Most Liberty Hill homeowners have never filed a roof claim. The process has real steps, real paperwork, and real money on the line. Here's exactly what to expect, and how your local roofing contractor helps.
Start with a Free InspectionAfter a hail storm hits Liberty Hill or the surrounding Austin metro area, you'll probably hear from door-to-door salespeople within days. Some will offer to "help with your claim" or even offer to waive your deductible. These are red flags, not benefits.
A legitimate contractor doesn't knock your door, doesn't negotiate with your insurer on your behalf (that requires a public adjuster license), and cannot legally waive your deductible under Texas law.
What a legitimate contractor does do: inspects your roof honestly, documents damage with photos, shows up when your adjuster visits, and does the work correctly once the claim is approved. That's exactly what we do at Urtiz.
From the storm through final payment, here's every step, plain language.
Hail or wind damages your roof. You may see obvious signs (missing shingles, dented gutters, granules washing off in the gutters), or the damage may not be visible from the ground at all. Either way, a post-storm inspection is worth doing. Texas hail damage is frequently invisible from street level.
We come out, get on the roof, and document what we find. No cost, no obligation. We photograph every impact, measure hail stone sizes where possible, and walk you through what we see. If there's no claimable damage, we'll tell you that too. Honesty here protects you from filing a claim that goes nowhere and leaves a mark on your insurance record.
You call your insurance company directly and open a claim. We are not a public adjuster and cannot file or negotiate your claim for you, nor should anyone who isn't licensed to do so. We'll help you understand what information to have ready and what to say, but the claim is yours to file. Most carriers have a 1-year window from the date of loss to file. Don't wait too long.
Your insurance company sends an adjuster to inspect the damage. This is the most important moment in the claim. We strongly recommend having us present. Adjusters are not adversaries, but they may miss damage, use different measurements, or overlook items like gutters, skylights, or HVAC equipment. Our documentation helps ensure nothing is overlooked and gives the adjuster a complete picture.
Your insurer sends a document called a "scope of loss" or claim estimate. This is the most confusing part for most homeowners. It includes line items, depreciation calculations, ACV and RCV figures, and your deductible. We'll sit with you and walk through exactly what it means, what's included, what the out-of-pocket amount is, and whether anything seems to have been missed.
Most policies pay out in two stages. The first payment is ACV (Actual Cash Value), which is the depreciated value of your old roof. You'll receive this check first. The second payment (recoverable depreciation) is released after the work is completed and invoiced. The gap between ACV and RCV is often thousands of dollars. Don't skip this step. Your deductible is subtracted from the first payment.
Your claim approves a specific material grade. Within that grade, you choose the shingle style and color. There's no extra cost to pick a different color. You can also upgrade to a higher-grade shingle and pay the difference out of pocket. We bring samples and help you decide what looks right on your home. For some upgrades (like Class 4 impact-resistant shingles), your insurer may offer a premium discount going forward.
We schedule the job, order materials, and complete the installation, typically in one day for most residential roofs. We protect your landscaping and property, do a magnetic nail roll across the yard, and clean up completely before we leave. You don't have to be home for the work, but we ask that someone is reachable by phone.
After the job, we walk the roof with you, confirm everything is complete, and provide a final invoice. You submit that invoice to your insurer to release the recoverable depreciation, your second check. We'll make sure you know exactly how to do this and what to send.
Your insurer releases the withheld depreciation. You pay the remaining balance to Urtiz with these funds. The total you paid out of pocket is your deductible, nothing more. Under Texas HB 2102, a contractor who offers to absorb your deductible is asking you to participate in insurance fraud. We follow the law.
Plain-language explanations for the words that show up in your claim paperwork.
What your old roof was worth at today's prices, minus depreciation for its age and condition. This is your first check. It's less than what a replacement actually costs.
What it actually costs to replace your roof with materials of like kind and quality today. The difference between RCV and ACV is "recoverable depreciation." You get it after the work is done.
Your share of the claim cost. It's subtracted from your first payment. Texas law prohibits contractors from waiving or absorbing it. Any contractor who offers to is breaking the law.
The line-item breakdown your insurer produces after the adjuster's inspection. It lists what they're approving, at what quantities, at what unit prices. We'll help you read it.
The withheld portion of your RCV that gets released once the work is completed and invoiced. This can be thousands of dollars. Always follow through to get it.
A request to add items the adjuster missed to your claim. Common examples: code-required items (drip edge, ice & water barrier), permits, or damaged items not on the original scope. Supplements are normal and legitimate.
After every major storm event in Texas, out-of-state contractors flood the area. Some are legitimate. Many are not. Here's what to watch for:
Texas HB 2102 makes it illegal for a roofing contractor to waive, absorb, or rebate an insurance deductible. A contractor who offers to do so is committing insurance fraud, and so is any homeowner who accepts the offer. We follow the law, and we'll explain exactly what your out-of-pocket cost will be before you commit to anything.