Baccaro Roofing GuideDocumenting Hail Damage for Your Insurance Claim
TL;DR: Hail claim adjusters miss damage 30-40% of the time. The single biggest factor in a fully-paid claim is independent documentation. Photo + video everything within 48 hours: hailstones with scale reference, every roof slope, every penetration, all interior damage. Get a written roofer report BEFORE the adjuster arrives.
What insurance carriers want to see
Insurance adjusters work fast. To pay a claim, they need: - Date the damage occurred (linked to a known storm event) - Geographic plausibility (your address was in the storm path) - Visible damage with photographic proof - Causation (damage matches the storm — not pre-existing wear)
Your job is to make all four undeniable.
The 48-hour documentation checklist
### Within 24 hours (do these yourself)
Hailstone evidence: - Largest hailstone next to a coin (penny, quarter) or ruler — at least 5 photos - Wider shot showing the hailstone size pattern in your yard - One large hailstone in your freezer (no joke — for documentation, sometimes adjusters request)
Property exterior: - Each side of your house from across the street - Roof from each side (telephoto if you have one — DO NOT climb) - Driveway, sidewalk, patio (looking for pock-marks in concrete = corroborates hail size) - Mailbox, fence, AC condenser (dent corroboration) - Window screens (often hail-bent; corroborates direction and severity) - Plant leaves and gardens (shredded foliage = corroborates severity)
Interior: - Walk every room - Photo + video every ceiling - Note any tiny water spots that may grow into stains over the next 7 days
### Within 48 hours (have a professional do this)
Independent roof inspection: - Free from us at (956) 600-0501 - Drone footage on steep pitches - Photos of every slope with closeups of damage zones - Check pipe boots, vent stacks, skylights, chimney flashing - Attic check for daylight or water staining - Written report delivered within 24 hours
This is the report that drives a fully-paid claim. Adjusters who see independent professional documentation negotiate scope-of-loss differently than adjusters working from their own inspection alone.
How to photograph effectively
Phone tips: - Time-stamp on: most phones do this automatically; verify in metadata - Geotag on: ditto; helps prove location - Wide AND close: each damage area gets a wide context shot + a tight detail shot - Multiple angles: same damage from 3 vantages - Include reference scale: a coin, ruler, hand for size comparison
Video tips: - 30-60 second walking videos with running narration - Mention date, time, address, then walk through the damage describing what you see - Audio matters: narration is testimony
Pre-existing damage problem (and the solution)
The biggest reason claims get partially denied is the carrier alleging that damage was pre-existing — not from the storm.
The defense: documented condition BEFORE the event. Three sources:
1. Pre-season Baccaro inspection report (we provide this free in May for hurricane prep — date-stamped photos of pre-storm condition) 2. Real estate photos (if you bought the home recently) 3. Old Google Street View (free; archives go back ~5 years)
If you have ANY of these from before the event, the pre-existing argument fails.
Adjuster meeting prep
When the adjuster arrives:
1. Have your photos and report printed or on a tablet 2. Walk the roof together if pitch allows; otherwise drone 3. Point out every damage area — don't trust the adjuster to find them 4. Take notes on what they document 5. Ask for a copy of their photos before they leave 6. Have your roofer present if possible (we attend adjuster meetings on every claim we handle)
After the adjuster leaves:
7. Email a thank-you with copies of YOUR photos — creates a paper trail 8. Wait 7-14 days for the scope of loss 9. Compare the scope to YOUR roofer's report 10. If anything is missing, request re-inspection or supplemental claim
What if scope is incomplete?
If the adjuster's scope of loss undercounts damage by more than 10%:
1. Email the carrier with your roofer's report attached 2. Request a re-inspection with a different adjuster 3. If denied, file a complaint with [Texas Department of Insurance](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/complfrm.html) 4. For complex claims, hire a public adjuster (10-25% of recovery)
We've successfully overturned partial denials on dozens of RGV claims with proper documentation.
What NOT to document
- Don't fabricate damage — that's fraud
- Don't move debris before photos — destroys evidence
- Don't make permanent repairs before adjuster — only temporary mitigation (tarps)
- Don't accept a contractor's "we'll bill insurance directly without you seeing" — that's a scam pipeline
Common questions
### What if the storm was a week ago?
Document now anyway. Late documentation is weaker but still better than none. File the claim immediately.
### Do I need professional photos?
No. Phone photos with timestamps are accepted by every major Texas carrier. Volume matters more than quality — 50 phone photos beats 5 pro shots.
### What about the hailstone in my freezer?
Some adjusters want to see it. Most don't. Keep it for 30 days, then dispose.
### How long do I have to file?
Most Texas policies require notice within 30-60 days of the event. Some have 30-day strict deadlines. Read your policy or call your agent.
### Will the adjuster argue with my roofer?
Sometimes. Polite back-and-forth on scope is normal. The independent professional report typically prevails when documentation is clear.
Get a free post-hail inspection
(956) 600-0501 — free, no-obligation. We document with photos, meet your adjuster, coordinate the claim. Bilingual English/Spanish.
Related reading
- [Hail Damage Season in South Texas](/blog/hail-damage-season-south-texas) - [How to File a Roof Insurance Claim in Texas](/blog/how-to-file-a-roof-insurance-claim) - [Insurance Adjuster Tactics: What to Watch For](/blog/insurance-adjuster-tactics) - [When to Hire a Public Adjuster in Texas](/blog/when-to-hire-public-adjuster)
_Sources: [Texas Department of Insurance — Storm Claims](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/consumer/storms/) · [Insurance Information Institute claim documentation guidelines](https://www.iii.org/) · [NOAA Severe Storms Database](https://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/)._