San Antonio sits inside what meteorologists call “Hail Alley South” — the same broad band of Central Texas that gets hit with damaging hail almost every spring. If you’ve owned a home here more than a couple of years, there’s a good chance you’ve already filed a claim, or you’re about to.
The problem isn’t whether your policy covers hail — almost every standard Texas homeowners policy does. The problem is that most homeowners don’t understand how it pays out until they’re mid-claim and the number on the check doesn’t match what they expected.
ACV vs. RCV — the distinction that decides your payout
Most Texas homeowners policies settle roof claims one of two ways:
- Replacement Cost Value (RCV): You’re paid what it actually costs to replace your roof today, materials and labor included, no deduction for age.
- Actual Cash Value (ACV): You’re paid replacement cost minus depreciation for your roof’s age and wear. A 15-year-old roof might only net you 40–50% of what a new one costs.
Here’s the part that catches people off guard: many Texas insurers have shifted roofs specifically to ACV settlement in the last several years, even on policies that pay RCV for everything else in the home. If you don’t know which one you have, you don’t actually know what your roof claim is worth.
What a hail claim actually looks like, start to finish
- Document immediately — photos of hail damage on the roof, gutters, siding, and any dented vehicles, taken the same day if possible.
- Call your agent before the roofer — a good local agent can tell you in five minutes whether the damage likely clears your deductible before a contractor shows up with a sales pitch.
- Get the adjuster’s assessment in writing, and don’t sign anything a roofing contractor hands you that assigns your insurance benefits to them (an “AOB”) without understanding what you’re giving up.
- Know your deductible type — many Texas policies carry a separate, percentage-based wind/hail deductible (often 1–2% of your home’s insured value) instead of a flat dollar amount, which can mean thousands more out of pocket than people expect.
The coverage gap most people miss
Fence damage, detached garages, and pool screens are frequently sub-limited or excluded differently than the main structure — worth confirming explicitly rather than assuming they’re covered the same way your roof is.
The honest version: hail season isn’t a matter of if in San Antonio, it’s when. Knowing your settlement type and deductible structure before the storm is the difference between a manageable claim and an unpleasant surprise.