Storm & Insurance
What to Do After a Hailstorm in DFW
Write down the storm date, photograph collateral damage on gutters, screens and AC fins from the ground, check ceilings and the attic, get a documented inspection, then read your policy before deciding whether to file. Do not sign anything with a door-knocker the same day.
The first 48 hours
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Record the date
Carriers work from a date of loss. Note it immediately along with the approximate hail size if you saw it.
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Photograph collateral damage
Gutters, downspouts, window screens, AC condenser fins, fence caps, mailboxes and painted metal. This is the evidence that corroborates roof damage.
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Check inside and up
Ceiling stains, and if you can access it safely, the attic for daylight or damp decking.
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Do not climb on the roof
You will not be able to identify bruising reliably and you may cause damage that complicates the claim.
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Save any hail
A photo of a hailstone next to a coin establishes size better than a description.
Before you file
- Get an inspection so you know whether damage likely exceeds your deductible
- Check whether you have ACV or RCV roof coverage on your declarations page
- Check for a separate percentage-based wind and hail deductible
- Understand that a claim on cosmetic-only damage rarely serves you
Handling the knock on the door
After any significant DFW hail event, crews from out of state arrive within days. Some are legitimate. Many are not. The tells are consistent: pressure to sign on the first visit, an offer to cover your deductible, a guarantee that your claim will be approved, and no local address. You are allowed to say you will call your own roofer, and you should.
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