Did the May 2026 storms damage your Waco-area roof? Here’s how to spot hail damage, file a smart insurance claim, and avoid storm-chaser contractors.
For six straight days at the end of April 2026, severe thunderstorms rolled across North and Central Texas — bringing hail up to softball size, wind gusts over 60 mph, tornadoes, and flash flooding. The National Weather Service logged more than 280 storm reports across the region between April 24 and April 29, including 226 reports of large hail. The Waco and Limestone County area took a direct hit on the late-night storms of April 28.
If you live in McLennan, Bell, Hill, Bosque, Limestone, Falls, Coryell, Williamson, or Hays County, there’s a good chance your roof felt some of that. The problem is, hail damage isn’t always obvious from the ground — and most homeowners don’t realize the clock is already ticking on their insurance claim.
This guide walks through what to check, what only a roofer can see, how the insurance process actually works, and how to avoid the storm-chaser contractors who flood Central Texas after every big weather event.
Why Time Matters: The 12-Month Insurance Window
Most Texas homeowner’s policies require you to file a hail damage claim within 12 months of the storm. Some carriers are stricter — as little as 180 days. The longer you wait, the harder it gets to prove which storm caused the damage, and the easier it is for an adjuster to deny the claim or attribute it to “normal wear.”
There’s another reason not to wait. Texas leads the nation in hail damage claims. State Farm alone paid $1.4 billion in Texas hail claims last year — more than any other state, and a 27% jump from the year before. Demand for roofers spikes after big events. The homeowners who call early get scheduled first, get adjusters out faster, and get their roofs replaced before the next storm season opens in spring 2027.
If your roof took a hit in April and you haven’t had it inspected, this month is the right time to get on the schedule.
Signs of Hail Damage You Can Spot From the Ground
You don’t have to climb on the roof. Most early indicators are visible from the driveway:
Granules in the gutters and downspout splash blocks. Asphalt shingles are protected by a layer of mineral granules. Hail knocks them loose. If you see what looks like coarse black sand piling up at the base of your downspouts, your shingles took damage.
Dented gutters, gutter screens, or downspouts. Aluminum dents easily. If your gutters look pock-marked or bent in spots that weren’t there before April, hail of significant size hit your house.
Damaged window screens. Tears, punctures, or pushed-in spots usually mean the roof above got the same treatment.
A/C condenser fins bent or flattened. Look at the outdoor unit. Hail dents the aluminum fins around the coils. This is one of the most reliable hail-size indicators on the property.
Bruised or shredded leaves on trees and shrubs. Mature leaves that look like they’ve been chewed up are a sign of hail large enough to damage shingles.
Dings on outdoor surfaces. Patio furniture, grills, mailboxes, vehicle hoods — anything with paint or thin metal will tell you the story.
If you’re seeing two or three of these signs, your roof almost certainly has damage that an insurance claim will cover.
What Only a Roofer Can See
Plenty of hail damage on a roof is invisible from the ground — even from a neighbor’s second-floor window. This is where a professional inspection makes the difference.
A trained roofer is looking for:
Bruises in the shingle mat. When hail hits an asphalt shingle hard enough, it fractures the fiberglass mat underneath the surface. The shingle looks fine — until you press on the spot and feel a soft, spongy depression. Those bruises shorten the shingle’s life by years, even if they’re not leaking yet.
Granule loss in concentrated patterns. Random granule loss is normal aging. Hail leaves circular patterns of bare spots where each stone struck.
Cracked or split shingles. Wind from severe storms lifts shingle tabs and can crack the sealant strip underneath. The shingle stays in place visually but no longer bonds to the one below it — and the next big wind will peel it off entirely.
Damaged flashing, vents, and pipe boots. These are the most leak-prone parts of any roof, and they’re also the parts hail damages first. A dented turbine vent or cracked pipe boot may not leak today, but it will within a year or two.
Soft decking under the shingles. Older Central Texas homes — particularly those built in the 80s and 90s — sometimes have decking that’s already weakened. Hail finishes the job.
Our inspectors document all of this with photos, a written report, and a measured roof diagram. You get the report whether you hire us or not.
How the Insurance Claim Actually Works
If hail damage is confirmed, here’s the realistic timeline most homeowners go through:
- You file the claim with your insurance company by phone or app. They’ll ask for the date of loss — use the storm date (April 24–29, 2026 for this event).
- An adjuster is assigned. After a major event, this can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Big storms across multiple counties stretch insurance company resources thin.
- The adjuster inspects the roof. It’s a good idea to have your roofer there at the same time. We meet adjusters on-site regularly — we know what they’re looking for and what often gets missed.
- You receive a Statement of Loss. This is a line-item document showing what the insurance company will pay for. The first check, called the “actual cash value” (ACV), is the depreciated value of your roof minus your deductible.
- We review the scope. Adjuster scopes routinely miss items — ridge caps, drip edge, code-required upgrades, flashing, decking. We supplement the claim and submit photos, measurements, and documentation for any missing items.
- Work begins. Most residential roofs are completed in 1–2 days once materials are scheduled.
- Final check is released. After the work is done, your insurance company releases the depreciation portion. You pay the deductible. The rest goes toward the roof.
The homeowner’s out-of-pocket cost is almost always just the deductible — typically 1% or 2% of the home’s insured value.
How to Avoid Storm-Chaser Contractors
After every major Central Texas hail event, out-of-state contractors flood the area. They knock on doors. They offer to “waive your deductible.” They show up in unmarked trucks with no local address.
Here’s how to vet anyone who shows up at your door — including us:
Ask for a local Texas address. A P.O. box or an out-of-state office is a red flag. Montgomery Roofing has been in Lorena since 1995, at the same number: 254-655-1024.
Ask to see proof of liability insurance and workers’ compensation. A contractor without workers’ comp puts you on the hook if someone gets hurt on your roof.
Ask for references in your zip code. Anyone who’s actually working in Waco, Hewitt, Robinson, Woodway, Temple, Killeen, or the surrounding areas should be able to name recent projects.
Be skeptical of “deductible waivers.” Offering to waive your deductible is illegal in Texas. Any contractor offering that is committing insurance fraud — and you’d be a party to it.
Look for manufacturer certifications. We’re an IKO Craftsman Premier contractor, which means our installs come with a workmanship warranty backed by IKO, not just by us. Storm chasers don’t have those certifications because the manufacturers require local, vetted businesses.
Check the BBB and Google reviews. Look for years of history, not 50 reviews collected in the last six months. Montgomery Roofing is BBB Accredited with an A+ rating and 70+ five-star Google reviews built up over more than a decade.
What to Do This Week
If you’re in the Waco area and you haven’t had your roof checked since the April storms:
- Walk your property tonight. Look for the ground-level signs above.
- If you see any of them, schedule a free inspection.
- Don’t file the insurance claim until after a roofer has confirmed damage — filing a claim that gets denied still counts against your record.
- If we confirm damage, we’ll walk you through every step of the claim, attend the adjuster meeting, and handle the supplement process if anything gets missed.
Call us at (254) 655-1024 or book a free inspection online. We’ve been doing this in Central Texas since 1995. We’ll tell you the truth about your roof — whether you need a full replacement, a small repair, or nothing at all.
Montgomery Roofing is a family-owned roofing contractor based in Lorena, TX, serving Waco, Hewitt, Robinson, Woodway, Temple, Killeen, Belton, Hillsboro, Gatesville, Groesbeck, and surrounding Central Texas communities. Licensed, insured, BBB Accredited (A+), Google Guaranteed, and an IKO Craftsman Premier certified installer.
