By Fareed Tulbah, owner of Caden Roofing · 8,000+ roofs inspected · Last updated October 2026
902
Major hail events in Texas in 2025, the most of any state for the 11th year
Source: Insurance Information Institute
$15,000
Average State Farm hail claim payment in Texas, 2025
Source: State Farm
0
Hail claims that can count toward non-renewing a Texas homeowners policy
Source: Texas Insurance Code §551.107
$0
What an actual cash value policy paid on a 20-year-old roof in TDI’s example
Source: Texas Department of Insurance
Quick Answer
File a hail claim when a roof inspection finds real damage and the repair cost clearly exceeds your wind/hail deductible; don’t file when it doesn’t, or when the roof is just old. In Texas, a hail claim can’t be used to surcharge you or refuse your renewal, because the law excludes losses caused by natural causes from both. Before you decide, get the roof inspected and check three things in your policy: your wind/hail deductible, whether your roof is covered at replacement cost or actual cash value, and whether a roof payment schedule is attached.
Here’s how Caden Roofing approaches it after inspecting more than 8,000 roofs: we start with your policy. If you have replacement cost coverage with no roof payment schedule and the inspection shows clear hail damage, filing usually makes sense. If a roof schedule is attached, we estimate what the claim would actually pay after the schedule and your deductible, so you can decide whether it’s worth filing.
File or Don’t File: Decision Table
| Your situation | Usually… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Replacement cost, no roof schedule, clear hail damage | Filing usually makes sense | Pays repair cost above your deductible |
| Roof schedule attached, clear hail damage | Estimate the payout first, then decide | Schedule % and deductible can leave little |
| Damage costs less than your deductible | Don’t file | The claim pays $0 |
| Older roof covered at actual cash value | Do the math first | Depreciation can cut the payment to nothing |
| Old or worn roof, no storm damage | Don’t file | Insurance doesn’t pay for a roof because it’s old |
| Hail marks on a metal or Class 4 roof, but no leaks, cracks or punctures | Check your policy for a cosmetic damage exclusion | Many policies don’t pay for damage that only changes how the roof looks |
| Not sure what’s up there | Inspect first | Asking your insurer a question is not a claim |
Step 1: Find Your Wind/Hail Deductible
Most Texas policies charge a percentage of your home’s insured value for wind and hail, not a flat amount and not a percentage of the damage. 2% is now the common standard across most of Texas.
| Home insured for | 1% | 2% | 3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 | $9,000 |
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 | $12,000 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 |
A hail claim pays only the amount above that number.
Step 2: Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value?
- Replacement cost: pays to repair your roof at today’s prices.
- Actual cash value: pays less as the roof ages. As roofs age, some companies switch the roof to actual cash value at renewal; a roof in poor condition may lose coverage entirely.
The Texas Department of Insurance’s example: a $10,000 roof, $4,000 deductible.
| Roof age | Actual cash value | Policy pays |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years | $8,500 | $4,500 |
| 10 years | $7,000 | $3,000 |
| 20 years | $4,000 | $0 |
The same claim with replacement cost coverage pays $6,000 at any roof age.
Two payments, not one. Even with replacement cost coverage, insurers typically pay the roof’s actual cash value first and release the recoverable depreciation after the work is completed (see mistake 4 below).
Watch for a Roof Payment Schedule (Even on a Replacement Cost Policy)
Some Texas policies say “replacement cost” on the declarations page but pay roof claims from a roof payment schedule: a table that pays a set percentage of replacement cost based on the roof’s age and material, not its condition. It applies to wind and hail damage to the roof surface; the rest of your home is still paid at replacement cost. Your wind/hail deductible comes off after the schedule cut.
Example (illustrative; your schedule will differ): $20,000 roof replacement · 12-year-old roof paid at 64% = $12,800 · minus an $8,000 deductible = $4,800 paid. The same claim at full replacement cost pays $12,000.
Allstate’s House & Home policy, for example, pays wind and hail damage on older roofs from a schedule based on the roof’s age and type. In Austin, we see roof schedules most often on Allstate claims.
Words to look for in your endorsements: “roof payment schedule,” “roof surfaces,” “roof systems.”
Texas’s 2026 roof-age rule stops insurers from dropping you because your roof is old. It doesn’t stop a roof schedule from paying you less because your roof is old.
Step 3: Check for a Cosmetic Damage Waiver or Marring Exclusion
A cosmetic damage waiver (also called a cosmetic damage exclusion) means your insurer won’t pay for hail damage that changes how the roof looks but not how it works, like dents in metal panels that don’t leak. Many insurers offer it in exchange for a premium discount, often the discount for a Class 4 impact-resistant roof. Texas’s state version must be signed by you to take effect, and it still covers hail damage that lets water in or stops the roof from doing its job. Many carriers now use broader versions of their own, especially on metal roofs.
Words to look for in your policy:
- “Cosmetic damage” or “cosmetic loss”
- “Marring, pitting or other superficial damage”
- “Metal roof exclusion for hail”
“Marring” also appears in many policies’ general list of wear-and-tear exclusions. Whether it applies to a hail claim depends on the exact wording of your policy.
If you got a Class 4 or metal roof discount, check whether you signed a cosmetic damage waiver to get it. If you’re replacing a roof with Class 4 shingles, ask your agent whether the discount comes with a waiver before you accept it.
What Texas Law Says About Hail Claims and Your Policy
Hail claims can’t count toward non-renewal. An insurer can refuse to renew over claims only after three or more claims under the policy in a three-year period, and claims from natural causes, or claims filed but not paid, don’t count. TDI applies this to weather claims. If your insurer is dropping you over your roof’s condition instead, see your options when your insurance company is dropping you because of your roof.
No surcharge for a hail claim. A renewal surcharge is allowed only after two or more claims in three years, with the same natural-cause exclusion. TDI rules also bar claims-free discount programs from penalizing natural-cause claims, and TDI has fined carriers for doing it. Premiums can still change at renewal for reasons that apply to all policyholders in an area.
The insurer must warn you first. After two claims, the insurer must send a notice listing them and stating that another claim could cost you the renewal. Without that notice, it can’t non-renew you over claims.
Asking isn’t filing. An insurer can’t use a customer inquiry as a basis for cancelling or non-renewing a policy.
An old roof alone can’t cost you your policy. As of September 29, 2026, TDI made clear that insurers can’t decline or non-renew a home policy based only on the age of the house or its roof. The roof’s condition still counts.
No one can pay your deductible. Since 2019, it has been a criminal offense in Texas for a contractor to pay, waive, absorb or rebate a homeowner’s deductible, for both the contractor and the homeowner. Any roofing contract of $1,000 or more paid from a claim must say so in bold, and your insurer can hold the final payment until you prove the deductible was paid.
How Long Do You Have to File?
Your policy sets the deadline. In Caden Roofing’s experience, Texas homeowners policies generally allow one to two years from the date of loss to file a claim. Some also set a separate deadline to complete repairs, measured from either the date of loss or the date the claim was filed. Coastal Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) policies carry a one-year filing deadline by law, with extensions only for good cause. File soon after the storm, while the damage is easy to tie to a date.
How to Decide, Step by Step
- Note the storm date. Photograph any damage visible from the ground: dented gutters, vents, A/C fins, window screens. Stay off the roof.
- Have the roof and property inspected. Caden Roofing checks the shingles for bruising and fractured mat, inspects vents, pipe flashings and other roof accessories, and documents everything with photos. The inspection also covers the rest of the property for collateral damage: window screens, gutters, downspouts, siding, garage doors, broken glass, fencing, and even grills and other outdoor belongings.
- Read your declarations page and endorsements: your wind/hail deductible, replacement cost vs. actual cash value, any roof payment schedule, and any cosmetic damage waiver.
- Compare the repair estimate to your deductible, plus depreciation or the schedule percentage if either applies.
- If it’s clearly over, file promptly. Be there for the adjuster’s inspection, and keep a list of everyone you talk to at your insurance company.
What We See on Austin Roofs After Hail
Whether hail damages a roof depends mostly on two things: the size of the hail and the age of the roof.
Older roofs can be damaged by hail smaller than 1 inch
Hail size (inches) by roof age (years)
Based on Caden Roofing’s field observations from more than 8,000 roof inspections, hail of about 1.25 inches can start damaging shingles with no impact rating during their first 10 years, and hail 1.75 inches or larger damages even a brand-new one. As the roof ages, the threshold drops gradually to about 0.75 inches by year 16, below the 1-inch size the National Weather Service calls “severe.” Research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) backs this up: in a 2025 peer-reviewed study, weathered shingles hit by small hail were about 10 times more likely to be damaged by the next storm than new shingles.
The mistakes we see most after a hail storm
- Not having the roof inspected. Hail damage is often not visible from the ground. On older roofs, hail smaller than 1 inch can cause damage (see the chart above). Depending on the carrier, policies allow either one or two years from the date of loss to file a claim, and damage that has not been identified cannot be claimed.
- Waiting too long to file. In Caden Roofing’s experience, Texas homeowners policies generally allow one to two years from the date of loss to file a claim. Some carriers also set a deadline to complete repairs, and some measure it from the date of loss, not the date the claim was filed. A homeowner who files 11 months after the storm may have only a month or two left to complete the work and collect the depreciation the insurer held back.
- Hiring a newly formed or out-of-town roofing company. After a major storm, out-of-state roofing companies and crews set up temporary shop in the area, and new local companies form. Established local roofers already have their crews, so these companies hire whatever crews are available, often the least proven in the area. A new company may rely on the crew’s knowledge because it has little experience of its own. A large storm company scaling up to meet demand may bring in crews it has never worked with. Either way, no one with experience is verifying that the roof was installed correctly. When the storm work dries up, out-of-state companies move on to the next market. If a problem appears a year later, the company that installed the roof may no longer be here, or in business, and its workmanship warranty goes with it. Caden Roofing’s lead roof installer has worked with Fareed Tulbah since the very first roof he installed in 2009, and Fareed personally supervises every installation.
- Filing a claim, then not replacing the roof. On a replacement cost policy, the insurer typically pays in two parts. The first payment is the roof’s actual cash value: the replacement cost minus depreciation. The second payment, called the recoverable depreciation, is released only after the work is completed. On an older roof, the recoverable depreciation can be the majority of the payment. For example, if depreciation is based on the manufacturer’s 30-year rated lifespan for architectural laminate shingles, a 20-year-old roof is about two-thirds depreciated. On a $20,000 replacement, the actual cash value would be about $6,700, and about $13,300 would be held back until the work is done (before the deductible). A homeowner who does not complete the work forfeits that amount. Many policies also set a deadline to complete the work (see mistake 2).
What a Roofer Can and Can’t Do
You and your insurance company decide your claim. Texas law doesn’t allow a roofing contractor to negotiate it for you. Caden Roofing inspects your roof and property, documents the damage with photos, helps you understand the insurance claims process, and repairs or replaces what’s needed. Caden Roofing is also a vendor for USAA, State Farm, Travelers, AAA and Chubb, so the team knows what adjusters look for.
Real hail jobs:
- FORTIFIED roof after the April 18, 2026 hail, Turtle Rock Estates
- Piney Creek Bend, Bastrop: April 9, 2024 hail
- Southland Oaks, Southwest Austin: April 9, 2024 hail
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a hail claim raise my rates in Texas?
Not through a surcharge. Texas law excludes losses from natural causes, such as hail, from the claims an insurer can use to surcharge or non-renew a policy. Premiums can still change for reasons that apply to all policyholders in an area.
If my claim pays nothing, does it count against me?
No. Claims that are filed but not paid don’t count toward non-renewal or surcharges.
Does calling my insurance company count as a claim?
Texas law prohibits an insurer from using a customer inquiry as a basis to cancel or non-renew a policy.
My roof is 20 years old. Is a claim worth it?
It depends on your coverage. With replacement cost coverage and no roof payment schedule, often yes. With actual cash value or a roof schedule, estimate the payout after depreciation and your deductible before you decide.
How long do I have to file?
Policies generally allow one to two years from the date of loss. Some also set a deadline to complete repairs, measured from either the date of loss or the date the claim was filed, depending on the policy.
Can a roofer pay or waive my deductible?
No. It has been a criminal offense in Texas since 2019, for both the contractor and the homeowner.
Can my insurer drop me because my roof is old?
Not because of age alone. As of September 29, 2026, Texas rules prohibit insurers from declining or non-renewing a home policy based only on the age of the house or its roof. An insurer can still decline or non-renew based on the roof’s physical condition.
I have Class 4 shingles. Is hail damage covered?
Damage that affects how the roof works is generally covered. Cosmetic damage may be excluded if you signed a cosmetic damage waiver to get an impact-resistant roof discount.
My policy says replacement cost. Why did my roof claim pay so little?
Your policy may include a roof payment schedule, which pays a set percentage of replacement cost based on the roof’s age and material, even on a replacement cost policy.
What is recoverable depreciation?
On a replacement cost value (RCV) claim, it’s the portion the insurer holds back until the work is completed. Once the work is done, it’s released to cover the difference between the roof’s depreciated value and the cost of a brand-new roof. If the work isn’t done, it can be forfeited.
What is a marring exclusion?
Policy language that excludes shingles and other roofing materials from replacement when hail causes only surface damage, such as dents, scratches, pitting or granule loss. Whether it applies to a hail claim depends on the policy’s exact wording. Research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has found that granule loss from hail exposes the asphalt to sunlight, speeding up the shingle’s aging and making it more vulnerable to future storms.
My roof isn’t leaking. Do I really need to file a hail claim?
Not every hail-damaged roof leaks right away. Hail large enough to puncture shingles causes immediate leaks, but hail that bruises shingles or knocks off granules usually does not. In Caden Roofing’s experience, leaks from that kind of damage tend to appear two to three years later, as the damaged shingles break down in the sun. By then, the filing window has often closed. Unclaimed hail damage also tends to surface at the worst time: during an insurer’s renewal inspection, when switching insurance companies, or in a buyer’s inspection when the home goes on the market. If the filing window has passed, the homeowner pays for the full replacement out of pocket.
If your roof is leaking but hail isn’t the cause, the problem is often the flashing. See Where Do Most Roof Leaks Start?.
Get a Free Roof Inspection Before You Decide
Call Caden Roofing at (512) 364-0278, 7 AM to 9 PM, any day, or schedule online. You’ll see photos of what we find, and the decision is yours.
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance: Home policies: Replacement cost or actual cash value?
- Texas Department of Insurance: Replacing your roof
- Texas Department of Insurance: Hail damage? Tips to file an insurance claim (March 2025)
- Texas Department of Insurance: Texas homeowners protected from being denied insurance based on roof age (Sept. 29, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance: Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0030-98 (Endorsement HO-145)
- Texas Insurance Code §551.107 and §551.113
- Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 (payment of deductible)
- Texas Insurance Code §2210.205 (TWIA filing deadline)
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety: Impact testing of high concentrations of small hail
- Texas Public Radio: Texas led the nation with 902 major hail events in 2025 (Insurance Information Institute data)
- United Policyholders: State Farm’s 2025 Texas hail claims and the 2% deductible standard
- United Policyholders: Roof insurance, ACV versus replacement cost (Allstate roof payment schedule)
This page is general information to help you understand the insurance claims process. It is not legal or insurance advice. Your policy’s exact wording controls what it covers.
