Hail Damaged Your Commercial Building? What to Do in Texas

What Should I Do in the First 48 Hours After a Hail Storm?

Make the property safe, record the damage, stop it from getting worse, and report the claim. Those four steps protect people first and your claim second.

Texas sees a lot of hail. The Insurance Information Institute, using NOAA data, reports 902 major hail events (hail one inch or larger) in Texas in 2025, more than any other state. For a commercial owner, a fast and orderly response after a storm matters as much as the policy itself.

1. Check for hazards. Look for broken glass, damaged power lines, roof leaks near electrical equipment and slippery floors. Keep tenants and customers away from them.
2. Photograph and video everything, with dates. Cover the roof (if safe), rooftop units, skylights, gutters, signs, windows, siding, vehicles and any interior water spots.
3. Make temporary repairs. Tarp openings, board broken glass and move stock away from leaks. Keep every receipt. Your policy's duties after loss usually require you to protect the property from further damage.
4. Don't make permanent repairs yet. If you can, wait until the adjuster has seen the damage. TDI also advises keeping damaged items until your insurer says you can throw them away.
5. Report the claim. Call your agent or insurer as soon as you reasonably can. Write down every person you speak with, the date and the claim number.
6. Tell your tenants and your lender if required. Leases and loan documents often set notice rules after damage.

How Do I Document Hail Damage on a Commercial Roof?

Good documentation shows three things: the damage, when it happened, and what the roof looked like before. The clearer each one is, the easier the claim is to evaluate.

• Close-ups with scale. Photograph hail marks with a coin or ruler for size, and add wide shots that show where each close-up was taken.
• Soft metals. Dents on vents, flashing, gutters, downspouts and air conditioner fins help show hail size and direction.
• Interior signs. Water stains, wet insulation and ceiling tiles should be photographed and dated before cleanup.
• Roof records. Gather the install date, warranty, past repairs and earlier inspection photos. Roof age and condition affect both coverage and valuation.
• Date of loss. Note the storm date and time. Keep weather reports or alerts that show hail hit your area.

Texas often gets more than one hail storm in a season. Damage from each storm is often treated as a separate loss with its own deductible. Clear before-and-after photos help connect each area of damage to the right date.

How Much Will I Pay Out of Pocket for Hail Damage?

Your share is mostly your deductible. On many Texas commercial policies, wind and hail have their own deductible, often a percentage of the building's insured value.

A wind and hail deductible stated as a percentage is figured on the insured value, not on the size of the loss. Many policies apply it per building. Our deductibles guide covers the details.

Will My Policy Pay for a New Roof or Only Its Depreciated Value?

It depends on how your policy values the roof. The three common approaches are full replacement cost, actual cash value, and a payment schedule based on roof age.

• Replacement cost. Pays to repair or replace with similar materials, without deducting for wear. Insurers commonly pay the actual cash value first. They pay the rest, called recoverable depreciation, after the work is done.
• Actual cash value. Pays replacement cost minus depreciation. An older roof can collect much less than the cost of a new one.
• Roof surfacing payment schedule. Pays a set percentage of replacement cost that falls as the roof ages.

Watch for a cosmetic damage exclusion too. These endorsements usually remove coverage for hail marks that change how the roof looks without letting water in. Metal roofs and panels are the classic case. Insurers also won't pay for a new roof just because the old one is worn. Wear and tear is generally excluded.

Should I Hire a Public Adjuster or Let a Contractor Help?

You don't have to hire anyone. TDI describes hiring a public adjuster as one of your options. If you do hire help, know the Texas rules first.

Adjusters: Who Works for Whom

The insurer's adjuster may be a staff employee or an independent adjuster hired by the insurer. A public adjuster works for you. Under Insurance Code Chapter 4102, public adjusters in Texas must hold a TDI license. Their fee may not exceed 10% of the insurance settlement on the claim. Their contract must be on a TDI-approved form, and you can cancel it in writing within 72 hours of signing. A public adjuster may not take part in repairing the property, and a contractor may not act as a public adjuster on a job it is or may be repairing. You can check a license with TDI's Help Line at 800-252-3439.

Contractors and Your Deductible

Texas law requires you to pay your deductible (Insurance Code §707.002). Under Business and Commerce Code §27.02, a seller who waives, absorbs or rebates your deductible without the insurer's consent commits a misdemeanor. Contracts of $1,000 or more expected to be paid from insurance must include a notice about this. TDI also suggests getting more than one bid, checking references and not paying in full up front. Never sign a contract that has blank spaces.

How Long Does My Insurer Have to Handle a Hail Claim in Texas?

For most insurers, Texas Insurance Code Chapter 542, the prompt payment of claims law, sets the clock. The deadlines below run from specific events, not from the storm date.

If an insurer that owes a claim misses these deadlines, §542.060 makes it liable for interest and attorney's fees on top of the claim. Because the clock runs from when the insurer has everything it asked for, send requested documents promptly and keep proof of what you sent and when. For coastal TWIA policies, see our TWIA guide.

What Can I Do If I Disagree With the Amount?

Start by asking for the adjuster's estimate and the reasons behind it, in writing. Many disagreements come from missed items or different repair methods. These can often be settled by sending a detailed contractor estimate and photos.

If you still disagree on the amount, many policies include an appraisal clause. Under it, each side picks an appraiser, and an umpire settles what the two can't agree on. Appraisal usually decides how much the loss is, not whether it is covered. Read your policy's appraisal terms and any deadlines.

Before suing over a weather-related claim, Texas Insurance Code Chapter 542A requires written notice at least 61 days before filing. It must state the specific amount you say is owed (Chapter 542A pre-suit notice). The amount in that notice can later affect attorney's fees under §542A.007. Chapter 542A does not apply to TWIA. These are legal steps, so talk with a Texas attorney before taking them.

What Should I Do Next to Be Ready for the Next Hail Storm?

Most hail claim problems trace back to records nobody kept or a deductible nobody calculated. A short checklist done before spring storm season helps.

1. Write down each building's wind and hail deductible in dollars.
2. Find out whether each roof is valued at replacement cost, actual cash value or on a schedule, and whether a cosmetic exclusion applies.
3. Keep a roof file for each building: install date, warranty, repairs and dated photos.
4. Line up a roofer and a tarping vendor you trust before you need them.
5. Save your agent's and insurer's claim numbers in your phone.
6. After any storm, follow the 48-hour steps above and keep every receipt.

If you'd like us to check your deductibles and roof terms before the next season, contact us. You can also see how we work with owners during a claim.

Questions Owners Ask

Sources

1. Insurance Information Institute: Facts and statistics, hail — Major hail events by state, 2025 (NOAA data)
2. TDI: Hail damage? What to do next
3. TDI: Public adjusters, what to know before you hire one
4. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 542 (prompt payment of claims) — §§542.055–542.060
5. Texas Insurance Code §542A.002 — Scope of Chapter 542A; TWIA exception
6. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 (public insurance adjusters) — §§4102.051, 4102.103, 4102.104, 4102.158, 4102.163
7. Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 27 — §27.02, payment of deductible required