Roofing Experts
Roofing Questions, Straight Answers
Everything homeowners ask us about storm damage, insurance claims, and roof replacements — answered honestly.
Storm Damage
How do I know if my roof was damaged by a hail storm?
After a hail storm, look for dented or missing granules on your shingles — they’ll look like dark spots or bald patches. Check your gutters and downspouts for a buildup of granules, which is a reliable sign of impact. Dented metal flashing, vents, or AC units are also good indicators that hail was large enough to cause roof damage. The safest move is to have a licensed roofer inspect it from the roof itself — hail damage isn’t always visible from the ground. Silver Ridge offers free inspections throughout the Houston area.
How long after a storm do I have to file a roof damage claim in Texas?
In Texas, you typically have one year from the date of the storm to file a claim under most homeowner’s policies, though some policies may allow up to two years. The clock starts on the date of the storm event, not the date you discover the damage. Don’t wait — the longer you delay, the harder it becomes to tie the damage to a specific storm. If you’re unsure of the storm date, we can help you pull weather data to match it to your roof’s condition.
Can wind damage a roof without a major storm?
Yes. Wind speeds as low as 45-55 mph can lift shingle edges, break the adhesive seal, or blow off shingles entirely — especially on older roofs. In Houston, even routine thunderstorms can produce gusts in that range. Lifted or creased shingles let water underneath, which leads to decking damage and leaks over time. If you’ve had any significant wind event recently, it’s worth a quick inspection even if you don’t see obvious missing shingles.
Insurance Claims
It depends on your policy and the cause of damage. Most standard homeowner’s policies in Texas cover storm damage (hail, wind, lightning) but not general wear and tear or age-related deterioration. If your roof has storm damage, your insurance should cover the replacement cost minus your deductible. Some newer policies use Actual Cash Value (ACV) instead of Replacement Cost Value (RCV), which means they factor in depreciation. We can review your policy with you and help you understand what to expect before you file.
After you file a claim, your insurance company sends an adjuster to inspect the roof. They’ll look for storm-related damage and document what they find. We strongly recommend having your own roofer present during the adjuster’s inspection — adjusters can miss damage or underscope the claim, and having a roofing professional there ensures nothing gets overlooked. Silver Ridge attends adjuster meetings with our customers at no extra charge.
Yes — your deductible is legally required to be collected. In Texas, it’s actually illegal for a roofing contractor to waive or absorb your deductible. Be cautious of any company offering to “cover your deductible” — that’s a red flag and a violation of the Texas Insurance Code. Your deductible is your out-of-pocket responsibility, and everything above it should be covered by your insurance per your policy terms.
When your insurance pays a claim, they often issue an initial payment that reflects the depreciated value of your old roof. Once the work is completed and you submit the final invoice, they release the “recoverable depreciation” — the holdback amount that brings your payout up to the full replacement cost. Many homeowners don’t know to ask for this second check. We walk all of our insurance customers through this process to make sure you collect everything you’re owed.
Most residential roof replacements in Texas are completed in one day. Larger homes or complex rooflines may take two days. We handle tearoff, decking inspection, underlayment, and full shingle installation in a single crew visit. You’ll get a heads-up the night before with a crew arrival window and a final walkthrough when we’re done.
A quality architectural shingle roof installed correctly in Texas typically lasts 20 to 30 years. Texas’s climate — intense heat, UV exposure, and frequent storm activity — does accelerate wear compared to cooler climates. Impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles hold up better to hail and can also lower your homeowner’s insurance premium. We recommend them for most Texas homes and can explain the cost-benefit during your estimate.
You don’t have to be home, but we recommend being available by phone. Our crew will handle everything, but if we find unexpected decking damage underneath the shingles, we’ll want to walk you through it before proceeding. We’ll do a thorough cleanup of nails and debris when we’re done, and your project manager will do a final walkaround with you — or send you photos if you’re not there.
A repair addresses a specific area — a few missing shingles, a flashing issue, or a small leak. A replacement removes all existing shingles down to the decking and installs a new roof system. If more than 30% of your roof is damaged, a full replacement is usually more cost-effective — and in many insurance cases, it’s what the claim covers anyway. We’ll always give you an honest recommendation after inspection rather than push you toward the bigger job if a repair is the right call.
Roof Replacement