Most homeowners in McKinney, Allen, Frisco, and Plano don't read the roof section of their insurance policy until after a hailstorm. That's when they find out the deductible is bigger than they expected, or that the first check doesn't cover the whole job.
A few minutes with your declarations page now can save you a lot of surprise later. Here's what to look for.
Your wind and hail deductible may be a percentage, not a flat amount
Many Texas homeowner policies carry a separate deductible for wind and hail damage. Instead of a flat dollar figure, it's often a percentage of your home's dwelling coverage, commonly 1% or 2%.
That difference matters. On a home insured for $400,000, a 1% deductible is $4,000. A 2% deductible is $8,000. That amount comes out of your claim before the insurance company pays anything.
Look on your declarations page for a line labeled wind/hail, named storm, or something similar. If you see a percentage, do the math now so you know what you'd be responsible for.
ACV or RCV: how your roof will be valued
The second thing to find is whether your roof is covered at actual cash value (ACV) or replacement cost value (RCV). Some policies cover the rest of the house one way and the roof another way, so check the roof specifically.
Replacement cost value (RCV) pays what it costs to replace your roof today, minus your deductible. It's the stronger coverage.
Actual cash value (ACV) pays the depreciated value of your roof. An older roof has depreciated more, so the payout can be well below what a new roof actually costs. The gap is yours to cover, on top of the deductible.
Why the first check is often smaller than the estimate
With RCV coverage, insurers commonly pay in two parts. The first payment is the depreciated value, minus your deductible. The rest, called recoverable depreciation, is released after the work is done and you send proof of completion.
That's normal, not a mistake. But it means you should keep your final invoice and any paperwork your contractor provides, and watch your policy's deadline for claiming the remaining payment. If you miss it, you can lose that money.
No contractor should offer to cover your deductible
If a roofer offers to "take care of" your deductible, waive it, or hide it inside the estimate, walk away. Texas law requires you to pay your deductible, and it prohibits roofing contractors from waiving, absorbing, or rebating it. An offer like that is a red flag about how the rest of the job will be handled.
What to do before the next storm
- Find your wind/hail deductible and calculate the dollar amount.
- Confirm whether your roof is ACV or RCV. If it's ACV and your roof is getting older, ask your agent what RCV would cost.
- Take dated photos of your roof while it's in good shape. A clear before-and-after makes storm damage easier to document.
- Keep records of any roof work, including repairs and inspections.
What to do after a storm
If hail or high winds come through, have your roof inspected before you file. An inspection tells you whether there's real damage and roughly what the repair involves, so you can decide whether a claim makes sense once your deductible is taken into account. If you do file, your contractor's documentation helps your adjuster see exactly what happened.
We'll help you understand what you're looking at
Blue Ribbon Roofing is a family-owned roofing company serving homeowners across McKinney, Allen, Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Melissa, and Van Alstyne. We inspect storm damage, document it clearly, and walk you through what your repair involves, and our work is backed by a 10-year labor warranty.
If a storm has come through or you just want to know where your roof stands, get in touch with our team to schedule an inspection.
This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy's exact terms control, so check with your insurance agent about your specific coverage.
