Your Roofer Showed Up After the Storm. That's the Problem: Expert Reveals How to Avoid Roof Claim Denials

As San Antonio reels from five hail storms in a single year and Hill Country homeowners discover leaks after historic rains, a new episode of The Building Texas Show tackles a critical question: why do so many roof insurance claims get denied? Host Justin McKenzie sits down with Jasper Shin of Texas Roof Guardians on the floor of the San Antonio Home and Garden Show to discuss the pitfalls homeowners face when filing roof claims and how to avoid them.

Shin, whose company serves the region from Kerrville to Seguin and along I-35, doesn’t mince words about the insurance industry’s incentives. “The insurance is incentivized to not pay you to say you don’t have damage,” he tells McKenzie. He notes that the average claim file is missing $3,000 to $5,000 in legitimate damages, and that supplements have added $10,000, $15,000, even $30,000 to approved claims.

The conversation covers the mechanics of a modern roof claim and the traps that quietly cost homeowners thousands. Shin emphasizes the importance of a full-property inspection that covers windows, screens, gutters, siding, and fences—not just shingles. He also explains the three-reinspection rule that most homeowners never learn they have, and how Xactimate supplements can force fair-market pricing from an adjuster. Another key issue: the mortgage-company check split that can stall repairs.

Shin warns against a seemingly innocent question from a carrier: “Well, why did you wait?” Answer it wrong, he explains, and insurers can invoke the mitigation clause buried in most policies and deny the claim for negligence before an adjuster ever climbs a ladder.

The episode also dives into the storm-chaser problem plaguing Texas metros from San Antonio and Austin to Dallas and Houston. Shin explains why Texas Roof Guardians chose to stay local rather than chase four-inch hail in Chicago, Montana, and the Carolinas, and how homeowners can validate a contractor through GAF, Owens Corning, and Atlas certifications, a legitimate Google Business Profile, and Better Business Bureau standing.

He shares a cautionary tale of a Stone Oak client whose insurer quietly converted her policy at the 10-year mark, leaving her $15,000 short on a $25,000 replacement. To help homeowners avoid such surprises, Texas Roof Guardians offers a free policy review, a free biannual inspection subscription, and white-glove service across the region.

For those looking to protect their homes, this episode is a must-listen. Listen to this Episode