Key numbers
77 verified hail storms with stones of 1.75 inches or larger reached Travis County, which includes Austin, from 1984 to 2025 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 5 inches (softball size) on May 20, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 1984 to 2025 | 1980s: 8, 1990s: 16, 2000s: 24, 2010s: 13, 2020s: 16 Source: NOAA NCEI |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 5 in. (softball), May 20, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $160 million insured losses (2006 dollars), April 20, 2006 Source: Insurance Journal |
| $160 million | Before 2023, the costliest Austin-area hailstorms were in 2009 ($160 million), 1993 ($125 million) and 2005 ($100 million), per the NWS. Source: KXAN (reporting NWS Austin/San Antonio), 1993-2009 |
| Nearly 6 million | Nearly 6 million U.S. households reported roof leaks in the 2023 American Housing Survey, per an analysis reported by Roofing Contractor. Source: Roofing Contractor (reporting Instant Roofer analysis of 2023 AHS), 2023 |
| 20% | Leakage from attic supply ductwork and air handlers can exceed 20% of the system's airflow, per Building Science Corporation. Source: Building Science Corporation, 2006 (rev. 2013) |
A storm counts when NOAA lists a report in Travis County. Each hail size is the storm's largest report in the seven Austin-area counties, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
Local building code: Austin, TX roof code data: IRC edition, reroof permits, ice barrier
Storm damage repair in Austin starts with documentation, not a ladder: photograph the damage, protect the inside of the house, and have the roof inspected before you file or sign anything. Hail and high winds from severe thunderstorms are the usual causes, and the damage is often invisible from the ground. Under Texas law the insurance claim is yours to file and manage; a roofer’s job is to show you, and your adjuster, exactly what is damaged so nothing gets missed in the scope.
The first 48 hours
- Stay off the roof. Walk the yard and look for shingle pieces, dented gutters, downspouts and vents, and granules collecting at downspouts.
- Photograph everything with dates: ceilings, attic decking if you can see it safely, cars and patio furniture with hail dents, and any leak.
- Stop water inside. Move belongings and put a bucket under drips. If water is coming in, tell us when you call so we can talk about temporary protection.
- Book an inspection before the adjuster visits, so you know what is there. If hail was the cause, our Austin hail damage roof repair page covers local storm history and how to prove the date. Our 5 steps after a storm damages your Austin roof covers this in more detail.
Texas claim rules worth knowing
- Deadlines on your insurer. The Texas Department of Insurance says your company has 15 business days to acknowledge a claim and 15 business days after it has everything it asked for to approve or deny it, with a possible 45-day extension if it explains why. Check your own policy for how long you have to report storm damage; our guide to how long you have to file a roof claim in Texas lays out every clock.
- Your deductible is yours. It is illegal in Texas for a contractor to offer to waive, rebate or absorb a deductible, and a contract of $1,000 or more paid from an insurance settlement must include a notice that you are responsible for the deductible.
- Roofers are not public adjusters. Texas does not let a contractor act as a public adjuster on a property they are working on, or advertise that they will negotiate your claim. Be wary of anyone who says otherwise.
What we do, and what we do not
We inspect the roof, gutters, vents, flashing and attic, and photograph each hit and lifted shingle. You get a written scope and dated photos you can share with your adjuster. We do not file, handle or negotiate your claim; we make sure nothing gets missed in the scope. If the storm did not damage the roof, we tell you that, and you can skip the claim. For the Texas claim deadlines, deductible rules and policy terms in more depth, read our Austin roof insurance claim help guide.
Repair or replacement after a storm
A few creased or missing shingles from wind are usually a roof repair. Hail that bruised shingles across every slope usually means a roof replacement. When the roof is replaced, many owners consider impact-resistant shingles or metal; financing can cover an upgrade beyond what the claim pays. Inside City of Austin limits, a like-for-like shingle replacement is generally exempt from a permit unless the home is in the Wildland-Urban Interface area and half or more of the roof is replaced; suburbs differ, as our Austin service areas page shows. Hail also dents gutters, so we check them on every storm inspection.
We are veteran-owned, family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, and have 650+ Google reviews. Call our Austin office at (512) 610-5897 or book a free Austin roof inspection; we reply the same business day.
Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, Insurance claim deadlines; Texas Department of Insurance, Roofing and insurance: know the law; City of Austin, Work Exempt from Building Permits.
