Paying less for a San Antonio roof without paying for it twice

The hail San Antonio pays for

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 294 hail events in Bexar County from 2016 through 2025. Of those, 242 were an inch or larger, 84 reached 1.75 inches and 52 reached 2 inches, on 44 separate days (NCEI). The database attaches about $1.36 billion in hail property damage to the county over the decade, and nearly all of it sits on one entry: the April 12, 2016 storm, when 4.5-inch hail fell near Tezel and Bandera roads in northwest San Antonio (NCEI event 623870).

The largest Bexar County stone in the window came later, 5.5 inches near Sayers and the China Grove area on the east side on May 3, 2021 (NCEI event 961040). The Bexar County page has the full record.

Where the money in a roof goes

A price means little until someone has measured and inspected your roof, so this page names the things that move a bid up or down instead, using the City of San Antonio's own re-roof permit application and the Texas Department of Insurance's storm repair guidance:

1. Layers. The city's application notes that the residential code allows a maximum of two layers of roofing. A house that already has two needs a full tear-off.
2. Decking. TDI says to have the roof deck inspected and replace any deteriorated or damaged decking before new roofing goes on. Ask for decking priced as a separate line.
3. Slope and material changes. Changing the roof's slope, or switching to tile, requires an engineer's assessment report before the city will clear the framing inspection.
4. Roof penetrations. Vents and pipes extended above a new roofline need their own mechanical, electrical or plumbing permits, pulled by licensed trade contractors.
5. Insulation. Opening the ceiling or attic may require added insulation under the energy code if what is there is inadequate.
6. Material class. An impact-resistant covering may earn a premium discount, but TDI says each insurer sets the credit, so price the discount into the comparison only after your agent confirms it.

For typical ranges, the National Roofing Directory's roof replacement cost guide and roof repair cost guide lay out how pricing is built.

How deductibles work in Texas

A deductible is the part of a claim you pay before the insurer pays, and TDI says it can be a flat dollar amount or a percentage of the home's insured value. TDI's own example: on a home insured for $150,000, a 5 percent deductible is $7,500. For home policies the deductible applies to each claim, not once a year, and TDI suggests asking your agent whether the wind and hail deductible differs from the rest of the policy.

How your policy values the roof matters just as much. With replacement cost coverage, TDI says most companies pay in two checks: the first for the estimated repair cost minus depreciation and your deductible, and the second, for the depreciation withheld, after the work is billed (TDI home insurance guide). An actual cash value policy pays replacement cost minus depreciation, so the withheld amount never comes back.

The law on waived deductibles

Texas Insurance Code chapter 707 states plainly that a person insured under a property policy shall pay any deductible that applies to a first-party claim. Business and Commerce Code section 27.02 makes it an offense, a Class B misdemeanor, for a seller paid from insurance proceeds to pay, waive, absorb or rebate the deductible without the insurer's consent, or to advertise that it will. When the law took this form in 2019, TDI said violators could face a fine of up to $2,000 and up to six months in jail.

TDI also explains why the "free deductible" costs you. A contractor who waives it may be sending false information to your insurance company, and is likely making up the difference by cutting corners or using lower-quality products. The roof cost questions guide turns all of this into questions to ask before you sign.

Find a roofer in the San Antonio area

The National Roofing Directory lists roofers by city for San Antonio, New Braunfels, Schertz, Boerne, Converse, Helotes and Seguin.

For more names, browse San Antonio roofers or the New Braunfels and Hill Country page.

Frequently asked questions

Can a roofer pay or waive my insurance deductible in Texas?

No. Texas law requires the insured to pay the deductible (Insurance Code chapter 707), and a seller who pays, waives, absorbs or rebates it without the insurer's consent commits a Class B misdemeanor under Business and Commerce Code section 27.02.

Is a percentage deductible bigger than a flat one?

It depends on your home's insured value. TDI's example shows a 5 percent deductible on a $150,000 home coming to $7,500, which can be larger than a smaller roof claim itself (TDI). Check the dollar figure on your declarations page.

Why does my insurer want proof that I paid my deductible?

Chapter 707 lets an insurer with a replacement cost policy hold back recoverable depreciation until it gets reasonable proof that you paid the deductible, such as a canceled check, money order receipt, credit card statement or payment plan (Insurance Code 707.004).