.

6. Schedule a professional roof inspection

A roofer can inspect the roof, document each hail hit with photos, and write a repair estimate or scope. That gives you your own record to compare with the adjuster's findings. A professional hail damage roof inspection also catches flashing and vent damage that's easy to miss from the ground.

7. Be there when the adjuster inspects

Walk the property with the adjuster and point out the damage you photographed. If your roofer can attend, they can show the hits they documented. Ask when you'll receive the adjuster's estimate in writing, and read it closely.

8. Compare written estimates

Get written estimates and compare them line by line against your insurer's scope. Texas has not traditionally required a state license for residential roofers, so ask any roofer for proof of insurance, their city contractor registration, and any license that applies. Verify a local phone number, too.

9. Watch for storm-chaser red flags

• Door-to-door crews that show up right after the storm
• Pressure to sign a contract on the spot
• Requests for big cash payments up front
• No local phone number you can verify
• Offers to waive, rebate or absorb your deductible
• Offers to negotiate your claim for you

On deductibles, the Texas Department of Insurance is direct: it's illegal in Texas for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate, or absorb a policyholder's deductible. And any contract of $1,000 or more tied to an insurance claim has to include a notice that you, the policyholder, must pay the deductible.

10. Keep records until the job is done

Keep one folder with photos, the claim number, adjuster contacts, estimates, contracts, receipts and permit paperwork. In Lubbock, a roofing permit is required to tear off and replace shingles, and a final inspection follows the work. If you choose impact-resistant roofing, keep the TDI certificate of installation for your insurer.

What can a roofer do during a hail claim?

A roofer can inspect your roof, document the damage with photos, write a repair estimate or scope, and be there when the adjuster inspects. A roofer can't negotiate your claim. That stays between you and your insurance company, or a licensed public adjuster or attorney you choose to hire, so be wary of anyone promising otherwise.

When you're ready, hail damage roof repair in Lubbock and the surrounding area can be scheduled around your adjuster's scope. We work with homeowners as a Lubbock roofing contractor and as a roofing contractor in Midland, open 7 AM–7 PM CT, 7 days a week. Call (806) 249-0342 to schedule a roof inspection after the storm.