Texas House Bill 1774, passed in 2017, shortened the statute of limitations on most weather-related insurance claims to one year from the date of loss. For Missouri City homeowners who experience hail or wind damage, this is the single most important date on the calendar after the storm itself. Missing the deadline closes the claim permanently regardless of damage severity.
What HB 1774 actually changed
Before 2017, Texas weather claims followed the standard two-year statute of limitations. The 2017 reforms cut that to one year for first-party claims against insurers, added pre-suit notice requirements, capped attorney fees, and changed the way bad-faith claims are evaluated. The legislative goal was reducing storm-chaser litigation. The practical effect for homeowners is a much tighter window to discover, document, and file.
Why hail damage is uniquely vulnerable to the deadline
Hail damage to asphalt shingle roofs is usually invisible from ground level. The granule layer that protects the underlying asphalt is shattered or displaced on impact but the shingle still looks normal. Damage manifests months later as UV exposure cracks the now-exposed asphalt and water finds its way through.
The chain typically goes: hail event in March. Roof looks fine all summer. First ceiling stain appears in October. By the time a homeowner connects the stain to the March hail, it is already eight or nine months in. Inspections, contractor estimates, and back-and-forth with the carrier can easily push past the one-year mark.
The 30-day documentation rule we recommend
After any significant hail or wind event in Missouri City, document immediately even if no damage is visible. We coordinate post-storm inspections within 30 days of the event for any homeowner who calls. The inspection includes:
- Roof photography from ground level and from the roof deck where safely accessible.
- Granule loss check at downspouts and gutter outflows.
- Attic inspection for daylight visible through the roof deck and any moisture indicators on framing.
- Interior ceiling and wall check for staining that might predate the storm but be misattributed later.
- Written condition report with timestamped photos.
If the inspection finds no damage, the report still establishes a baseline. If hidden damage manifests later, the baseline plus dated storm data keeps the claim alive inside the one-year window.
What "date of loss" means for hidden damage
Texas case law on date of loss is nuanced for hail. The carrier's position is usually that the date is the storm date itself. The homeowner's position is often that the date is when the damage was first discovered. Courts have ruled both ways depending on facts.
The practical answer is to file as soon as damage is discovered, even if the storm was months earlier. Attach the storm date documentation, the inspection records from the 30-day window if available, and let the carrier and the legal process work it out. Sitting on a known loss past the one-year mark almost guarantees denial.
Hurricane Beryl is a current example
Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 produced a wave of roof damage across Missouri City that homeowners are still discovering. By July 2025 the one-year window from Beryl closes. Any roof damage attributable to Beryl that is not filed by July 2025 is at risk of denial regardless of severity. We are still inspecting Beryl-related damage in Sienna, Quail Valley, and Lake Olympia. If you have not had a post-Beryl inspection and you live in Missouri City, do not wait.
What we do on storm work
Same-day tarp installation during and after active storm events. Board-up for hurricane-watch periods. Interior drying for water-intrusion damage. Coordination with trusted local roofers for replacement scope. Insurance documentation in Xactimate format for the carrier. See our storm damage restoration page for the full response details, or call (832) 947-5111 for an inspection.
One inspection, one phone call
If you have any reason to suspect storm damage on your Missouri City home, an inspection costs nothing and protects the claim window. Call (832) 947-5111. We coordinate the inspection within 7 days, faster after major events.
Need restoration help in Missouri City right now? Call (832) 947-5111 — live answer, 24/7. Or see our full restoration services, the rest of the blog, or the service area map.