**You do — and in Texas that’s not company policy, it’s state law.**
Under Texas Insurance Code Section 707.003, it is a criminal offense for a contractor to pay, waive, rebate, or absorb any portion of your insurance deductible. The statute also requires that this be stated in writing on every storm-repair contract.
What that means when you’re comparing roofers:
– **”We’ll waive your deductible” is an offer to commit a crime.** A contractor willing to break the law on day one is telling you how they’ll handle your roof.
– **Inflating the invoice to cover it is insurance fraud** — and it exposes you as the policyholder, not just the contractor.
– **”Free roof, no out of pocket” is the same offer in nicer clothes.**
– **Legitimate roofers document that you paid it** as part of closing the claim.
Check your declarations page before assuming you know your number. Most Houston policies carry a **separate wind and hail deductible set as a percentage of dwelling coverage**, commonly 1 to 2 percent. On a home insured for $400,000, that’s $4,000 to $8,000 — not the $1,000 many homeowners expect.
If the deductible is the obstacle, financing is the legal solution. We offer it.