Rio Grande Valley
Storm damage on your roof? A guide for Valley homeowners.
Hail, strong wind, and tropical storms often hit the Rio Grande Valley. After one passes, the questions come fast. Is the roof damaged? Should I call my insurance? Who should look at it? This guide from Texas Contractors, Inc. covers what to do first, how a roof insurance claim usually works, and what Texas law says about contractors.
No deposit. You pay when the job is done.
For hail damage specifically, see hail damage roof repair and replacement.
What Valley storms do to a roof.
Hurricane Hanna made landfall on Padre Island, just north of the Valley, on July 25, 2020, and brought strong wind and heavy rain to Cameron and Hidalgo Counties. On June 12, 2025, a storm caused more than 37,000 power outages in Hidalgo County. Storms like these lift and crease shingles, tear off ridge caps, loosen flashing, and push rain under the roof. Hail can bruise shingles and knock off the granules that protect them from the sun. Much of this damage is hard to see from the ground, and a small roof leak after a storm can take weeks to show up inside.
Three kinds of storm damage.
Hail damage
Hail bruises shingles, cracks the mat inside them, and knocks off the granules that shield them from the sun. The roof can look fine from the ground while the shingles wear out faster and start to leak. Hail also dents gutters and vents.
Wind damage
Strong wind breaks the seal that holds each shingle down, then lifts, creases, or tears it off. Once the seal breaks, rain can blow under the shingles even if they settle back flat.
Fallen limb damage
A fallen tree limb or flying debris can puncture the roof and crack the decking underneath. If a limb is on the roof, keep everyone out of that part of the house until it is checked.
What to do right after the storm.
- Stay safe. Stay off a wet or damaged roof and away from downed power lines.
- Protect the inside. Put buckets or towels under drips, move valuables, and keep water away from lights and outlets.
- Take photos and video of damage you can see safely from the ground, and of any water spots inside. Write down the date of the storm.
- If water is coming in, cover the opening if it is safe, or have a handyman or tarp service do it. Keep every receipt. Many policies, including TWIA, cover reasonable temporary repairs when the damage itself is covered.
- Check with your insurance company before you throw away damaged materials or start permanent repairs.
We offer temporary roof tarping during business hours, first come, first served, weather permitting and only when it's safe. We don't send crews at night. Leave a request anytime through Oso or by calling (956) 221-6300, and Henry or Jacob will follow up during business hours.
The free storm inspection.
The inspection is free and takes about an hour. We come to the home, check the shingles, flashing, vents, and ridge, and record what we find with photos and drone video. Gutters are checked too if you ask. Copies of the photos and drone video are available on request. You learn whether the damage looks like storm damage or normal wear, and what the repair options are.
How a roof insurance claim usually works.
- Check your policy or call your agent. Look at your deductible, your deadline to report damage, and whether the policy pays replacement cost or actual cash value.
- Report the claim to your insurance company. TWIA policyholders must report damage within one year of the date of the damage. Private policies set their own deadlines.
- The insurance company sends an adjuster. We can meet the adjuster at the home and show the damage we found, with our photos, drone video, and measurements. With your signed permission, we can also talk directly with the insurance company and the adjuster about the roof work: the damage found, measurements, photos, and the repair. You stay in charge of the claim and the settlement.
- The insurance company decides what the policy covers and sends its estimate and payment.
- If hidden damage turns up during the work, like rotten decking under the old shingles, we show you, document it, and the documentation goes to the insurance company so it can be reviewed as a supplement.
Your deductible and how insurance pays.
Many Texas policies have a separate wind and hail deductible, often a percentage of the home's insured value. A 2% deductible on a home insured for $200,000 is $4,000. If the repair costs less than the deductible, insurance pays nothing, so the inspection helps a homeowner decide whether a claim makes sense.
Policies that pay replacement cost often pay in two checks. The first check is the actual cash value, which is the cost minus depreciation. The second check releases the depreciation after the work is done. Policies that pay only actual cash value do not send a second check.
Insurance checks often name the mortgage company too. If the mortgage company has to sign off, that usually adds 1 to 2 weeks.
We don't ask for a deposit. You pay the deductible, and we are paid when the job is done and the insurance money is released.
What Texas law says about contractors and insurance claims.
The homeowner pays the deductible. It is illegal in Texas for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate, or cover a deductible. Contracts of $1,000 or more paid by insurance must include a notice saying so, and the insurance company can ask for proof the deductible was paid.
A contractor cannot act as a public adjuster on any property where it is doing, or may do, the work. That means a contractor cannot negotiate the settlement or argue what the policy covers, even with a signed agreement. The homeowner files the claim and stays in charge of it. With the homeowner's signed permission, Texas Contractors, Inc. talks with the insurance company and the adjuster about the roof work itself, and does the work.
The Texas Department of Insurance explains these rules here: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/storms/roofing-and-insurance-know-the-law.html
If you disagree with the insurance company.
Ask the insurance company to explain its decision in writing, and send any photos or information it may have missed. Many policies have an appraisal process for disagreements about the amount. TWIA policyholders generally have 60 days from their assessment letter to request appraisal of the actual cash value amount. Homeowners can also call the Texas Department of Insurance help line at 800-252-3439, or talk to a licensed public adjuster or an attorney.
Roof, flood, and fence damage.
Rain that gets in through a damaged roof is a different claim than rising floodwater. TWIA does not cover flood damage, and most homeowners policies do not either. Flood damage needs a separate flood policy. Fences are usually covered under a different part of the homeowners policy than the house. We repair and replace storm damaged fences too.
Cameron County, TWIA, and windstorm certificates.
Cameron County is in the TWIA coverage area along the Texas coast. When a roof on a TWIA insured home is replaced or a large part is repaired, the work needs a windstorm inspection during the job so the Texas Department of Insurance can issue a Certificate of Compliance (WPI-8 or WPI-8-E). Repairs under 100 square feet that do not involve the decking or framing do not need one. We work with an engineer who inspects the roof work for the certificate. You can pay the permit and engineer fees directly, or we can include them in the price.
Hidalgo County is outside the TWIA area. City permits still apply. Harlingen, San Benito, and Mission require a permit for a roof replacement, and we tell you up front what the city will need.
Be careful after a big storm.
After a major storm, out of town crews often come through the Valley. Be careful with anyone who asks for a large deposit, offers to cover your deductible, says they will handle your claim for you, or has no local address. Texas Contractors, Inc. is based in Harlingen, General Liability Insured, and a CertainTeed ShingleMaster Certified Installer.
Rebuilding stronger with impact resistant shingles.
A roof replacement after a storm is a good time to look at impact resistant shingles. Shingles rated Class 4 under the UL 2218 test may qualify for the highest insurance discount, called a premium credit, but each insurance company sets its own rules and amounts.
For TWIA, the product needs the right label and the contractor completes TDI Form PC068 after installation.
We fill out the form when the insurance company requires it. A complete CertainTeed roof system can also qualify for a manufacturer warranty.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if hail damaged my roof?
Look for dented gutters or vents, shingle granules collecting at the downspouts, and dark spots on the shingles. Much hail damage is hard to see from the ground, so a closer inspection is the best way to know.
Will you pay or waive my deductible?
No. Texas law makes it illegal for a contractor to waive, rebate, or cover a deductible. The homeowner pays it.
Can you meet my insurance adjuster?
Yes. We can meet the adjuster at the home and show the damage we found, with photos, drone video, and measurements. With your signed permission, we can also talk directly with the insurance company about the roof work. You stay in charge of the claim and the settlement.
How long do I have to report storm damage?
TWIA policyholders must report damage within one year of the date of the damage. Private policies set their own deadlines, so check your policy or call your agent.
What if the repair costs less than my deductible?
Insurance pays nothing below the deductible. The free inspection helps the homeowner decide whether filing a claim makes sense.
Do you offer temporary roof tarping?
Yes. We offer temporary roof tarping during business hours, first come, first served, depending on crew availability, weather permitting, and only when conditions are safe. Service times aren't guaranteed, and we don't send crews at night. Leave a request through Oso or call (956) 221-6300, and Henry or Jacob will confirm availability with you.
Do I need a windstorm certificate in Cameron County?
For a TWIA insured home, a roof replacement or a large repair needs a windstorm inspection during the job and a Certificate of Compliance. Repairs under 100 square feet that do not involve the decking or framing do not.
What happens if rotten decking is found under the old roof?
We show you, document it, and the documentation goes to the insurance company so it can be reviewed as a supplement.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. We offer financing through third party lenders, HFS Financial and Synchrony. Checking if you prequalify is free, takes a couple of minutes, and uses a soft credit check, so it does not affect your credit score. Financing is subject to credit approval. The lender decides approval, rates, and terms based on your credit and other factors, and we do not set or guarantee them. Cash or financed, no deposit is needed, and you pay nothing until the job is done and you are satisfied.
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes. We accept all major credit cards. A flat 1.75% card fee is added to credit card payments to cover processing costs. There is no fee for cash, check, or debit card. Card payments are made when the job is done, and no deposit is needed.
No deposit. You pay when the job is done.
Plenty of contractors want a deposit before the first shingle goes on. We don't. The job gets done first, and you pay when it's finished.
Storm damage? Start with a free inspection.
Four quick questions or one quick call. No obligation.
Financing is available through third party lenders, subject to credit approval. We accept all major credit cards, with a flat 1.75% card fee on credit card payments.
Free inspection, about an hour · We come to you