Your roof deductible is the part of a covered claim you pay yourself; your insurer subtracts it from what it pays. In Texas it may be a flat dollar amount or a percentage of your home's insured value, and many policies carry a separate wind/hail or named storm deductible. Under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707, a contractor can't waive, absorb or rebate it, so the smart move is to know your number and plan to pay it.
After a hailstorm or windstorm in the Houston area, the deductible is usually the first number homeowners ask about, and the one most often misunderstood. This guide explains how it works, what Texas law says and how to get ready. It is general information, not legal advice. Your policy's wording controls, and your insurer decides what is covered.
What is a roof insurance deductible?
A deductible is the amount of a covered loss you pay before your insurance money applies. The Texas Department of Insurance's home insurance guide gives a simple example: on a $1,000 claim with a $300 deductible, the company deducts $300 and pays $700. On a roof claim, the insurer usually takes the deductible out of its payment, and you pay that share of the repair to your contractor.
One point surprises many homeowners: if the covered damage costs less than your deductible, the insurer pays nothing on that claim. That is why it helps to know your number before deciding whether to file.
Is my deductible a flat amount or a percentage?
The Office of Public Insurance Counsel, the state agency that represents insurance consumers, explains in its guide to residential property deductibles that a deductible can be a flat dollar amount or a percentage. A percentage deductible is figured on your home's insured value, not on the size of the claim. OPIC's example: on a home insured for $200,000, a 1% deductible is $2,000, whatever the damage turns out to be.
| Deductible | How it is figured | When it usually applies |
|---|---|---|
| Flat (all perils) | A fixed dollar amount | Covered losses that no special deductible applies to |
| Wind/hail | Often a percentage of the insured value | OPIC calls it the broadest; it typically applies to any damage from a wind or hail event |
| Named storm | Set by your policy | A storm officially named by the National Weather Service, including tropical storms |
| Hurricane | Set by your policy | A storm categorized as a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center |
OPIC notes that several deductibles could apply to one claim and that, typically, only the largest one applies; the details vary by policy. Find your deductibles on the declarations page, and if one is a percentage, multiply it by your dwelling coverage to get the dollar amount. If your home is in the coastal area served by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, wind and hail may fall under a separate policy with its own deductible; see our guide to TWIA windstorm insurance and your roof.
How is the deductible applied to ACV and RCV payments?
TDI explains that replacement cost coverage pays to repair or replace at current prices, while actual cash value coverage pays replacement cost minus depreciation. The deductible comes off either way:
How the deductible comes off ACV and RCV payments
| Coverage | How the deductible comes off | What follows |
|---|---|---|
| Actual cash value (ACV) | The insurer figures the depreciated value of the covered damage and subtracts your deductible. | That is generally the whole payment. |
| Replacement cost value (RCV) | The first payment is usually the replacement cost minus the depreciation held back and minus your deductible. | The held-back (recoverable) depreciation is typically released after the work is finished and documented. |
The second RCV payment does not give your deductible back. It stays your share of the job. TDI also notes that insurers can ask for proof that you paid your deductible, such as a canceled check, money order receipt, credit card statement or payment plan agreement. Our guide to ACV vs RCV roof claims in Texas walks through the difference in more detail.
Why can't a contractor waive, absorb or rebate my deductible?
Because Texas law requires the insured homeowner to pay it. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 makes it a violation for a contractor who expects to be paid from an insurance claim to waive, absorb or rebate the deductible, or to help you avoid paying it. TDI puts it plainly: it is illegal for contractors to waive your deductible. TDI says the law took effect September 1, 2019, and that violators could face up to a $2,000 fine and up to six months in jail. TDI also explains that when a contract of $1,000 or more is expected to be paid from an insurance claim, it must include a notice that you are required to pay your deductible.
TDI explains why this matters: a contractor who "waives" a deductible may be inflating the estimate your insurer receives, which is fraud, or using lower quality materials to make up the difference.
Storm Bolt Roofing follows the law on every job. We do not pay, waive, rebate or absorb deductibles, and we do not offer gifts or rewards on insurance-paid jobs. We are a roofing contractor, not a public adjuster; we provide claim documentation, and your insurer decides the claim.
What deductible red flags should I watch for?
- "We'll take care of your deductible" or "you won't pay a dime."
- A "discount," "credit" or "rebate" that happens to match your deductible.
- Cash, gift cards or other rewards tied to an insurance-paid job, including for a yard sign or a referral.
- Two different estimates: one for the insurer and a lower one for you.
- A contract without the deductible notice, or with blank spaces.
If you get an offer like this, TDI suggests talking to your insurance company or reporting it to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-621-0508.
How can I plan to pay my roof deductible?
- Find your number now. Look at the declarations page, turn any percentage into dollars and set that amount aside before storm season if you can.
- Ask your agent or insurer which deductible would apply to a hail, wind or named storm loss on your policy.
- Get a written estimate with the full price of the work, so you know the total and your share.
- Get the payment schedule in writing, never pay in full up front, and pay by check or card so you have a record.
- Keep your receipt, since your insurer may ask for proof that you paid.
If the damage looks close to your deductible, a free inspection can show you what is there before you decide whether to file; that decision is yours. Our guide to how roof insurance claims work in Texas explains each step, and our claim documentation page shows what we put on paper.
Roof deductible questions
Can a roofer give me a reward or credit instead of paying my deductible?
Treat it as a red flag. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 bars contractors from waiving, absorbing or rebating your deductible, and a reward or credit on an insurance-paid job can work the same way. Storm Bolt Roofing offers no gifts or rewards on insurance-paid jobs.
Does the second RCV check include my deductible?
No. The second payment typically releases the recoverable depreciation after the work is done. Your deductible remains your share of the cost.
Does my wind/hail deductible only apply to hurricanes?
Usually not. OPIC explains that a wind/hail deductible typically applies to any damage from a wind or hail event, including ordinary thunderstorms. Check your policy to see which deductible applies.
Want the damage documented before you decide whether to file? Book a free, photo-documented inspection with no obligation, or call 832-860-0262. Storm Bolt Roofing serves Spring and Greater Houston, in English and Spanish. Your deductible is yours to pay under Texas law, and your insurer decides every claim.
