Storm Damage to Your Dallas Roof: The 72-Hour Checklist

Look for immediate hazards: downed power lines, a limb on the roof, sagging ceilings, or water near electrical. Stay off the roof. If water is coming in, follow the leak steps and get a tarp scheduled.

From the ground, photograph every side of the house, gutters, downspouts, window screens, fences, AC units, and cars. Dents in soft metal and splattered paint are the collateral evidence adjusters use to confirm hail size. Photograph any hail on the ground next to a coin or ruler if it's still there.

Write down the date, time, and what you saw. Save any weather alerts. This turns "my roof is damaged" into "my roof was damaged by the storm on this date," which is what a claim needs.

Get an insured, local roofer on the roof with a camera. They'll count hail bruises per test square on each slope, check for creased and missing shingles from wind, and inspect vents, flashing, and ridge caps. Ask for the photos. This inspection tells you whether the damage rises to a claim before you put one on your record.

What qualifies: adjusters generally look for roughly eight or more hail hits per 10-by-10 test square on a slope to replace that slope, plus damaged collateral. Wind damage is judged on creased, torn, or missing shingles. Light cosmetic marks on a roof that still sheds water often don't qualify and can lead to a denied claim.

Get the roofer's written assessment. A reputable DFW company will tell you if the damage is marginal. That honesty is worth more than a free inspection from someone who finds a claim on every roof.

If the inspection supports it, call your insurer, open a claim, and schedule the adjuster. Have your roofer attend the adjuster's inspection. The insurer issues a scope and an initial payment at actual cash value, holds back depreciation until the work is done, and you pay your deductible.

Get two written quotes for the scope of work. Verify each roofer's DFW address, insurance certificate, and references. Read the contract. Don't sign an assignment of benefits or a contingency agreement unless you understand exactly what it commits you to.

DallasRoofQuotes is a free matching service, not a roofing company and not a public adjuster. We connect DFW homeowners with insured local roofers who inspect, document, and repair storm damage.