Storm Damage Roof Repair in Houston
Hail bruising, wind-lifted shingles, a leak that started overnight — we find it, photograph it and fix it.
A hail night in Harris County can leave a roof that looks fine from the driveway and is quietly failing underneath. Storm Bolt Roofing checks the whole surface, photographs what the storm did to it and hands you a written assessment you can act on — whether that means a repair, a replacement or a claim on your policy.
Homeowners in Spring, TX: our Spring storm damage page covers your neighborhoods in more detail.
What a Houston storm inspection covers
Hail Bruising & Wind Lift
Impact marks, creased or missing shingles, exposed mat and lost granules — checked slope by slope.
Drone & Ground Photos
Every slope photographed from above and up close, so nothing rests on memory.
Emergency Tarp First
If water is coming in, we cover the opening before anything else gets scheduled.
Claim Documentation
Measurements, photos and an itemized contractor estimate, ready for your adjuster.
Written Assessment
Repair, replace or leave it alone — our finding in plain words, on paper.
Storm-Season Priority
Storm calls get priority on our schedule through hail and hurricane season.
How can I tell if hail damaged my roof?
Usually you can't — not from the yard. Hail marks on asphalt shingles are small, dark and easy to miss, and wind damage often hides under a shingle that has settled back into place (our guide to wind damage on Houston roofs shows the signs). Split the job: you check what is safe to see from the ground, and we check the roof itself.
What you can check from the ground
- Shingle granules washing out of the downspouts — they look like coarse black sand.
- Fresh dents in gutters, downspouts, the AC condenser fins, the mailbox or patio furniture (see hail damage signs on gutters, siding and AC units).
- Pieces of shingle, ridge cap or vent in the yard after the wind dies down.
- New brown rings on a ceiling, or damp insulation if you can safely look into the attic.
What we look for on the roof
- Bruises: dark, soft spots where a stone knocked the granules off and cracked the mat beneath.
- Fractured or punctured shingles, sometimes with the fiberglass mat showing through.
- Dings in soft metal — ridge vents, turtle vents, pipe jacks and drip edge record hail well.
- Creased tabs, broken seal strips and missing shingles on the windward slopes after high winds.
What hail size means for a shingle roof
The National Weather Service counts hail of 1 inch (quarter size) or larger as severe. Size is only part of the story, though: an older, sun-baked roof can lose granules to smaller stones, and wind-driven hail hits harder than hail falling straight down. Our guide to what size hail damages a roof breaks it down by roofing material. The Storm Prediction Center's hail size reference is the chart spotters use:
| Hail size | Diameter |
|---|---|
| Penny | 0.75 in |
| Quarter (severe threshold) | 1.00 in |
| Half dollar | 1.25 in |
| Ping pong ball | 1.50 in |
| Golf ball | 1.75 in |
| Tennis ball | 2.50 in |
| Baseball | 2.75 in |
Heard hail on the roof but see nothing wrong? That is exactly when a free post-storm roof inspection earns its keep.
What should I do in the first 24 to 72 hours after a storm?
First hours: stop the water
Stay off the roof and away from downed lines. If water is coming inside, call 832-860-0262 for an emergency roof tarp and move what you can out of the drip line.
Same day: photograph everything
Ceilings, attic, dented gutters, debris in the yard — your phone stamps the date. Keep broken pieces and save receipts for anything you buy to protect the house.
Day one or two: report it
Call your insurer to report the damage and book our free inspection, so photos, measurements and a contractor estimate are ready before the adjuster arrives.
Before the adjuster: hold off
Temporary repairs are fine; permanent ones can wait until your insurance company has seen the damage. Keep a list of every call and visit.
That order follows the Texas Department of Insurance's own advice after hail and wind: take pictures and video, prevent more damage, save your receipts, and file as soon as you can (TDI: hail damage to your home). TDI also warns homeowners to avoid any contractor who offers to cover the deductible — state law (Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 707) requires you to pay it, and we follow that law on every job. Our guide to storm chaser roofing scams in Texas covers the other warning signs and how to verify a roofer.
Want the full list to keep on your phone? Our guide on what to do after a hail storm in Houston walks through each step, and the Houston hurricane season roof checklist covers what to check before the next storm is even on the map. If a tornado touched down nearby, read what to do after tornado roof damage. After a derecho or a night of straight-line wind, see straight-line wind and derecho roof damage in Houston.
From first call to finished roof
Protect
Active leak? A tarp goes on first so the ceiling stops taking water.
Inspect
We walk the roof and fly it, photographing every slope and penetration.
Document
You get measurements, photos and a written contractor estimate to file with your claim.
Restore
When your carrier approves the scope, we repair or replace the roof and photograph the finished work.
How long does a Texas insurer have to respond to a storm claim?
15 business days
For the company to tell you it received your claim.
15 business days more
After it has everything it asked you for, to say whether it will pay. It can extend that by 45 days if it tells you why.
5 business days
To send payment once it agrees to pay all or part of the claim. After a weather catastrophe, TDI can add 15 days to these deadlines.
Source: Texas Department of Insurance, steps to getting your claim paid. We can't make an insurer move faster, but a complete file — dated photos, roof measurements and an itemized contractor estimate — leaves fewer open questions to go back and forth on. For reporting windows, extensions and other key dates, see our guide to roof insurance claim deadlines in Texas. Here is how our claim documentation works, step by step.
Should I repair or replace a storm-damaged roof?
A repair usually makes sense when…
- The damage sits on one slope or a handful of spots.
- The surrounding shingles are still flexible and holding their granules.
- A matching shingle is still available, so the patch won't stand out.
Our roof repair page covers how we trace and fix storm leaks.
Replacement is worth pricing when…
- Hits are spread across several slopes, not just the windward side.
- The shingle line is discontinued or the roof was near the end of its life anyway.
- Water has already reached the decking in more than one place.
See the Houston roof replacement cost guide for real per-square ranges.
Our written assessment tells you what the roof needs. What the policy pays for is your adjuster's call, and the two don't always match — which is why we put our findings on paper with photos to back them.
Replacing anyway? Ask about Class 4 shingles
Impact-resistant shingles are rated under UL 2218; a Class 4 product has been struck twice in the same spot by a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet without cracking through (see GAF's Class 4 overview). That is a lab rating, not a promise that hail can't hurt the roof. Some insurers price impact-resistant roofs differently, so ask your insurer before you choose — we will quote both options either way. For a standard that covers the whole roof system, not just the shingle, see what a FORTIFIED roof requires in Texas. Local storm notes: Spring, Cypress, Katy and Humble.
Storm damage questions, answered
What do you do on an insurance claim?
We supply what a claim runs on: photos, measurements and a contractor estimate, and, at your request, we can be present when the adjuster inspects the roof. What we don't do is act as a public adjuster — you file the claim and your insurer decides it.
How do I know if the storm actually damaged my roof?
You often can't tell from the ground. Hail bruises and lifted shingles show up on close inspection, so book the free one and get an honest answer either way.
My roof is leaking right now — what should I do?
Call 832-860-0262. Emergency tarps come first on our schedule, because every hour of water in the attic adds to the repair.
Can I have hail damage if my roof isn't leaking?
Yes. Bruised shingles often keep shedding water for a while, then wear out early as the exposed mat breaks down in the sun. A roof that isn't leaking today can still carry damage worth documenting.
How long do I have to file a hail or wind claim in Texas?
Your policy sets the reporting deadline, so check it or ask your agent. The Texas Department of Insurance's advice is simple: file as soon as you can after the storm.
Storm just passed? Start with a free look.
Book a free, photo-documented inspection or get a rough number in 60 seconds — either way you'll know where your roof stands.