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What will your hail claim pay first?

Type the replacement cost from a bid, the roof’s age, the life you assume, and the deductible from your declarations page. This does not tell you whether to file.

$7,500 a 5% deductible on a $150,000 home The Texas Department of Insurance’s worked example. A percentage deductible follows the insured value, not the size of the damage.

The first check is actual cash value minus the deductible: replacement cost, less depreciation for the roof’s age, less what you pay. For example, an $18,000 roof, 14 years into a 20-year life, loses $12,600 to depreciation.

ACV is $5,400, and a $1,000 deductible leaves $4,400. On a replacement-cost policy the $12,600 can follow once the work is done.

Depreciation, then the first check

Figures from your bid and declarations page. Nothing is stored or emailed.

From a written bid. Whole roof or one slope changes this most.

Your assumption. 20 is the NAHB 2007 asphalt figure; the carrier uses its own schedule.

Dollars on the flat setting; 2 means 2% on the percentage setting.

Used only for a percentage deductible.

— First check (ACV minus deductible)
— Actual cash value
— Depreciation
— Recoverable depreciation
— Out of pocket after a completed RCV claim

What this assumed —

Arithmetic on stated assumptions, not a settlement. HyreRoof does not adjust claims and does not inspect roofs.

Where hail falls in the reports

Severe hail reports by stateAKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMN1,966IL1,588WIMINYRIMAORNV24WYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUT76CO2,149NE2,610MO1,916KYWVVAMDDEAZ203NMKS3,140ARTNNCSC544DCOK2,938LA574MSAL756GA615HITX6,848FL474severe hail reports02741,0962,4654,3836,848Square-root color scale. Only states in our extract are shaded; an unshaded state was not counted, which is not thesame as no hail.
Severe hail reports by state. A square-root color scale, because Texas is far enough ahead to flatten every other state on a linear one.HyreRoof analysis of NOAA severe weather reports. The full study →

43,386 severe hail reports, 2021–2025, sit behind the map above, and they are concentrated: Texas alone logged 6,848, against 3,140 in Kansas, the next state.

Several of the hardest-hit states also regulate post-storm roofing contracts.

HyreRoof analysis: if you live near the top of this table, check your declarations page now. Whether you hold replacement cost or actual cash value on the roof shapes the claim before an adjuster visits.

Replacement cost against actual cash value

Replacement cost (RCV)Actual cash value (ACV)
What it paysWhat it costs to replace the roof today, less the deductibleThat, minus depreciation for the roof’s age
On an older roofDepreciation is held back, then paid after the workDepreciation is never paid
How it is paidOften in two parts: ACV first, the rest after the work is invoicedOne payment
What you must doFinish the work and send the invoice before the policy deadlineNothing further
Where to check which you haveThe declarations page and any roof endorsementThe declarations page and any roof endorsement

The settlement basis decides much of a hail claim. Your policy wording governs.

Hail states also regulate storm contracting

Reports of the largest hail, by state0TX2,241 of 6,848KS833 of 3,140OK800 of 2,938NE829 of 2,610CO555 of 2,149MN410 of 1,966MO493 of 1,916IL343 of 1,588AL176 of 756GA97 of 615LA129 of 574SC69 of 544reports of the largest hail categoryReports of the largest hail, by state0TX2,241 of 6,848KS833 of 3,140OK800 of 2,938NE829 of 2,610CO555 of 2,149MN410 of 1,966MO493 of 1,916IL343 of 1,588AL176 of 756GA97 of 615LA129 of 574SC69 of 544reports of the largest hailcategory
Reports of the largest hail category within the twelve states with the most reports.HyreRoof analysis of NOAA severe weather reports.

Our storm-chaser study reviewed post-storm roofing rules in 9 states, including Oklahoma, Colorado, Minnesota and Texas.

Provisions include a right to cancel a contract signed after a storm, a ban on contractors paying or rebating your deductible, limits on contractors negotiating with your insurer, and written-contract disclosures. Which apply depends on the state.

HyreRoof analysis: remember the deductible rule. An offer to “waive your deductible” or “cover it in the paperwork” is a misdemeanor in Texas and a reason to say no anywhere.

After a hailstorm, in order

  1. 1
    Photograph before anyone touches anything

    Date-stamped, from the ground: the roof if you can see it, gutters, downspouts, screens, siding and cars. Dents in soft metal help show what size hail fell.

  2. 2
    Check replacement cost or actual cash value

    Read the declarations page before you call anyone.

  3. 3
    Report the claim yourself

    To your insurer, directly. Some states restrict contractors negotiating claims.

  4. 4
    Get an inspection from a roofer you chose

    Ask for photos of each piece of damage claimed.

  5. 5
    Be there for the adjuster

    Or at least get their photos. Disagreements are easier to settle while they are on site.

  6. 6
    Finish the work and send the invoice

    On a replacement-cost policy, the held-back depreciation follows the invoice. Note the deadline.

Red flags at the door

  • “We will waive your deductible”

    A misdemeanor in Texas. The deductible is your share, and absorbing it can mean the invoice to the insurer is padded.

  • “Sign here and we will handle the insurance”

    An assignment of benefits signed at the door can hand over more control than you intend.

  • No local address

    Not disqualifying alone, but a warranty lasts only as long as the company can be reached. Ask where they will be in five years.

  • Pressure to sign today

    Some states give you a right to cancel a storm-response contract for exactly this reason.

  • “Your neighbors have all signed”

    You cannot check it, which is the point.

  • Damage you cannot see in a photo

    Real hail damage photographs: bruising, granule loss, dented soft metal. Ask for the pictures.

What this estimator cannot tell you

  • Whether the roof is damaged

    Only an inspection says, and functional damage is narrower than visible marks.

  • What your insurer will pay

    Carriers use their own depreciation schedules and wording. This shows the structure, not a decision.

  • Whether to file

    That depends on your policy and history. Ask your agent.

  • Your state’s statutes

    Rules vary and change. Check your state insurance department or attorney general.

A percentage deductible does not scale with your damage

On a wind or hail claim the deductible can be a percentage of the amount the house is insured for. Check which kind yours is.

A percentage deductible is not proportional to your loss0A flat $1,000 deductible$1,0001% of a $400,000 dwelling limit$4,0002% of a $400,000 dwelling limit$8,0005% of a $400,000 dwelling limit$20,00010% of a $400,000 dwelling limit$40,000dollars you pay before the insurer pays anythingA percentage deductible is not proportional to your loss0Flat $1,000$1,0001% of $400k$4,0002% of $400k$8,0005% of $400k$20,00010% of $400k$40,000dollars you pay before the insurerpays anything
HyreRoof arithmetic on a hypothetical $400,000 dwelling limit. Not your deductible; the mechanism.National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Texas Department of Insurance, read on 2026-09-05.

How a percentage deductible works

The NAIC: “A percentage deductible… is typically applied to the home’s insured value to determine the amount.”

So it follows the insured value, not the loss. For example, 2% on a house insured for $400,000 is $8,000, whether hail took the whole roof or dented one slope.

The range is wide. Hurricane and named-storm percentage deductibles can vary from 1% to as high as 15% of the home’s insured value.

The Texas Department of Insurance: “If a policy has a deductible that’s a percentage, make sure you know how that translates to a dollar amount.” The department’s worked example is a 5 percent deductible on a home insured for $150,000, $7,500.

Which deductible applies is a separate question

Wind/hail. “Wind/hail deductibles usually apply to any kind of damage from a wind or hail event.”

Hurricane. “A hurricane deductible applies to damage solely from a hurricane as categorized by the National Weather Service or U.S. National Hurricane Center.”

Named storm. “A named-storm deductible extends to a weather event declared such as a typhoon, tropical storm or a tropical cyclone where a number or “name” has been applied.”

One policy can carry several of these at different figures. The policy wording and state law decide which one an event triggers. Ask your insurer which applies to a hail loss.

What to do today

From the declarations page, write down the dwelling limit, the all-perils deductible, the wind/hail deductible and whether it is a dollar figure or a percentage, and any hurricane or named-storm deductible. Multiply. That is what a hail claim costs you before the insurer pays.

The trade-off. “Switching from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible can save as much as 20 percent on the cost of your insurance premium payments.” A higher deductible saves premium and moves risk to you. Choose it on purpose.

HyreRoof holds no dataset of claims, settlements or adjuster decisions, and does not act as a public adjuster or contractor. Nothing here is legal, insurance or engineering advice; your policy language and your state’s regulations are the binding version.

A roof endorsement can change how the roof settles

The dwelling coverage can say replacement cost while a separate endorsement settles the roof differently. Look for it by name.

What the regulator says

The Iowa Insurance Division: “Many homeowners policies now include an endorsement, or rider, specifically related to how settlement for a damaged roof will be addressed.”

Such an endorsement can settle the roof at actual cash value, apply a schedule by the roof’s age and material, or add a separate roof deductible. The rest of the house can stay on replacement cost.

The two bases. Actual cash value: “The insurance carrier will pay for the roof’s depreciated value based on the age and condition of the roof before the damage.”

Replacement cost: “Will pay to repair or replace the roof with materials of similar quality, the cost of labor, permits, and inspections are included, less the policy’s deductible.”

Exclusions apply to both. “For both actual cash value and replacement cost, there may be exclusions for certain types of damage, such as wear and tear, or a limit on the amount of coverage.”

The second payment has conditions

Many replacement-cost policies pay in two parts: actual cash value less the deductible first, then the withheld depreciation once the work is done and invoiced.

That second payment can be lost by not doing the work, not sending the final invoice, or missing the policy’s deadline. Put the deadline in your calendar the day the first check arrives.

If a contractor offers to “do the work for whatever insurance pays,” ask whether that means the first check only. If so, the scope may have been cut to fit it.

Our reading

HyreRoof analysis: two policy lines can move more money in a roof claim than the damage does: replacement cost or actual cash value, and a dollar or percentage wind/hail deductible. Both are on the declarations page. Read them before a storm.

Every line here is on a document you already have. A quiet evening is a better time to read it than the week after a storm.

What counts as hail damage, and what does not

Adjusters look at whether the covering still sheds water, which is narrower than whether it looks marked.

What is seenFunctional?What it tells you
Bruising: a soft spot with granule loss and a cracked matYes, on asphalt.The mat is broken. It shows in photos, so ask for them rather than a verbal count.
Dents in gutters, vents, flashing and downspoutsCollateral, not roof damage.Evidence that hail of a size fell on the date claimed. Photograph it before anything is replaced.
Granules in the gutters after a stormSometimes.Roofs shed granules over their life. It supports a claim alongside bruising; alone it proves little.
Cosmetic marks on metal or tileOften not.Check your policy for a cosmetic damage exclusion before you file.
Cracked or displaced tileYes, where water can get in.Tile also cracks under foot traffic. Note who has been on the roof, and when.
Curled, brittle shingles across whole slopesNo. This is wear.Wear and tear is excluded on both bases. A storm nearby does not change that.
Missing shingles after high windUsually, as wind damage.A different peril on the same claim. It also suggests the seal strips had let go.

HyreRoof analysis. We hold no claims data, are not public adjusters, do not inspect roofs and take no referral fee. Not insurance or legal advice.

What the hail map shows, and what it does not

The exposure side of this page uses NOAA severe weather reports: the best public record, with a known bias.

The dataset. 43,386 severe hail reports, with Texas accounting for 6,848 and Texas leading on the largest stones at 2,241.

The bias. These are reports, not measurements. Hail in an empty county may go unreported; hail over a city in daylight can be reported several times. Populated places show up more.

What that means. The map is a fair guide to where claims happen and a weaker guide to where hail falls. A state with more people makes more reports at the same true frequency.

It says nothing about your house. Two streets a mile apart can fare differently in one storm. A storm in your county is not evidence of damage to your roof.

The method and caveats are in our storm-chasing study, with the state post-storm statutes.

When it may make sense not to file

Filing is not free. These are the cases to think through first.

  • The loss is near or below your deductible

    Especially a percentage deductible. Work out the number first.

  • The damage is cosmetic and your policy excludes it

    Read for the exclusion before you file.

  • The roof is at the end of its life

    Wear and tear is excluded on both bases.

  • You hold actual cash value on an old roof

    Depreciation and the deductible can leave little. Run the estimator first.

  • Nobody independent has confirmed damage

    A roofer who knocked on your door is not independent. Find your own, and ask for photos.

  • Letting a contractor file for you

    Some states restrict contractors negotiating claims. Report it yourself.

  • A contract that depends on claim approval

    It hands your claim to the person who profits from the answer.

  • Going on the roof to check

    OSHA rules bind employers, not homeowners, but the line still applies. A trained roofer may not work above six feet without fall protection. Look from the ground, a window or the attic, or use a photo or a drone.

HyreRoof holds no claims data and takes no fee from any contractor or carrier.

Hail claim terms

Percentage deductible
A deductible set as a percentage of the dwelling limit. It follows the insured value, not the loss.
Wind/hail deductible
A separate deductible for wind or hail damage, whether or not a storm was named.
Recoverable depreciation
The amount held back from the first payment on a replacement-cost policy and released after the work is invoiced. It has a deadline.
Roof payment schedule
An endorsement that depreciates a roof loss by age and material from a table.
Cosmetic damage exclusion
Excludes damage that marks a covering without harming its function.
Functional damage
Damage that stops the covering shedding water. The standard an adjuster assesses.
Assignment of benefits
A document transferring your policy rights to a contractor. Restricted in some states.
Collateral damage
Hail marks on gutters, vents and other soft metal. Evidence that hail fell, not roof damage itself.

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Questions this calculator answers

Why is my first insurance check smaller than the roof quote?
The first payment is actual cash value less the deductible, not replacement cost. Depreciation for the roof’s age comes off first. On a 14-year roof against a 20-year life, 70% of the replacement cost comes off.
What is recoverable depreciation?
The part held back under a replacement-cost policy. The North Carolina Department of Insurance describes the sequence: ACV first, then the rest once the item is repaired or replaced and receipts are sent.
Can the first check be zero?
Yes. If depreciation has pushed ACV below the deductible, the first payment is nothing. On a replacement-cost policy some money can still follow the work. On actual cash value, nothing more is due.
How is a percentage wind-and-hail deductible calculated?
As a percentage of the dwelling limit (Coverage A), not of the loss. Texas DOI’s example: 5% on a home insured for $150,000 is $7,500, however small the damage.
Does this tell me whether to file?
No. Filing can affect renewal pricing and insurability, which this page cannot model. Ask your agent.
A contractor offered to cover my deductible. Is that allowed?
In Texas it is a Class B misdemeanor under Business and Commerce Code §27.02. Anywhere, treat the offer as a reason to find another contractor.

Sources and methodology

Figures dated September 5, 2026. Last reviewed .

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