Spring Hail Season Prep for SA Homeowners | Wannamaker

Between 2012 and now, we've climbed onto thousands of roofs the morning after a San Antonio hailstorm. The pattern is almost always the same: homeowners who prepped their roof beforehand file cleaner insurance claims, get faster payouts, and avoid the nasty surprise of finding out their roof was already failing before the first hailstone landed. The ones who didn't prep? They're the ones fighting with adjusters over what's "pre-existing" versus storm damage — and losing.

When Does Hail Season Actually Hit San Antonio?

South Texas hail season runs roughly from mid-March through late June, with April and May being the peak months. Unlike the Texas Panhandle, where hail tends to be more predictable, San Antonio sits at the collision point of Gulf moisture and dry continental air — which means our storms can be sudden, localized, and severe. You might get hammered in Stone Oak while Alamo Heights stays bone dry. That's just how it works here.

The key takeaway: your prep window is February and early March. Once severe weather watches start rolling in, you're already behind.

Month-by-Month Hail Prep Checklist

February: Inspect and Document

This is the single most important month on this list. Before any storms arrive, you need a clear picture of your roof's current condition. Why? Because if you file a hail damage claim in May, the insurance adjuster's first job is to determine what damage existed before the storm. If you have no documentation, you lose leverage.

• Schedule a professional inspection. A free roof inspection gives you a dated, photo-documented report of your roof's pre-storm condition. This becomes evidence in your favor if you need to file a claim later.
• Check your homeowner's insurance policy. Confirm your deductible amount (many Bexar County policies have shifted to percentage-based deductibles — often 1-2% of your home's insured value). Know whether you have Replacement Cost Value or Actual Cash Value coverage. This matters enormously.
• Photograph everything yourself. Walk your property and take timestamped photos of your roof from ground level, your gutters, siding, window screens, and any outdoor AC units. Store these in the cloud, not just on your phone.

March: Repair What's Already Broken

If your February inspection turned up issues — cracked flashing, missing shingles, worn-out pipe boots — fix them now. Not because you're being a good homeowner (you are), but because insurance companies routinely deny portions of claims when they can attribute damage to deferred maintenance rather than a storm event.

• Address existing leaks. Even small ones. A roof repair that costs a few hundred dollars now can prevent a claim denial worth thousands later.
• Clean gutters and downspouts. San Antonio's live oaks shed heavily in late February and March. Clogged gutters cause water to back up under your shingles, creating damage that looks a lot like storm damage to an adjuster — but isn't.
• Trim overhanging branches. Branches within six feet of your roof aren't just a hail concern — wind-driven branches cause more damage than most people realize. Cut them back before storm season.

April–May: Stay Alert and Ready to Act

This is peak season. Your roof should already be documented and repaired. Now it's about being ready to respond quickly when a storm hits.

• Set up weather alerts. The NWS San Antonio office issues severe thunderstorm and hail warnings for specific zones. Sign up for Bexar County's emergency alerts so you know exactly when your area was impacted — this timestamp matters for your claim.
• Know the 72-hour rule. After a hailstorm, call your roofer before you call your insurance company. A professional assessment tells you whether you actually have a claim worth filing. Not every storm produces enough damage to exceed your deductible, and filing a claim that gets denied still goes on your CLUE report.
• Secure outdoor items. Patio furniture, trampolines, and loose items become projectiles in a San Antonio supercell. If a neighbor's trampoline lands on your roof, that's a different (and messier) claim.

June: Post-Storm Assessment

By late June, the worst of hail season is typically behind us (though South Texas doesn't always follow rules). If your roof took a hit, this is when you should be finalizing your insurance claim and getting repairs or replacement scheduled before the brutal summer heat sets in.

One thing we see every year: homeowners who wait until August or September to deal with April hail damage. By then, roofers are backed up, material prices may have shifted, and your insurance company may question why you waited so long. Act within 30 days of the storm whenever possible.

What Hail Actually Does to Different Roof Types

Not all roofing materials respond to hail the same way, and knowing what to look for matters:

• Asphalt shingles. Hail knocks granules loose and creates soft spots you can feel but not always see from the ground. Impact-resistant (IR) shingles rated Class 4 hold up significantly better and may qualify you for an insurance discount.
• Metal roofing. Dents cosmetically but rarely loses structural integrity from hail. Standing seam panels fare better than exposed-fastener panels.
• Tile roofing. Clay and concrete tiles can crack or shatter under large hail. Replacement tiles need to match the existing profile, which can delay repairs if the manufacturer is backordered.

The Storm Chaser Problem

Within 48 hours of a major hailstorm, San Antonio neighborhoods get flooded with out-of-state roofing crews knocking on doors. They'll offer to "handle everything" with your insurance company. Some are legitimate. Many aren't. Here's what to watch for:

• No local address or Texas contractor license. Ask for both. Verify the license number on the TDLR website.
• Pressure to sign a contract immediately. Texas law gives you three days to cancel a contract signed at your home. A legitimate roofer won't pressure you to waive that right.
• Promises to "cover your deductible." This is insurance fraud in Texas. If someone offers this, walk away.

We've been roofing in San Antonio since 2012. We'll be here next year and the year after that. Storm chasers won't.

The Bottom Line

Hail prep isn't about preventing hail damage — you can't control the weather. It's about controlling the aftermath. A documented, well-maintained roof gives you a faster, cleaner path through the insurance process and protects you from claim denials. February is your window. Use it.