Below the Deductible: How Under-Scoped Estimates Turn Real Hail Claims Into $0 Checks

The letter is polite. It thanks the homeowner for reporting the loss, confirms the adjuster found storm damage, and lists a repair estimate of $7,400. Then comes the sentence that ends the job: “Because the covered damage does not exceed your deductible of $8,000, no payment will be issued at this time.”

The homeowner reads that as “the insurance company says my roof is fine.” You read it as a lost job. Neither reading is quite right.

A “below the deductible” result, which we call a zero-start claim, is often just arithmetic: a percentage wind/hail deductible on one side, and a first estimate that only covered part of the damage on the other. Sometimes the arithmetic is correct and the claim really is small. Sometimes the first estimate simply stopped counting too early. This post is about telling those two apart, and about what a complete, honest scope looks like when the damage is really there.

Hail claims are big money. Deductibles got bigger too.

Hail is not a niche peril. State Farm said it paid more than $5.6 billion in hail-related claims in 2025, with Texas leading at $1.4 billion, followed by Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma.

At the same time, more policies carry a percentage deductible for wind and hail instead of a flat dollar amount. The Insurance Information Institute notes that percentage deductibles typically run from 1% to 5% of a home’s insured value. United Policyholders gives the same 1% to 5% range and a simple example: on $200,000 of coverage, 1% is $2,000 and 5% is $10,000.

Scale that to a typical newer home and the numbers get uncomfortable:

• $400,000 dwelling limit × 1% = $4,000 deductible
• $400,000 × 2% = $8,000
• $400,000 × 5% = $20,000

Now compare those to what roofs actually cost. Verisk’s 2026 U.S. Roof Report put the average residential roof replacement at $17,631 in 2025 and the average repair at $4,699. Read that twice. The average repair is smaller than a 2% deductible on a $400,000 home. So when the carrier’s first estimate is written as a repair, a $0 check is almost baked in.

Why first estimates come in low

Most below-deductible results are not a conspiracy. They come from a handful of predictable gaps in the first estimate.

Repair-only scope on a roof that may not be repairable. An adjuster counts hits on test squares and writes a few squares of shingles per slope. That is the right call when the shingles can be repaired. It is the wrong call when they can’t, and the estimate rarely says which question it answered.

Missing code items. Drip edge, ice barrier, starter, and ventilation requirements often don’t show up until someone checks local code. Our guide to code items adjusters miss walks through the usual list. Whether they’re payable depends on the policy’s ordinance or law coverage.

Accessories and labor that got skipped. Ridge cap, hip cap, starter strip, pipe jacks, vents, flashing, detach-and-reset of satellite dishes or solar, steep and high charges, and additional layers all have their own line items. Leave out five of them and a replacement can look like a repair.

Measurement errors. A few squares off on waste or pitch moves the total fast. Aerial reports and auto-generated estimates help, but they are not all equally accurate. See our comparisons of roof measurement reports and XactGen auto-generated estimates.

Soft metals and other components never inspected. Gutters, downspouts, window wraps, and vents dented by the same storm may be covered under the same claim, and they often don’t make the first walk.

Any one of these can be a few hundred dollars. Together they can be the whole gap between $7,400 and $0 on one side and a real payment on the other.

Repair or replace: the question that decides most zero-start claims

The biggest swing is usually not a line item. It is whether the damaged slopes get a repair or a replacement.

That decision rests on documented facts, not on how badly anyone wants a new roof:

• Repairability. Can the damaged shingles be removed and replaced without breaking the ones around them? A brittleness test, done and photographed on site, is the usual evidence. If the surrounding shingles crack when lifted, the “repair” damages more roof than it fixes.
• Matching and availability. If the shingle is discontinued or no reasonable match exists, some states and policies require the carrier to address the mismatch. It varies a lot by state and policy language, so read our breakdown of shingle matching laws before assuming anything.
• Damage count and pattern. Hits per test square, collateral damage on soft metals, and whether damage runs across multiple slopes. Our wind vs hail damage guide covers how to document each.

If the facts support replacement on one or more slopes, the estimate should say so, with the evidence attached. If they don’t, the repair estimate may be correct, and the honest answer to the homeowner is that the claim is below the deductible.

A worked example (hypothetical)

Say a roofer in Fort Worth inspects a two-story home with a $400,000 dwelling limit and a 2% wind/hail deductible: $8,000.

The carrier’s first estimate:

$7,400 minus an $8,000 deductible is $0. Claim closed.

Now say the roofer’s inspection documented that the shingles failed a brittleness test on three slopes, the product line is discontinued, local code requires drip edge and ice barrier on a reroof, the rear slopes are steep and over two stories, and the gutters on the same elevations are dented. A complete scope might look like this:

On a replacement cost basis, that is $11,000 above the deductible. How and when that money is paid depends on the policy. On many replacement cost policies, the first check is the actual cash value minus the deductible, and the held-back recoverable depreciation is released after the work is done. On a roof with an ACV-only endorsement, depreciation comes off permanently and the net is smaller. And if overhead and profit is warranted by the complexity of the job, it belongs in the estimate with the reasons written down.

The numbers above are illustrative. The point is the mechanism: the second estimate is not bigger because someone pushed harder. It is bigger because it counted the roof that is actually there.

What a supplement is not

This is where some roofers get into trouble, so let’s be blunt.

A supplement is not a way to “beat the deductible.” Every line in it has to trace to real, documented damage, a real code requirement, or a real labor condition. If the damage isn’t there, the claim is below the deductible, and that is the correct result. Padding an estimate to clear the line is fraud, and it tends to end careers faster than slow seasons do.

The same goes for the deductible itself. In Texas, the Department of Insurance states plainly that it’s illegal for a roofer to offer to waive, rebate, or absorb a policyholder’s deductible, citing Business and Commerce Code Section 27.02. When the law took effect in 2019, TDI noted that violators could face up to a $2,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Other states have their own rules; check yours on our supplements by state page.

And remember the line on coverage. Your job is an accurate scope and clean documentation. Whether something is covered is the carrier’s decision. If the homeowner needs someone to dispute coverage on their behalf, that is a licensed public adjuster or an attorney, not the roofer. Our post on where the roofer vs public adjuster line falls by state is worth a read before you get on the phone.

How to handle a below-deductible letter: a checklist

1. Read the estimate line by line. Is it a repair? Which slopes? Which accessories, code items, and charges are missing?
2. Check the policy basics with the homeowner. Deductible type and amount, replacement cost vs ACV on the roof, any roof-specific endorsements. Our post on policy endorsements that kill a supplement covers the ones to look for.
3. Be honest about the math. If the documented damage truly supports a repair, tell the homeowner that the claim is likely below the deductible. You keep your credibility for the next storm.
4. Document what the first inspection missed. Brittleness test photos, test-square hit counts, discontinued-product evidence, code references, pitch and story height, soft-metal damage. Follow the photo requirements checklist.
5. Build a complete estimate in the carrier’s format and price list. Every added line gets a reason: a photo, a measurement, or a code section.
6. Ask for a re-inspection. The homeowner, as the policyholder, can request one. Going in with a written scope and evidence gives the adjuster something specific to evaluate. Our notes on the adjuster meeting help here.
7. Send a clean, factual submission. A short cover note, the estimate, the photo report, and code references. No adjectives. Our rebuttal email templates show the tone.
8. Watch the deadlines. Policies set time limits for reporting and for disputing a claim decision. Don’t let a closed file sit for months.

Explain the deductible before you climb the ladder

The cheapest fix for a zero-start surprise is a two-minute conversation at the door. Before the inspection, ask the homeowner whether they know their wind/hail deductible, and whether it’s a flat amount or a percentage. Many don’t. Show them the math: if the deductible is $8,000 and the damage turns out to be a $5,000 repair, the claim may pay nothing.

That conversation does three things. It sets honest expectations. It keeps you from wasting a day on a claim that was never going to clear the line. And when the damage does support more than a repair, the homeowner already understands why the scope matters.

Where EOD fits on a zero-start claim

EOD writes supplements from the roofer’s documentation. We don’t inspect roofs, assess damage, or negotiate coverage, and we can’t promise a zero-start claim will clear the deductible. Some shouldn’t.

A note on our numbers: EOD’s historical average increase of about 28.6% is measured on claims that start with a carrier payment. Zero-start claims are a separate case and are excluded from that published average, because a percentage increase on $0 doesn’t mean much.

The pricing works the same way on every claim: 10% of the increase between the original carrier estimate and the final approved estimate. On a zero-start claim, that means 10% of the increase in the approved estimate. If the approved estimate doesn’t go up, there is no fee, and there are no minimums. For the full process, see our complete guide to roofing supplements.

Quick answers

What does “below the deductible” mean on a roof claim?

It means the carrier’s estimate of covered damage is less than the policy’s deductible, so no payment is issued. The claim is still acknowledged; it just nets to $0.

How is a percentage wind/hail deductible calculated?

It’s a percentage of the home’s insured value, usually the dwelling limit. Typical ranges are 1% to 5%. On a $400,000 dwelling limit, a 2% deductible is $8,000.

Can a supplement change a below-deductible result?

Yes, if the first estimate missed real, documented damage or required items and the carrier approves the revised scope. If the damage isn’t there, the result shouldn’t change, and no one should try to force it.

Can a roofer cover or waive the homeowner’s deductible?

In Texas, it’s illegal for a roofer to offer to waive, rebate, or absorb a deductible. Other states have their own rules. Either way, the deductible is the homeowner’s to pay.

What does EOD charge on a claim that started at $0?

10% of the increase in the approved estimate. No increase, no fee, no minimums.

The bottom line

A $0 letter is a number, not a verdict on the roof. Sometimes it is exactly right. Sometimes it is a repair estimate sitting on top of a replacement-grade loss, missing its code items and half its accessories. Your job is to know which one you’re looking at, prove it with documentation, and tell the homeowner the truth either way.

Sources: State Farm, “State Farm Paid Over $5.6 Billion in Hail Claims in 2025” (Apr. 21, 2026); Verisk, “Roofing Reality Check: Risk Is Rising Even in Quiet Storm Years” (May 29, 2026); Insurance Information Institute, “Background on: Hurricane and windstorm deductibles”; United Policyholders, “Homeowners: How to understand a wind/hail deductible”; Texas Department of Insurance, “Roofing and insurance: Know the law” (updated Mar. 24, 2025); Texas Department of Insurance, “New state law cracks down on roof scams” (Aug. 7, 2019). Example figures are hypothetical. This post is general information for roofers, not legal advice; the policy in front of you controls.

Got a claim that came back below the deductible on a roof you know was hit? EOD’s roofing supplement services turn your documentation into a complete, carrier-format estimate for 10% of the increase, no increase, no fee, no minimums. Send us a claim.