Our roof claim was approved, which felt like good news. Then we read the insurer’s estimate. It covered part of the roof, but it left out things our roofer said were damaged. The gap was big enough that we started reading about appraisal.
Here’s what we learned. Appraisal can be a good tool, but it usually isn’t the first step.
Start With the Adjuster
The Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel, or OPIC, is a state agency that speaks for insurance consumers. It suggests starting simple. If you don’t agree on the amount of your claim, call your adjuster first. You can also ask to talk with a manager. Sometimes the insurer missed something and will fix it.
That’s what we did first. We asked for a call and wrote our questions down ahead of time.
Compare the Estimates Line by Line
This step made the biggest difference for us. OPIC suggests checking that your insurer’s estimate covers the same work as your contractor’s estimate. It also notes that more than one estimate can help.
So we laid both estimates side by side. We looked for items like these:
- Drip edge, vents, and pipe jacks
- Decking or other wood repairs
- Ridge caps and starter shingles
- Gutters or other damaged parts
Some gaps were simple misses. Others were real disagreements about cost.
To understand what comes next, we read a guide from the team at STX Roofing on how insurance appraisal in Texas works. It explains the process step by step and when it tends to fit.
How Appraisal Works
Appraisal is a way to settle a dispute over how much the loss is worth. You hire an appraiser, and your insurer hires one. You pay for your own appraiser and share some other costs. Check your policy for appraisal deadlines too.
One limit is easy to miss. Appraisers decide the cost to repair the damage. They don’t decide what your policy covers. If your claim was denied outright, appraisal usually isn’t the right tool.
A 2025 Texas law made an appraisal clause a required part of most homeowners policies issued or renewed starting in 2026. Policies from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association aren’t included.
That matters for some homeowners near the bay. TWIA covers parts of Harris County east of Highway 146, inside La Porte, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, Seabrook, and Shoreacres. If your wind and hail coverage there is a TWIA policy, check its own dispute rules.
Other Options If You’re Stuck
OPIC lists a few more paths:
- Hire a licensed public adjuster. Texas law limits how much they can charge.
- File a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance if you think you were treated unfairly.
- Talk with an attorney about your legal rights.
One note on public adjusters: your roofer can’t fill that role. Texas law bars a contractor from acting as a public adjuster on a property they’re working on.
You can read the Office of Public Insurance Counsel’s guide to claim payment disputes for the full list. It’s short and written for regular homeowners.
What We’d Do Again
After a big storm in a place like Houston, insurers handle a lot of claims at once. Patience and good paperwork go a long way.
Write everything down. Keep photos of the damage and copies of every estimate. Talk to the adjuster before you escalate. And if you do move to appraisal, go in knowing it settles the price, not the coverage.
This isn’t legal advice. For questions about your own policy, talk with a Texas attorney or the Texas Department of Insurance.