TLDR: Start with your deductible. If the repair costs less than your deductible, or close to it, a claim will not pay you anything. If a storm damaged a large part of the roof, a claim is usually worth filing. Get a free inspection first so you know which situation you are in.
After a storm, a lot of San Antonio homeowners are not sure whether to call their insurance company or just pay for the repair. Both can be the right answer. This is general information to help you think it through. Your policy and your agent have the final word on your coverage.
Step 1: Find your wind and hail deductible
In Texas, the deductible for wind and hail is often a percentage of your home’s insured value, not a flat dollar amount. Look at your declarations page or ask your agent for the number in dollars. That number is what you pay before insurance pays anything.
Step 2: Find out what the repair costs
You cannot make this decision without a real number. We inspect the roof for free, photograph the damage, and give you a written estimate. That tells you whether you are looking at a small repair or a full replacement.
When paying out of pocket usually makes sense
- The repair costs less than your deductible, or only slightly more
- The damage comes from age or wear, which insurance generally does not cover
- The problem is small and isolated, like a pipe boot or a few shingles
When a claim usually makes sense
- A hail or wind storm damaged a large part of the roof
- The repair or replacement cost is well above your deductible
- There is interior water damage along with the roof damage
Things to know before you file
Policies set a deadline for reporting storm damage, so do not sit on it for months. It is also worth asking your agent how a claim could affect your policy before you file one, especially for a small loss. What to expect when filing a roof claim in Texas.
What a roofer should and should not do
A roofer can document the damage, give you an estimate, and meet your adjuster at the house so nothing gets missed. A roofer should never offer to waive or absorb your deductible. That is illegal in Texas. Does homeowners insurance cover a roof leak in Texas?
We will tell you which one we think it is
Not every repair is an insurance claim, and we will tell you which is which after we look at the roof. If a repair will fix it, that is what we recommend.
Live Oak Roofing has served San Antonio and the Hill Country since 2017. Inspections and estimates are free. Call or text (210) 460-8896, or request a free inspection online.