If a hailstorm just rolled through your West Texas neighborhood, the next 30 days are going to involve insurance phone calls, an adjuster on your roof, a contract you have to sign before work starts, and a payment process most homeowners have never seen before. This guide explains the whole thing in the order it actually happens — and answers the questions our Lubbock customers ask us most often.

First, the law that changed everything: Texas HB 2102

Before September 1, 2019, it was common for Texas roofing contractors to advertise that they would “waive your deductible” or “eat the deductible” on a hail claim. That practice is now illegal in Texas. HB 2102 makes it a misdemeanor for any roofing contractor to pay, waive, or rebate any portion of an insurance deductible. Penalties include up to a $2,000 fine and up to six months in prison — for the contractor and, potentially, for the homeowner who knowingly participates.

What this means in practice: any contractor in Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, or Amarillo who’s offering to waive your deductible in 2026 is breaking the law — and giving you a strong reason to wonder what else they’re willing to fudge. At Jones & Associates, your deductible is your responsibility, and our estimate will reflect actual market pricing for the materials and labor we’ll put on your roof.

The 7-step Texas roof insurance claim process

Every claim is a little different, but almost all of them follow this sequence:

Step 1 — Get your roof inspected

Before you call your insurance company, get a real assessment from a roofer you trust. Hail damage is often subtle: bruised shingles, bent flashing, dings on vents and gutters that you can’t see from the ground. Jones & Associates inspects roofs across the South Plains for free. If we find damage that’s worth filing on, we’ll tell you. If we don’t, we’ll tell you that too — because filing a no-damage claim only burns one of your future claims for nothing.

Step 2 — Contact your insurance company

Call the claims line on your homeowner’s policy. Have your policy number, the date of the storm, and a brief description of the damage ready. Your insurance company will assign you a claim number and schedule a field adjuster to come out — usually within a week or two during a major storm event.

Step 3 — Meet the adjuster

This is the single most important meeting of the entire process. We strongly recommend that you have your roofing contractor on the property when the adjuster arrives. The adjuster is going to walk your roof, mark damaged slopes with chalk, and write up a scope of work using their software (most use Xactimate). Having a knowledgeable contractor present means damage doesn’t get missed, line items don’t get under-priced, and code-required upgrades don’t get left out of the estimate.

Step 4 — Review the documentation

A few days after the adjuster visit, you’ll get a packet from your insurance company. It will include a scope of work (every line item the adjuster wrote up), an Actual Cash Value figure, a Replacement Cost Value figure, your deductible, and a first check. We’ll review the scope with you, point out anything that’s missing or under-allowanced, and help you understand what each number means.

Step 5 — Sign a contract and choose materials

Once you and Jones & Associates agree on the scope and pricing, we’ll sign a contract and pick out your shingle color, ridge profile, and any upgraded options you’re paying out of pocket for. Your contract will reflect actual market pricing — not a hidden deductible discount.

Step 6 — Roof installation

Most roof replacements take one or two days. Our crews tarp your landscaping, magnet-sweep the yard for nails, and clean up after themselves. We do final inspection with you before we leave.

Step 7 — Recoverable depreciation and final payment

After the work is complete, we send your insurance company a Certificate of Completion and our final invoice. They release the recoverable depreciation portion of your claim, you pay your deductible, and we collect the balance. The whole payment cycle usually wraps up within 30 days of completion.

Frequently asked questions about Texas roof insurance claims

How do I file a roof insurance claim in Texas?

How to file a roof insurance claim in Texas: get an inspection from a trusted roofer first, then call your homeowner’s insurance claims line with your policy number and the date of the storm, schedule the adjuster visit, and have your contractor present when the adjuster walks the roof. Jones & Associates does free inspections across the South Plains and meets adjusters on every claim we’re part of.

Does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement?

Yes — homeowners insurance covers roof replacement when the damage is caused by a covered peril like hail or wind, and the damage exceeds your deductible. Routine wear-and-tear is not covered. A free inspection from Jones & Associates will tell you whether what you’re looking at is a claim or just an old roof.

Can a Texas roofer waive my deductible in 2026?

No — under Texas HB 2102, no licensed roofing contractor can legally waive, rebate, or absorb any portion of your insurance deductible. Penalties include up to a $2,000 fine and up to six months in prison. If a roofer is offering to do this, walk away.