Your Roof Claim Was Denied. Here's What to Do in Texas.

A denial letter is frustrating. In Texas, it's rarely the end of the story.

Carriers deny roof claims for all kinds of reasons. Some are legitimate. Plenty aren't. Before you eat the loss and pay out of pocket, work through a few steps.

Why claims actually get denied

"Normal wear and tear."

The most common line on a denial letter. The carrier argues the damage is from age and weathering, not a storm. Sometimes that's true. Often it's a catch-all excuse used even when a qualifying storm caused or sped up the damage. The fix is documentation — a professional inspection that ties the damage to a specific storm date.

"Pre-existing damage."

If the adjuster finds damage that predates the policy, they can deny part or all of the claim. This bites homeowners who haven't had an inspection in years and whose roof already looked worn before the storm.

"Cosmetic damage only."

Some Texas policies, especially the ones written after the 2021–2023 reform cycle, carry cosmetic damage exclusions. If the shingle's dented but not punched through, they deny. Read your declarations page carefully before renewal season.

"Below the deductible."

If the replacement cost comes in under your deductible, you get zero. Newer roofs plus smaller storms equal this result. And if you've got a percentage deductible on wind and hail (common in Texas), it can be a big number on a pricier home.

The adjuster just missed stuff.

After a big storm, adjusters are running a dozen inspections a day. Missing gutters, siding, HVAC units, or entire slopes happens more than you'd think. Sometimes what looks like a denial is really an incomplete scope.

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Step 1: Get a second inspection

Before you appeal anything, have a reputable, insured contractor who actually does storm restoration work come look at it.

A solid inspector will:

• Document damage across every trade, not just the roof
• Tie it to a specific storm date using NOAA data and hail maps
• Flag manufacturer defects that stack with storm damage
• Produce an estimate in Xactimate or equivalent so it lines up with the adjuster's format

That documentation is the backbone of any appeal. Walking into a dispute without a competing estimate is walking in empty-handed.

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Step 2: Ask for a carrier reinspection

Most Texas policies let you request a second field inspection. Different set of eyes on the damage.

When you ask for one:

• Put it in writing — email with a read receipt, or certified mail
• Reference your policy and claim numbers
• State plainly that you believe the scope was incomplete or the denial reasons don't apply
• Have your contractor there, or at minimum send their report ahead of time

Honestly, getting your contractor on site during reinspection is the single most effective thing you can do. A good one walks the adjuster through each item, explains why it qualifies, and presents the scope on the spot.

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Step 3: Supplement if the scope was short

If the claim was approved but items were missed, you don't appeal the whole thing. You file a supplement.

Supplements add line items to an already-approved claim. The usual candidates:

• Code upgrades (drip edge, ice-and-water shield, ventilation)
• Gutters, downspouts, gutter guards
• HVAC condenser combing
• Satellite brackets and mounts
• Overhead and profit when multiple trades coordinate
• Detach-and-reset items (skylights, solar, vent covers)

Supplements are normal. Carriers build for them. A good contractor will find them and file them without you having to ask.

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Step 4: Invoke appraisal

If you and the carrier still can't agree after reinspection, most Texas policies include an appraisal clause. It's binding dispute resolution, not a lawsuit.

How it runs:

1. You demand appraisal in writing under the policy

2. Each side picks a licensed appraiser (not your contractor — has to be independent)

3. The two appraisers pick a neutral umpire

4. They submit competing scopes; the umpire settles any differences

5. The award is binding on the carrier

It costs money — you pay your appraiser plus half the umpire — but it's much faster and cheaper than a lawsuit. Best move when there's a real gap between your estimate and the carrier's.

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Step 5: File a TDI complaint

Texas has one of the more aggressive state insurance departments in the country. If you believe the claim was handled in bad faith — stonewalling, denial without real investigation, misrepresented policy terms — you can file at tdi.texas.gov.

A TDI complaint doesn't force payment directly. But carriers watch their complaint ratios. Patterns trigger market conduct reviews. And the complaint creates a paper trail that matters if you ever sue.

Texas law also gives you specific rights:

• Carriers must acknowledge the claim within 15 days
• They must accept or deny within 15 business days of getting all required documents
• If they need more time, they have to tell you in writing with a reason
• Miss those deadlines and you can be entitled to 18% penalty interest plus attorney's fees under Texas Insurance Code Section 542

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Step 6: Bring in a public adjuster or attorney

If the claim is big and you've worked all the carrier-side angles, two other professionals can help:

Public adjusters are TDI-licensed and work for you, not the carrier. They run the whole claim from documentation through settlement. Fees are capped and regulated in Texas, usually 10 to 15 percent.

Insurance attorneys handle bad faith and underpayment cases. Most work on contingency. Texas's Prompt Payment Act and the Insurance Code allow attorney's fees when you win, which makes even mid-size cases worth filing.

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What we do

We show up for adjuster meetings on every project. We write full competing estimates and file supplements when the scope is thin. We've helped hundreds of homeowners across DFW and the Austin metro recover after a lowball or an incomplete scope.

We don't practice law and we aren't public adjusters. But we know what a complete scope looks like, we document it right, and we're on the roof with your adjuster so nothing gets missed.

If your claim was denied or badly underpaid, start with a free inspection. It costs nothing and gives you the ammunition to decide whether the denial actually holds up.