What to Do After Hail Damage to Your Roof in Texas

How Bad Is Hail in DFW? Worse Than Most People Realize

Dallas-Fort Worth consistently ranks in the top 5 most hail-damaged metropolitan areas in the United States. North Texas averages multiple significant hail events every year — some years we see 8 or more. The June 2023 DFW hailstorm caused an estimated $2.5 billion in insured losses. Collin, Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton counties are consistently among the top 10 counties nationwide for hail insurance claims. Stones of 1 inch or larger — the threshold for significant roof damage — get reported dozens of times a year across the metroplex.

Living in DFW, it's not a question of if your roof will take a hit. It's when. The key is knowing what to do when it happens. And what not to do — because most homeowners get that part wrong.

How to Spot Hail Damage

Most homeowners can't see significant roof damage from the ground. You need eyes up close on the shingles. Here's what we're actually looking for when we get on a roof after a storm:

Bruised or dented shingles.Hailstones compress the granule layer and the asphalt mat underneath. The impact spots look like small, dark circular dents — dime to golf ball sized. Run your hand across the surface and you'll feel soft spots where the structure got crushed. This is the most common damage we see across Frisco, Allen, Prosper, and McKinney after a storm.

Granule loss.Check your gutters and downspout discharge areas after a storm. Significant granule accumulation — looks like coarse dark sand — means hail knocked the protective coating off your shingles. Once the granules go, UV radiation accelerates deterioration fast.

Cracked or split shingles.Larger hailstones — 1.5 inches and up — can crack shingles outright. In DFW's extreme summer heat, those cracks expand further, turning minor damage into active leaks within one season.

Dented metal.Check flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights. Look at your gutters and downspouts. If the metal shows hail hits, the shingles have damage too — even if you can't see it from below.

Damage to other property. Your car, outdoor furniture, AC unit, fence, window screens. If those are dented or damaged, your roof took hits. Insurance adjusters use damaged window screens as corroborating evidence because the screens are consistent proof of hail size and coverage.

What to Do Immediately After the Storm

Document everything.Photos and video of any visible damage — gutters, siding, cars, AC units, window screens. Note the date, time, and approximate hail size. This documentation supports your claim before you've even called anyone.

Do not climb on your roof.A hail-damaged roof can have weakened shingles, wet surfaces, compromised decking. Leave the inspection to professionals with proper safety equipment. We've seen too many homeowners hurt themselves trying to assess damage on their own.

Call a local roofer before calling your insurance company.This is the one most people get backwards. Have a professional inspect and document the damage first. Then file. A qualified contractor will tell you whether you have a legitimate claim and will provide documentation that strengthens your case. JRH does free inspections across 30+ DFW cities. Joel will tell you straight whether it's worth filing — we don't manufacture claims.

File promptly.Most Texas policies require filing within one year of the storm date, but don't push it. After a major DFW storm, adjusters get backed up fast. Filing early gets you in the queue earlier.

Prevent further damage. Active leaks? Buckets and tarping until the claim gets processed. We provide emergency tarping for active water intrusion.

The Insurance Claim Timeline: What to Expect

After a major hailstorm, insurance companies are flooded with claims from all over the metroplex. Here's what the actual timeline looks like for DFW homeowners:

Days 1–3: Your roofer inspects, documents, and provides a written assessment. Days 3–7: You file the claim with your carrier, using the contractor's documentation to support it. Days 7–21: The adjuster comes out — wait times stretch to 2–3 weeks after a big storm. Your contractor needs to be on the roof with the adjuster for this inspection. Days 14–30: Initial payment hits (ACV check, minus depreciation and deductible). Days 21–45: Supplements if the initial scope was underpaid — we write and negotiate those. Days 30–60: The actual roof replacement. Most residential roofs in DFW are done in one to two days. You pay your deductible. Insurance covers the rest.

Storm Chasers: The Biggest Risk After a Hailstorm

After every major hailstorm in DFW, out-of-state “storm chaser” roofing companies flood the area. They knock on doors, offer deals that sound too good, collect payment, and disappear. We see it happen to homeowners in every neighborhood we work in.

Never sign a contract with a door-knocker on the spot. Verify they have a local DFW office address, Texas contractor's license, and proof of insurance — storm chasers typically can't produce these. Check for established Google reviews from DFW homeowners, not out-of-state testimonials. And never pay the full amount upfront. A legitimate contractor collects payment upon completion or works directly with your insurance company.

JRH is based in Little Elm. Joel founded it. Landry and Jonathan work it. We're here before, during, and after the storm — and we back every roof with a full workmanship warranty. That's not something a company that's here for 60 days after a storm can offer.

Repair vs. Replace: How We Make the Call

Not every hailstorm means a full replacement. Repair makes sense when damage is isolated to a small area, the roof is under 10 years old, and there are fewer than 8 hits per 10x10 test square with no functional damage to the mat. Replacement is the right call when there's widespread damage across multiple slopes, the roof is already 15+ years old, you're seeing 8 or more hits per test square, shingles are cracked or splitting, or there are active leaks getting into the decking. We tell homeowners straight which one it is. If repair is the right answer, we say repair. We don't upsell a full replacement on a roof that doesn't need it.