“We’ll handle everything with your insurance” might be the most common sentence in storm-season roofing sales — and in Texas, it’s often describing something illegal. Here’s what state law actually allows a roofer to do on your claim, and how to tell the professionals from the pretenders.
Should You Let Your Roofer Handle the Claim?
In Texas, a roofer legally can’t handle your claim. Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 makes it illegal for anyone without a public adjuster license to negotiate, adjust, or settle a claim on your behalf — and it specifically prohibits a contractor from acting as an adjuster on a property where they’re doing the repairs. What a contractor legitimately does: inspect and document damage, provide a detailed estimate, attend the adjuster inspection to point out damage and discuss the scope and cost of repairs, and submit supplement documentation when the approved scope misses real repair items. What only you — or a licensed public adjuster or attorney you hire — can do: file the claim, make coverage decisions, negotiate the settlement, and accept or dispute the outcome.
Why Do Roofers Offer to “Go Through Insurance”?
Because storm restoration is a legitimate, huge part of Texas roofing — most DFW replacements after hail are insurance-funded. The offer isn’t the red flag; the wording is. Legitimate: “We’ll inspect and document for free, give you an estimate, and if you file we’ll meet your adjuster and build to the approved scope.” Illegitimate: “Sign here and we’ll negotiate your claim,” “We guarantee approval,” or “Don’t worry about your deductible.” The first is contracting. The others are unlicensed public adjusting, promises no one can make, and deductible fraud.
Do Roofers Really Guarantee Claims Will Be Approved?
No one can guarantee that. Approval belongs to your carrier under your policy — a roofer has no authority over the outcome, and a roofer promising to “get your claim approved” is describing claim negotiation he isn’t licensed to perform. What an honest contractor offers instead: free inspection, documentation to recognized standards, an accurate estimate, presence at the adjuster inspection, and supplement documentation for missed scope. The evidence gives legitimate damage its best chance at a fair review — the decision is the carrier’s.
Can a Roofer Dispute the Insurance Estimate?
Not by negotiating your claim — but most estimate gaps resolve through something a contractor can legitimately do: the supplement. When the carrier’s scope misses real repair items or prices work below buildable cost, we prepare an itemized statement of our own scope of work with photos, measurements, and code requirements for the carrier’s review. Discussing the scope and cost of our own repair work is ordinary contracting; carriers revise scopes routinely when documentation supports it. Escalation beyond that — re-inspection, appraisal, TDI complaint, public adjuster, attorney — belongs to you.
Do You Need a Public Adjuster?
For most straightforward, well-documented storm claims, no — and public adjusters charge a percentage of your settlement (capped at 10% in Texas). Where one genuinely earns the fee: large or complex losses, disputed or denied claims documentation alone hasn’t resolved, or bad-faith concerns (where a policyholder attorney may be the better call). Verify any public adjuster’s license through TDI before hiring. And remember: your roofing contractor legally cannot fill this role. Our lane at APGC is documentation, estimates, and construction — done well, it’s usually all a legitimate claim needs.
Free, Photo-Documented Roof Inspections in DFW
American Prime General Construction is a veteran-led, BBB A+ accredited roofing and general contractor based in Richardson, serving the DFW metroplex. Our BEI-credentialed inspectors document storm damage to professional standards — free, with no obligation. Call or text our 24/7 storm line at (469) 888-8326 or request your inspection online.
This article is general information for Texas homeowners, not legal or insurance advice. American Prime General Construction is a general contractor — not a public adjuster, insurance agent, or law firm — and does not adjust, negotiate, or settle insurance claims on behalf of policyholders. For advice about your specific policy or claim, contact your insurance agent or carrier, the Texas Department of Insurance (tdi.texas.gov, 1-800-252-3439), a licensed public adjuster, or an attorney.