By the Krystel Huerta Insurance team · Reviewed by Krystel Huerta, Licensed Texas Insurance Agent · TX Lic. #1922044A spring storm rolls through, the yard is white with ice, and now you're wondering what your policy actually pays for a damaged roof. Here's how Texas deductibles, roof age and claim rules decide what you're paid.
When your policy includes wind and hail coverage, sudden hail damage to your roof and home is generally covered, but what you're paid depends on your wind/hail deductible and whether your roof is on a replacement cost or actual cash value schedule. On an older roof under ACV, a full replacement can pay little or nothing after the deductible.
- Texas led the U.S. with 902 major hail events in 2025, its 11th straight year on top (Insurance Information Institute).
- A percentage deductible is figured on your dwelling coverage: 2% of $200,000 is $4,000.
- In TDI's own example, a $10,000 roof pays $6,000 under replacement cost but $0 under ACV once the roof is 20 years old.
- Texas law bars roofers from waiving your deductible, and insurers generally must acknowledge a claim within 15 days.
Do this: Before hail season, find the wind/hail deductible and roof loss-settlement line on your declarations page. If either one surprises you, ask our team for a free coverage review.
Your renewal letter says your roof is now on an “actual cash value” schedule, or your deductible shows up as a percentage instead of a dollar amount, and you're not sure what that means when the next hailstorm comes through. In our experience reviewing Texas home policies after spring hail, those two lines on the declarations page explain most of the surprises people feel at claim time.
This guide covers why hail risk is so high here, how your deductible and roof schedule decide the check, what to do after a storm, Texas roofing rules and claim deadlines, each sourced to TDI, Texas statutes, the National Weather Service or the Insurance Information Institute.
Why is hail such a big deal for Texas homeowners?
The short answer: Because Texas gets more major hail than any other state: 902 events with stones an inch or larger in 2025, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Hail has a season here. A National Weather Service San Angelo analysis of NCEI storm data from 1955 to 2020 found severe hail in West and Central Texas is most frequent from March through June, peaking in May. Tornado season overlaps it: the National Weather Service in Fort Worth counts 555 April tornadoes and 525 May tornadoes across North and Central Texas from 1950 to 2025.
| Your situation | Risk | What it means at claim time |
|---|---|---|
| Older roof on an ACV schedule | High | Depreciation and the deductible both come off, so a replacement can pay little or nothing. |
| Percentage wind/hail deductible you've never priced out | High | Tied to your dwelling limit, so it's often thousands of dollars. |
| Policy with a cosmetic hail exclusion | Medium | Dents that don't affect how the roof works may not be paid. |
| Newer roof on replacement cost | Low | You owe the deductible; the rest of a covered replacement is generally paid, subject to your policy's terms and limits. |
| Impact-resistant (UL 2218) roof | Low | TDI says it may earn a premium discount, subject to policy terms. |
Not sure which of these your policy has? Start a free review or call (512) 691-6400 and we'll read your declarations page with you.
How does a percentage wind and hail deductible work in Texas?
The short answer: A percentage wind/hail deductible is a share of your dwelling coverage, not of the damage: on $200,000 of coverage, 2% means you pay the first $4,000, per TDI's example.
The Texas Department of Insurance (updated April 2026) points out that your wind and hail deductible may be different from the deductible for other kinds of damage.
Multiply your dwelling coverage (Coverage A on most declarations pages) by the percentage. That's what you pay before the policy pays anything on a wind or hail claim.
| Wind/hail deductible | Calculation | You pay first |
|---|---|---|
| 1% | $200,000 × 0.01 | $2,000 |
| 2% (TDI's example) | $200,000 × 0.02 | $4,000 |
| 5% | $200,000 × 0.05 | $10,000 |
What's the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value on a roof?
The short answer: Replacement cost pays to replace a damaged roof, minus your deductible; actual cash value also subtracts depreciation, so the older the roof, the smaller the check.
According to TDI's replacement cost or actual cash value guide, a replacement cost policy pays to repair or replace damaged property without taking off for wear and age. ACV pays what the roof was worth at the time of the loss, after years of sun and storms. TDI's roof replacement tips add that some insurers switch aging roofs to ACV, so check at every renewal; your insurer should tell you about the change.
Replacement cost claims are usually paid in two parts, according to TDI: the ACV amount first, then the rest after the repairs are done. Keep the invoice and proof of payment to collect the second check. TDI also notes insurers won't replace a roof that's simply worn out; the policy pays for sudden storm damage, not age.
Roof age can also affect whether coverage is offered. As of October 2026, TDI's September 29, 2026 news release describes a proposal to clarify its rule so companies can't decline or nonrenew a policy based on the age of a house or its roof, while still considering the home's current condition. No effective date was stated. And since January 2026, HB 2067 (TDI Bulletin B-0012-25) requires a written explanation for declinations and nonrenewals.
Does your policy pay for cosmetic hail damage, and do impact-resistant roofs help?
The short answer: Some Texas policies exclude cosmetic hail damage to roof coverings, while impact-resistant roofs tested to UL 2218 may qualify for a premium credit.
The idea goes back to a 1998 TDI bulletin, B-0030-98, which created premium credits for impact-resistant roofing tested to the UL 2218 standard and an optional endorsement that excludes cosmetic hail damage to roof coverings. Hail damage that lets water in or keeps the roof from working is still covered; what's excluded is the purely cosmetic part, like dimpled metal.
That bulletin is decades old, and today's wording varies by company and policy. Check your declarations page for an endorsement mentioning cosmetic damage or roof surfacing, and ask us to walk through it.
Impact-resistant roofing is tested to the UL 2218 standard (TDI recognized UL 2218 roofs for premium credits in a 1998 bulletin). TDI's roof replacement tips say impact-resistant materials may earn a discount on your premium. Any credit depends on the policy and documentation, subject to terms, conditions and availability.
What should you do after a hailstorm hits your home?
The short answer: Stay safe, photograph everything, make temporary repairs and keep receipts, report the claim quickly, meet the adjuster, and get written contractor bids.
TDI's hail claim tips (March 2025) and after hail or windstorms guide agree on the basics: file quickly, document damage, make temporary repairs and keep receipts.
- Make sure everyone is safeStay off the roof, watch for downed lines and broken glass, and wait for the storm to pass.
- Photograph the damageTake dated photos and video of the roof from the ground, gutters, siding, windows, fences and anything inside that got wet.
- Make temporary repairs and keep receiptsTarp an opening or board a broken window to keep water out. TDI says to make temporary repairs that prevent more damage and to keep every receipt.
- Report the claimCall your insurer or agent as soon as you can with your policy number, storm date and photos. If the home is unlivable, ask about additional living expenses.
- Be ready for the adjusterBe there for the inspection if you can, point out every area you photographed, and ask for the estimate in writing.
- Get written bids from contractorsTDI recommends getting more than one written bid, not paying in full upfront and never signing a contract with blank spaces.
What does Texas law say about roofers and your deductible?
The short answer: In Texas, a contractor can't waive or pay your deductible or act as your public adjuster, and contracts of $1,000 or more paid by insurance need a deductible notice.
TDI's Roofing and insurance: Know the law page (updated March 2025) summarizes the rules.
- No deductible waivers. Under Business & Commerce Code §27.02, a contractor can't waive, rebate or absorb your deductible.
- You must pay the deductible. Insurance Code ch. 707 makes the policyholder responsible for it, and your insurer may ask for proof that you paid.
- A deductible notice in the contract. Roofing contracts of $1,000 or more that will be paid from an insurance claim must include a written notice about the deductible.
- No contractor-adjusters. Under Insurance Code §4102.163, a contractor can't act or advertise as a public adjuster.
In our experience, the homeowners who come out of a hail claim happiest are the ones who read the adjuster's estimate first and then hire a contractor to do that scope of work, rather than letting the contractor drive the claim.
How long does a Texas insurer have to handle a hail claim?
The short answer: Under Insurance Code chapter 542, insurers generally must acknowledge a claim within 15 days, decide within 15 business days of getting what they asked for, and pay within 5 business days, with 15 extra days after a weather catastrophe.
| Step | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledge your claim | 15 days | The insurer starts its investigation and asks for what it needs. |
| Accept or deny | 15 business days | Counted from when it has everything it asked for; it can extend 45 days by telling you why. |
| Pay an accepted claim | 5 business days | After it notifies you it will pay. |
| After a weather catastrophe | +15 days | Added to the deadlines above (§542.059). |
Those deadlines come from Texas Insurance Code chapter 542 and are explained in TDI's homeowners insurance guide (updated June 2026). The same guide notes that many policies give you one year to file a claim, so check your policy's own deadline. Don't wait on it.
Texas also added protections in 2025. SB 458, per TDI Bulletin B-0012-25, requires home policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, to include an appraisal clause for disputes over the amount of a loss. If a claim stalls, TDI's consumer help line is 800-252-3439. For how the rest of a Texas home policy works, see our Texas homeowners insurance guide.
The Bottom Line
The short answer: When your policy includes wind and hail coverage, sudden hail damage to your roof and home is generally covered, but what you're paid depends on your wind/hail deductible and whether your roof is on a replacement cost or actual cash value schedule. On an older roof under ACV, a full replacement can pay little or nothing after the deductible.
Texas leads the country in major hail events, and the outcome is mostly decided before the storm: your wind/hail deductible in dollars, replacement cost or ACV on the roof, and any cosmetic exclusion. After a storm: photos, temporary repairs and receipts, a prompt report, the adjuster's written estimate, and a contractor who follows Texas law.
If you'd like a second set of eyes on your roof coverage before next spring, our licensed Texas team will review your policy with you for free, in English or Spanish, by phone, text or email. Start with your ZIP below, or see our home insurance page.
Frequently asked questions
Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage in Texas?
How long do I have to file a hail damage claim in Texas?
Can a roofer pay or waive my deductible in Texas?
Will a hail claim cause my homeowners policy to be nonrenewed?
Can an insurer refuse to cover my Texas home because the roof is old?
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute — Facts + Statistics: Hail
- National Weather Service San Angelo — Hail analysis (NCEI data 1955–2020)
- National Weather Service Fort Worth — North and Central Texas tornado statistics
- Texas Department of Insurance — Replacing your roof (updated April 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance — Home insurance policies: replacement cost or actual cash value (updated January 2024)
- TDI Commissioner's Bulletin B-0030-98 — impact-resistant roofing credits and cosmetic hail endorsement (1998)
- Texas Department of Insurance — Roofing and insurance: Know the law (updated March 2025)
- Texas Department of Insurance — After hail or windstorms
- Texas Department of Insurance — Hail damage: tips to file an insurance claim (March 2025)
- Texas Department of Insurance — Homeowners insurance guide (cb025) (updated June 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance — Home insurance tips (updated December 2025)
- Texas Department of Insurance — How are your auto and homeowners insurance costs calculated? (updated September 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance — Home insurance canceled or not renewed (updated January 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance — News release on home and roof age (proposal) (September 29, 2026)
- TDI Commissioner's Bulletin B-0012-25 — 89th Legislature bills (SB 458, HB 2067)
- Texas Insurance Code ch. 542 — Prompt payment of claims
- Texas Insurance Code ch. 542A — Certain consumer actions related to claims for property damage