Every spring the same thing happens across Dallas–Fort Worth: a line of storms crosses the Metroplex overnight, a few neighborhoods wake up to golf-ball hail on the lawn, and by lunchtime the first out-of-town roofing trucks are knocking on doors. This checklist is what we tell our own families to do before, during and after hail season, and it works whether you ever call us or not.
Before the season: March
- Get a baseline inspection. A free inspection in early spring documents the roof’s condition before any storm. If hail hits in May, the “before” photos make the claim simple.
- Read your policy. Find three things on the declarations page: the wind/hail deductible (usually 1–2% of dwelling coverage in DFW), whether the roof is covered at replacement cost or actual cash value, and any roof payment schedule. Our deductible calculator turns those into dollars.
- Clear gutters and trim limbs. Clogged gutters overflow behind the fascia; low limbs become projectiles.
- Photograph the house. Walk the perimeter and photograph every elevation, the gutters, screens and the AC unit. Timestamped “before” photos are worth a great deal in a dispute.
During the season: what to watch
Storms usually form west of Fort Worth in the late afternoon and move east-northeast through the evening. A storm that drops one-inch hail in Weatherford at 6 p.m. can be over Plano by 8. Sign up for county emergency alerts, and after any storm note the date and time; the NOAA storm lookup tools let you confirm hail size at your address later.
After a storm: the first 48 hours
Check inside first
Look at ceilings and in the attic for fresh stains or drips. Move belongings and catch water; if water is coming in, call (469) 498-6772 for emergency tarping.
Walk the ground
Photograph dented gutters, downspouts and vents, torn screens, granules at downspout outlets and any shingle pieces in the yard. Stay off the roof.
Run the self-check
Our hail damage self-check scores what you found and tells you whether an inspection is worth scheduling.
Book a documented inspection
Test squares, chalked hits, collateral photos and a written report. That package is what your adjuster expects.
Choosing who to let on your roof
After a big storm, expect door knockers. Some are legitimate; many are not. Five questions sort them quickly:
- Where is your office, and how long have you been there? (Ours: North Stemmons Freeway in Dallas since 2012, and Main Street in Frisco.)
- Are you manufacturer certified, and can you show the certificate?
- What is your general liability coverage? ($2 million, in our case.)
- Will you meet my adjuster on the roof?
- Will you put the warranty in writing, and who honors it in ten years?
And one hard rule: anyone who offers to “cover” or “waive” your deductible is proposing insurance fraud under Texas law. Walk away.
If the roof is damaged
Read our six-step claim guide before you call your carrier. The short version: file with the storm date, let us meet the adjuster, make sure code items like ice-and-water barrier and drip edge are in the scope, pay your deductible to the contractor, and collect the recoverable depreciation after the roof is installed. If you are replacing anyway, consider Class 4 impact-resistant shingles; the lifespan guide explains why they are the right call in a hail corridor.
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Hail season checklist: baseline inspection in March · know your deductible and RCV/ACV basis · gutters cleared, limbs trimmed · perimeter photos taken · storm date and time noted · ground-level photos after every storm · self-check score · documented inspection · claim filed with real numbers · never pay a roofer who waives deductibles.
Free 30-point inspection before the storms, or a documented damage inspection after one. Either way you get photos and a written report.Get your baseline inspection on the calendar.
