Storm Damage Documented Properly, So Your Claim Is Judged on Evidence
You should not have to work out what a storm did to your roof on your own. We are East Texas storm damage specialists: we inspect thoroughly, document what we find with photographs and test squares, and meet your adjuster on the roof so nothing gets missed. Your carrier decides the claim — our job is to make sure that decision is made with all of the evidence in front of it.
The Problem & The Solution
The aftermath of a storm is stressful enough. Dealing with complex paperwork, frustrating adjusters, and claim denials shouldn’t be your responsibility—it’s ours.
At Tony Langford Roofing, we act as your dedicated claim advocate. From your first call to the final nail, we guide you through every step, making the process simple and getting your property restored quickly and correctly.
Our 3-Step Claims Process
We take the guesswork out of the insurance process
Free, Thorough Damage Assessment
We perform a detailed, professional inspection to document all hidden and visible damage (hail, wind, debris) that often gets missed by initial adjusters.
On-Site Adjuster Meeting
We meet with your insurance adjuster on-site, using our comprehensive documentation so that nothing on your roof is overlooked. We document; your carrier decides. Our job is to make sure that decision is made with all of the evidence in front of it.
Guaranteed Quality Restoration
Once the claim is approved, we use high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship to restore your roof better than before the storm. We handle all billing directly with your insurance company.
Don’t wait—hidden damage gets worse
If you suspect your property has sustained storm damage (wind, hail, fallen trees), call us immediately for a free assessment before filing your claim.
What Your Policy Actually Pays: RCV, ACV and Depreciation
Almost every dispute we see between a homeowner and a carrier comes down to two acronyms that nobody explains at the point of sale.
Replacement cost value pays what it costs to replace the roof today. Actual cash value pays replacement cost minus depreciation for the age and condition of the roof — so on a fifteen-year-old roof, ACV can be a fraction of the real bill.
On an RCV policy the first cheque is usually the ACV amount. The withheld portion, called recoverable depreciation, is released after the work is completed and invoiced. That is normal, not a denial, and it is why the first cheque looking too small is rarely the end of the story. On an ACV policy there is no second cheque, and the gap is yours.
Two other clauses are worth finding in your own policy before a storm rather than after: a separate, higher wind-and-hail deductible, often stated as a percentage of the dwelling coverage rather than a flat sum; and any cosmetic damage exclusion, which is increasingly common on metal roofs and lets a carrier decline dents that have not caused a leak.
Texas Rules Every Homeowner Should Know
Your deductible is not negotiable, and nobody can absorb it for you. Under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 it is unlawful for a contractor to pay, rebate or waive any part of your insurance deductible, or to advertise that they will. Texas also requires the written deductible notice to appear in your contract. If a company offers to “take care of the deductible” or to inflate the invoice to cover it, they are proposing insurance fraud and putting your claim at risk, not doing you a favour.
A roofer is not a public adjuster. Chapter 4102 of the Insurance Code prohibits a contractor from acting as a public insurance adjuster on a property they are contracted to repair. What that means in practice: we inspect, we document thoroughly, and we meet your adjuster on the roof to make sure nothing is missed. We do not adjust or settle your claim, and any contractor telling you they will negotiate your settlement is describing something they are not permitted to do.
There are deadlines, and they are shorter than people assume. Policies require prompt notice of a loss, and Chapter 542A requires written notice at least 61 days before filing suit on a weather-related claim. Waiting a season to report hail gives a carrier a straightforward argument that the damage cannot be attributed to the storm you are claiming for.
This is general information rather than legal advice. Your own policy language governs, and your agent is the right person to confirm how yours reads.
What Hail and Wind Damage Actually Looks Like
Storm damage that matters to a claim is frequently invisible from the ground, and things that look alarming from the driveway are frequently not covered.
- Hail bruising on asphalt shingles: soft, dark circular spots where the granules are knocked away and the mat underneath is fractured. It is felt as much as seen, and it shortens the roof’s life long before it leaks.
- Granule loss collecting in gutters and at downspout outlets after a storm.
- Wind creasing — a horizontal line across a shingle where it was lifted and folded back down. The seal is broken even though the shingle looks to be in place.
- Missing or displaced shingles, particularly along ridges, hips and rake edges.
- Damage to soft metals: dents in vents, flashing, gutters and the air-conditioner fins. Adjusters read these as a reliable indicator of hail size, which is why we photograph them.
- Collateral evidence on fences, decking, window screens and painted surfaces, which helps date the event.
What generally is not covered: wear and ageing, poor original installation, and long-term deterioration. An honest inspection sometimes concludes there is no claim to make, and we would rather tell you that than help you file one that gets denied and sits on your record.
How the Claim Runs, Start to Finish
- Inspection. We inspect the roof and the collateral damage, mark and photograph test squares, and give you a written assessment of whether there is a claim worth filing.
- You file. The claim is yours to open with your carrier. We give you the documentation and the date of loss to file with.
- Adjuster meeting. Your carrier sends a field adjuster. We meet them on the roof with our documentation so that everything found is looked at together.
- The scope arrives. The carrier issues an estimate and the first payment, typically ACV less your deductible.
- Supplements if needed. If the approved scope misses work that is genuinely required — code-mandated items, hidden decking damage found at tear-off — that is submitted as a supplement with documentation.
- Build. The roof is replaced or repaired to the approved scope.
- Final invoice and depreciation release. We invoice, your carrier releases the recoverable depreciation, and you pay your deductible. That is the whole of what you owe on an RCV claim.
A Word About Out-of-Town Storm Crews
Within days of a significant hail event, East Texas fills with door-knockers who were not here last month and will not be here next year. Some are competent. Many are selling contracts they intend to hand to whoever will build them cheapest.
The test is not how convincing the pitch is. It is whether the company will still exist when a warranty claim arrives in year seven. Ask where their office is, how long they have held it, who does the work, what the workmanship warranty covers and who honours it. Ask for a local reference from more than five years ago.
Do not sign anything on your doorstep, and be wary of any agreement that assigns your insurance benefits to the contractor or commits you before a claim is even approved. We are based in Texarkana and work across East Texas, Southwest Arkansas and Southeast Oklahoma year-round, storm or no storm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will filing a claim raise my premium?
Honest answer: it can, and it depends on your carrier, your claim history and whether the event was widespread. What is also true is that widespread hail events affect regional rates whether or not you personally file. If you have genuine damage, the roof will need replacing eventually and the difference between filing and not filing is who pays for it. If you do not have genuine damage, we will tell you and you should not file.
Who pays my deductible?
You do, always. Under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 it is unlawful for a contractor to pay, rebate or waive any part of your deductible, or to advertise that they will. Anyone offering to absorb it, or to inflate the invoice so the carrier covers it, is proposing insurance fraud with your name on the claim.
Do I have to use the contractor my insurance company recommends?
No. Carriers maintain preferred-contractor programmes and may suggest one, but the choice of who repairs your property is yours. You are entitled to select your own contractor and your claim is not conditional on using theirs.
What if my claim is denied?
A denial is not always final. Carriers reinspect, and additional documentation sometimes changes the outcome — particularly where the first inspection was brief or the adjuster did not get on the roof. Most policies also contain an appraisal clause as a route to resolving a dispute over the amount of loss. If a denial is genuinely correct, we will tell you that too.
What is a supplement?
A request to the carrier for work that the original approved scope missed. It is normal, not adversarial. Common causes are damage that could not be seen until tear-off, such as rotten decking, and code-required items that apply to the repair. Supplements have to be documented to be paid.
How long do I have to file?
Less time than most people assume. Policies require prompt notice of a loss, and the longer you wait the easier it is for a carrier to argue the damage cannot be attributed to the storm you are claiming for. Texas law also requires written notice at least 61 days before filing suit on a weather-related claim. If you think you have damage, get it inspected now rather than at the end of the season.