Hail season for roofers: what a storm job is worth, and how to work storms without being a storm chaser
When hail season hits around Austin, what an insurance-paid reroof is worth and when the money arrives, the 48-hour storm response that wins work, and the Texas rules on deductibles and adjusting.
Hail season decides a roofer's year in Central Texas. Around Austin there were 10 days with hail reports of an inch or more in the 24 months to 7 October 2026 — all between March and June. Here is what a storm job is worth, when the money arrives, and how to work a storm so homeowners remember you as the roofer who showed up, not the one who wouldn't leave.
When it hits
- 22 Apr 2025: 11 reports, up to 2.50-inch — Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, Weir
- 28 May 2025: 8 reports, up to 2.00-inch — Cedar Park, Leander, North and Northeast Austin
- 22 May 2025: 5 reports, up to 2.75-inch — Uhland and Kyle
Storms cluster: three days produced 24 of the 38 reports. The work follows a storm by weeks to months, so spring hail fills summer calendars.
What one storm job is worth — and when it is paid
A typical reroof — 1,800 sq ft footprint, 6/12, architectural shingles — is $17,807 at our starter rates. On a replacement-cost policy, the insurer commonly pays in stages. Assume a 30% depreciation on a mid-life roof and a $3,500 deductible (1% of $350,000 coverage):
- First check (actual cash value, less deductible): $8,965
- Deductible, from the homeowner: $3,500
- Depreciation released after completion: $5,342
On ten storm jobs that is about $53,421 held back until each job is finished and invoiced — while you have already paid for materials ($6,774 a job here) and crews. Cash flow, not demand, is what limits most roofers in a storm season. The percentages are illustrations; every policy differs.
A 48-hour storm response that wins work honestly
- Morning after: check NOAA's reports for size, place and time; the Austin hail check shows them by address.
- Find the right homes: hail nearby plus a roof with no replacement permit in decades. In Austin, Find customers ranks them from public records, at most two contractors per home.
- Reach them by mail, not pressure: a postcard that names the storm date and offers a free inspection. No cold calls or texts.
- Make pricing easy: an instant quote on your site lets a homeowner see a range before they call anyone.
- Inspect and document: photos, measurements and a written report the homeowner keeps.
The Texas rules that separate you from storm chasers
- No deductible games. The Texas Insurance Code forbids contractors from paying, waiving or rebating a homeowner's deductible.
- No adjusting. A contractor may not act as a public adjuster for the homeowner; you can document damage and meet the adjuster, not negotiate the claim for them.
- Say it out loud. “We don't waive deductibles — it's illegal in Texas” on your site and your postcard tells homeowners which roofer to trust.
Common questions
When is hail season for roofers in Texas?
Spring — every 1-inch-plus hail day around Austin in two years fell between March and June — with the work running into summer.
When does a roofer get paid on an insurance roof job?
Usually in stages: actual cash value first, depreciation after completion, the deductible from the homeowner.
Can a Texas roofer waive the deductible?
No — the Texas Insurance Code prohibits it, and prohibits acting as the homeowner's public adjuster.
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