Essential Roof Documentation for DFW Homeowners Before Hail Season

Marcos Garza

May 14

6 min read

Updated: Aug 31

Verified Update - August 26, 2026: Hail Confirmed in 76244, Alliance and Watauga

National Weather Service storm reports confirm 1.00-inch (quarter-size) hail at Park Vista Blvd and Keller-Haslet Rd in far north Fort Worth (zip 76244) on the evening of August 26, 2026, with 1 to 1.5 inch hail reported near Alliance in the Golden Triangle area (76177). The same storm knocked down fences in Haslet's Sendera Ranch, caused a partial roof collapse at a commercial building near Rufe Snow Dr and Chapman Rd in Watauga, and left thousands of Tarrant County homes without power that evening. (Source: NWS Fort Worth Local Storm Reports and NOAA Storm Prediction Center, read August 31, 2026.)

Quarter-size hail is enough to bruise shingle mats and break seal strips - damage you usually cannot see from the ground. If your home is in 76244, 76248, 76177, or 76148, the two smart moves are a documented free storm inspection and, if damage is found, storm damage roof repair in Keller handled by a local crew. One honesty note: some marketing this year claimed golf-ball hail hit Keller on May 9. The official NWS record shows no Tarrant County hail report that day. We publish the verified record, because it is the same standard of documentation your insurance adjuster will hold your roof to.

Understanding the Importance of Pre-Storm Documentation

TL;DR: DFW hail season runs from May to September. The two weeks before a storm hits are crucial for homeowners to document their roof's condition. This post details the six essential photos every Keller, Fort Worth, and Southlake homeowner should take this weekend. It also highlights the four 2025-2026 hail dates that are still being denied due to lack of documentation and the exact NWS data sources we use to pre-stage tarp inventory at our shop.

The 2024 Hurst hailstorm dropped golf-ball-sized hail across the eastern DFW Metroplex on April 27. Our crews were tarping homes within four hours and filed 31 insurance claims that week. Unfortunately, four of those claims were partially denied due to one common issue: no pre-storm condition photos. Adjusters classified pre-existing wear as not storm-damaged, leaving homeowners without proof.

Here's how to ensure that you don't face the same fate in 2026.

What the 2026 Hail Season Looks Like So Far

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has indicated that May is at an above-average risk for severe hail in North Texas. This is due to an unusual mid-April cold front pattern that has stalled moisture over the Edwards Plateau. The DFW Metroplex has seen multiple hail-producing storms this season, including:

April 18, 2026: Quarter-sized hail in southern Tarrant County, including Burleson, Crowley, and southwest Fort Worth.
May 1, 2026: 1.5-inch hail in Denton County, affecting Argyle, Lantana, Justin, and the Roanoke corridor.
May 23 - June 2, 2026: A cluster of Northeast Tarrant storms - 1.00-inch (quarter-size) hail in Grapevine (May 23 and June 2) and North Richland Hills (May 25), with microburst winds over 60 mph near Colleyville and north Fort Worth on May 24. (Corrected August 31, 2026 against NWS Fort Worth Local Storm Reports; an earlier version of this list repeated an unverified May 9 Keller golf-ball claim that the official record does not support.)

If you reside in any of these areas and your roof is older than eight years, insurance claim adjusters will be scheduling site visits over the next three weeks. The documentation you take now will significantly affect the outcome of your claims.

At 3:16 Roofing, we have conducted roof inspections on 47 properties affected by these storms in the past 14 days. Remarkably, 39 of them showed claimable damage that homeowners had not noticed from the ground.

The 6 Photos Every DFW Homeowner Should Take This Weekend

You don’t need a drone or a professional roofer for this task. A standard smartphone camera will suffice. Take all six photos during midday (10 AM to 2 PM), when shadows are minimal and shingle granules are clearly visible.

Photo 1: Front Elevation of Your House

Capture the front elevation of your house with all four corners of the roof visible. Stand across the street to get the entire roof in one frame. This serves as the "before" anchor for any future claims.

Photo 2: Each Side of the House

Walk around the perimeter and take photos of each of the four sides separately. Include the gutters in your shots. Look for gutter dings, shingle bruises, or downspout dents as these count as collateral storm evidence.

Photo 3: Close-Ups of Visible Roof Damage

From ground level, take close-ups of any visible roof damage. Use your phone's zoom feature to check for missing shingles, lifted edges, or granule loss in valleys.

Photo 4: Rooftop Accessories

Photograph your HVAC unit, ridge vents, and any other rooftop accessories visible from the ground. Hail damage to AC condenser fins is often an easy claim win since it is purely cosmetic but can be costly to repair.

Photo 5: Skylights and Solar Panels

Document any skylights, solar panels, or satellite dishes that penetrate the roof. Hail can easily crack skylight glass and pit solar panel surfaces.

Photo 6: Windows Facing the Storm Direction

Take pictures of any windows or window screens facing the most likely storm direction. In DFW, north-facing windows often bear the brunt of most storms.

Save all six photos to a dedicated album titled "Roof Documentation 2026-05" on your phone. If a storm hits in the next 60 days, you’ll have a ready comparison set.

Free Roof Inspection vs. DIY Documentation

Documenting your roof from the ground gets you about 70% of the way to a strong claim. The remaining 30% requires getting on the roof itself, which can be dangerous for most homeowners.

3:16 Roofing offers a free 30-minute drone-assisted roof inspection for any DFW homeowner this season. We provide a 14-photo PDF report (timestamped, geotagged, branded) via email within 48 hours. We only charge if you decide to file a claim and choose us as your contractor. If your roof is in good condition, we will let you know.

What do you gain from a drone inspection that you can't achieve with your phone? You receive top-down photos of every roof plane, which most homeowners cannot see from the ground. We also measure granule loss in valleys and field shingles, assess ridge cap condition (where most age-related damage begins), and check flashing condition around chimneys, vents, and skylights. Additionally, we provide a written report that adjusters accept as third-party documentation.

We have inspected roofs across DFW after every major hail event since 2017. The drone inspection is genuinely the easiest way to determine if you have a claim.

Schedule your free roof inspection by visiting https://www.316roofingtx.com/contact-us or call (817) 402-7663.

Bottom Line

Taking the six photos this weekend will only cost you about 15 minutes. However, they could save you tens of thousands on an insurance claim later this year. If you live in Keller, Fort Worth, Southlake, Colleyville, Roanoke, Argyle, Trophy Club, Justin, Hurst, Bedford, Euless, or anywhere within a 50-mile radius of Keller, this is the most affordable insurance you’ll buy all year.

If you prefer to skip the DIY route and have us handle the inspection, we are just a click away.

Marcos Garza, Founder

3:16 Roofing and Construction LLC

RCAT #03-0246 | BBB A+ | FORTIFIED Certified

(817) 402-7663