Denied Three Times, Awarded $44,958: A Round Rock Hail Claim Appraisal

In May 2026, the insurance carrier for Kashif Ghazali and Narmin Dhanani looked at their hail-damaged roof in Paloma Lake, Round Rock and approved zero shingles. The estimate came to $3,852. Their deductible was $7,396. The check was $0.

Six weeks later, an appraisal award for the same claim came in at $44,958.51, covering a full roof replacement. RoofsOnly.com installed the new roof in July.

This case study walks through every step: the storm, the near-miss on the filing deadline, three rounds of denial and the appraisal behind the final award. The dates and dollar figures come straight from the claim documents.

In his video, Kashif describes how hard the claim process was, knowing the damage was real and watching the claim get denied. He says working with our team helped him understand each step and gave his family peace of mind once the decision was overturned.

The Claim Timeline

Where the Story Started

Kashif found us through a referral on a Facebook community page. At our first inspection in June 2025, the roof was 17 years old and near the end of its service life. We also found hail hits from the April storm. We told him both things plainly: the storm left damage, and the roof would need replacement within a year or so either way.

Kashif decided to wait and see whether another storm came through before the one-year mark. None did. He filed on April 15, 2026, one week before the deadline many Texas policies set for reporting storm damage. Seven more days and the claim might never have started.

What the Carrier Approved, and What the Carrier Left Out

The carrier’s adjuster inspected on May 5, 2026. The estimate approved gutters, window screens, window glazing bead, two turtle vents and one exhaust cap. Not one shingle.

The total came to $3,852.13. Kashif’s hail deductible was $7,396, a percentage-based wind and hail deductible common on Texas policies. So the payout was zero. The carrier’s own estimate acknowledged hail damage to the property. The disagreement was over how much.

Three Tries Before Appraisal

Reinspection. Kashif requested a reinspection on May 7. The carrier sent an adjuster back on May 16. Nothing changed.

A detailed photo report. After the second denial, the adjuster asked for more photos of the hail damage we had identified. On May 21, we walked the roof a third time. We chalked every hit, circled the bruised shingles, marked hit counts by slope and photographed the soft metals, vents and window frames. The report went in the same day. The carrier denied the claim again on May 25.

Appraisal. Most Texas homeowners policies include an appraisal clause for disputes over the amount of a covered loss. We walked Kashif through how appraisal works and introduced him to an independent appraiser we trust. Kashif hired the appraiser, and the appraiser handled the process from there. Appraisal was invoked on June 8. The appraiser inspected on June 17. The signed award came in on June 24.

The Carrier Estimate vs. the Appraisal Award

Who Did What

Clear roles kept this claim clean from start to finish.

1. RoofsOnly.com inspected the roof three times, documented the damage with photos and chalked test areas, explained the appraisal process and installed the new roof.
2. Kashif and Narmin filed the claim, requested the reinspection and hired the appraiser. Every decision on the claim was theirs.
3. The independent appraiser handled the appraisal process and the award.

“This roof was old, and I told Kashif so on day one. The hail damage was real too. Both things were true. Our job was documenting the storm damage so clearly nobody could confuse the hits with age.”

Jake Mullin, Owner, RoofsOnly.com

What Austin Homeowners Should Take From This

1. Do not wait on known hail damage. Kashif filed with 7 days to spare. Many Texas policies require you to report storm damage within one year of the storm date. Waiting for a second storm is a gamble on the calendar.
2. Know your deductible before you file. A $7,396 deductible turned a $3,852 estimate into a $0 check. Check your declarations page for a percentage-based wind and hail deductible.
3. A $0 estimate is not the final word. Reinspection, supplemental documentation and appraisal are all options when you and your carrier disagree on the amount of a covered loss.
4. Documentation decides disputes. Chalked hits, slope-by-slope counts and soft metal photos give an appraiser something concrete to work with.
5. Older roofs face tougher claims. Adjusters look harder for wear on a 17-year-old roof. Clear documentation separates storm damage from age.

For the full list of claim pitfalls, read 7 roof insurance claim mistakes Austin homeowners make and our roof insurance claim process guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an insurance appraisal?
Appraisal is a process written into most Texas homeowners policies for settling disagreements over the dollar amount of a covered loss. Each side hires an appraiser. If the two appraisers disagree, an umpire decides.

Does appraisal work after a denial?
Appraisal settles disputes over the amount of a covered loss. In this case, the carrier accepted hail damage to gutters, vents and windows, so the dispute was over the amount. If a carrier says no covered damage exists at all, the disagreement is a coverage dispute, and appraisal usually does not apply.

Does RoofsOnly.com negotiate claims?
No. We inspect, document the damage and explain your options. You make the decisions on your claim. When a claim goes to appraisal, we point you to an independent appraiser.

How long did the whole process take?
From filing to signed award: 70 days. From invoking appraisal to award: 16 days. The roof was replaced about a month after the award.

Denied or Underpaid? Start With an Inspection

If your roof claim came back at $0 or far below what the damage looks like, get a second set of eyes on the roof. The inspection is free, with photos of every slope. Call (512) 746-7090 or schedule online.

Schedule a Free Inspection Insurance Claim Process