How to Get Insurance to Pay for Roof Replacement in San Antonio

After a hailstorm rolls across Bexar County, the questions start: Is my roof damaged? Will insurance pay? Who do I call first? Knowing how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement starts long before the storm, with the policy you already have, and continues with how carefully you document and file. This guide uses Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) guidance to walk you through the process. It can't tell you whether your claim will be approved. Only your insurer decides that, under your policy.

Hail is a real risk for San Antonio roofs

San Antonio homeowners don't have to imagine a damaging hailstorm. On April 12, 2016, a storm crossed northern Bexar County and the National Weather Service's Austin/San Antonio office documented multiple reports of 2- to 3-inch hail, with the largest stones measuring 4.5 inches across near Helotes. Hail can reach any part of the county, from Helotes to Stone Oak to Converse, so it pays to understand your coverage before the next storm.

Know what your policy covers before a San Antonio hailstorm

Pull out your declarations page, often called the dec page, and look for three things TDI tells homeowners to check:

• Replacement cost or actual cash value. TDI explains that replacement cost coverage can pay up to the full cost to repair your roof at current prices, while actual cash value coverage pays less when the roof is older or worn. TDI also notes that as roofs age, some companies switch roof coverage to actual cash value at renewal.
• Your wind and hail deductible. TDI says the deductible for wind and hail damage is often different from, and higher than, the deductible for other damage.
• Percentage deductibles. A deductible can be a percentage of your coverage. TDI's example: on a home insured for $150,000, a 5 percent deductible is $7,500. If your repair costs less than that, the policy pays nothing.

If anything is unclear, ask your agent now, not after the storm. TDI's consumer help line is 800-252-3439.

Step by step: filing a roof claim in San Antonio

TDI's guidance after hail or wind damage comes down to acting quickly and keeping records:

1. Stay safe. Don't climb onto a wet or damaged roof. Photograph what you can from the ground and from inside the attic.
2. Document everything. Take photos and video of the damage and make a list of damage inside and outside the house, including ceiling stains, broken windows, dented gutters and damaged fences.
3. Prevent more damage. Cover holes and broken windows to keep rain out and keep every receipt. TDI notes your policy may pay for temporary repairs.
4. Keep damaged items. Don't throw damaged items away until your insurance company tells you to.
5. File as soon as you can. TDI's advice is to file a claim as soon as possible after the damage. Check your policy for its specific reporting requirements.
6. Keep a contact log. Record the name, date and topic of every conversation with your insurer.
7. Be there for the adjuster. TDI recommends being present for the adjuster's visit so you can make sure they see all of the damage.
8. Get written estimates. TDI suggests getting bids from several contractors and comparing them with the adjuster's report before you settle the claim.

Texas claim deadlines insurers must meet

Texas law puts your insurer on a clock. According to TDI:

• Your company has 15 business days to say it got your claim.
• It has 15 business days after getting what it needs from you to tell you whether it will pay. It can extend that by up to 45 days if it tells you why it needs more time.
• If it rejects all or part of your claim, it must tell you why in writing.
• After it agrees to pay all or part of the claim, it must pay within five business days.
• After a weather-related catastrophe, TDI can extend these deadlines by 15 more days.

How roof claim payments usually arrive

With replacement cost coverage, TDI says payment often comes in two parts. The first check is a partial payment, and the insurer sends the rest after repairs have started. Plan your contractor's payment schedule around that, and never pay in full before work begins. TDI also reminds homeowners that Texas law requires you to pay your deductible, and your insurer can ask for proof that you did.

Texas laws that protect San Antonio homeowners from roofing scams

Storms bring door-knockers. TDI and Texas law give you clear red lines:

• No deductible waivers. Texas Business and Commerce Code Section 27.02 makes it illegal for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate or absorb your deductible. TDI warns that a contractor making that offer may be sending false cost information to your insurer, which would be fraud. Contracts of $1,000 or more involving an insurance settlement must include a notice that you are responsible for the deductible.
• Your roofer can't be your adjuster. Texas Insurance Code Section 4102.163 prohibits a contractor who is doing or may do the work on your property from acting as your public adjuster or advertising to adjust claims. Be wary of anyone who promises to negotiate your settlement or recover every dime you're owed.
• No down payment demands after a disaster. TDI says it's against the law for out-of-town contractors to ask for a down payment before they start work after a disaster.
• Watch the paperwork. Don't sign contracts with blank spaces, read every document before you sign and keep copies of agreements and warranty terms.

Report a contractor who offers to waive your deductible to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-621-0508.

If you disagree with the claim decision

TDI's advice is to call your insurance company or agent and provide documentation that supports your position, such as photos, estimates and any inspection reports. You may also hire a licensed public insurance adjuster to represent you on the claim. If you believe the insurer isn't following the rules, TDI accepts consumer complaints. An insurer's decision isn't something a contractor can overrule, so be cautious of anyone who promises a particular outcome.

Where 214 Veteran Solutions fits after a San Antonio storm

214 Veteran Solutions is a veteran-owned general contractor in San Antonio. We are not an insurance restoration company, and we do not handle claims, adjust losses or make coverage decisions. Coverage questions are between you and your insurer. Here is what we do:

• Inspect the damage and prepare a written repair scope and estimate you can share with your insurer.
• Coordinate roof repair and replacement with a roofing contractor.
• Handle the reconstruction of related storm damage once any water mitigation is complete.
• Handle permits where required and walk the finished work with you.

Read more on our insurance repair services page, our San Antonio roof replacement guide and our guide to rebuilding after storm or water damage. Commercial property owners can see our commercial roofing page.

Had a storm roll through? Call (210) 796-3695, text (210) 429-7396 or book a free on-site estimate consultation, and we'll give you a written scope you can share with your insurer.