What to do in the first 48 hours after hail hits your Dallas roof

Hail in Dallas rarely gives much warning. A line of storms builds west of Fort Worth, the sky turns green-grey over the Tollway, and ten minutes later your street sounds like a gravel truck unloading on the roof. When it passes, most homeowners do the same thing: step outside, look up, see nothing obvious, and go back inside. That is understandable, and it is also how small roof damage turns into a ceiling stain in August.

Here is the plan our storm desk walks people through on the phone. None of it requires climbing a ladder.

Hour one: safety and water

Before anything else, check for downed power lines, broken glass and tree limbs resting on the house. If a limb has punctured the roof, stay out of the rooms below it and call a storm line for emergency tarping. Move electronics and valuables away from any active drip and put a bucket under it. If a ceiling is bulging with water, a small hole poked at the lowest point with a screwdriver will drain it in a controlled way instead of letting it collapse.

Hours two to six: document everything

Photos taken the same day are the strongest evidence you will have. Walk the property with your phone and capture these in order:

• Hailstones on the ground next to a coin or ruler, before they melt
• Dents in gutters, downspouts, garage doors and the AC unit fins
• Spatter marks or chipped paint on wooden fences and decks
• Torn window screens and cracked skylights
• Any ceiling stains, wet insulation in the attic, or dripping light fixtures

Write down the date and approximate time the storm hit. Local news hail reports and your own photos with timestamps help confirm the date of loss if an adjuster asks.

Hours six to 24: get a professional inspection

Hail damage to shingles is usually invisible from the ground. A hailstone can fracture the fiberglass mat under the granules without leaving a hole, and that bruise becomes a leak months later. A proper inspection marks a ten by ten foot test square on each slope, counts hits, and photographs soft metals like vents and flashing that show hail size clearly.

A good inspector should be comfortable telling you there is no damage. If every roof on the street is a total loss, get a second opinion.

Be cautious of door knockers who arrive the same afternoon with out-of-state plates and pressure you to sign right away. In Texas, a legitimate contractor will give you a written estimate, will not offer to waive your deductible, and will let you file your own claim.

Hours 24 to 48: decide whether to file

Once you have an inspection report, you can decide whether the damage is worth a claim. Compare the rough repair or replacement cost with your deductible, which in North Texas is often a percentage of your dwelling coverage, commonly 1 or 2 percent. If damage clearly exceeds the deductible, call your carrier or agent to open the claim and write down your claim number.

Keep every receipt for emergency work. Tarping, water extraction and temporary repairs are usually part of the claim when they prevent further damage.

What not to do

• Do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof yourself
• Do not sign an assignment of benefits or contract on the spot
• Do not throw away damaged materials before the adjuster sees them
• Do not wait months; many policies require prompt notice

Storm season in DFW runs roughly March through June, with a smaller bump in the fall. Having a plan before the next line of storms arrives makes those first 48 hours much less stressful. This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice; always read your own policy and talk with your agent.

This article is general information for Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners and is not legal, insurance or financial advice. Figures are samples.