Why Insurance Premiums and Deductibles Keep Rising in DFW — And What Homeowners Need to Know
Insurance costs in DFW are out of control. Premiums climb every year, deductibles keep going up, and more and more policies are quietly flipping to ACV after 8 or 10 years. Homeowners are left paying more while getting less.
I’ve been in this industry for decades, and I’ve never seen the squeeze on families as bad as it is right now. On top of that, roofing material prices have skyrocketed, while insurance payouts and even labor costs haven’t kept up. It’s a recipe that leaves homeowners shocked when it’s time to file a claim.
This isn’t about fear, it’s about clarity. In this post, I’m going to break down what’s really happening with premiums, deductibles, and roof coverage in North Texas, so you can protect yourself and your home before the next storm hits.
Why Premiums and Deductibles Keep Rising in DFW
North Texas has earned the nickname “hail alley” for a reason. Year after year, insurance companies are paying out massive claims from hail and windstorms. To cover those losses, they raise premiums across the board.
But that’s not the only change. Deductibles that used to be a flat dollar amount are now often written as a percentage of your home’s value. A 2% wind and hail deductible on a $350,000 home means you’re paying $7,000 out of pocket before insurance pays a dime. Ten years ago, most homeowners were looking at $500 or $1,000 deductibles.
The problem is simple: storms are stronger, claims are higher, and insurance companies are protecting themselves by pushing more of the cost back onto you. And if you don’t know what your deductible is, you could be in for a nasty surprise when the next storm rolls through.
The Storm Chaser Problem No One Talks About
Another reason premiums and deductibles are climbing is the way parts of this industry operate. After every storm, the neighborhoods fill up with sales teams dressed as roofers. They’re trained to maximize the claim and close the sale, not to serve the homeowner. The bigger the payout, the bigger their commission check.
But here’s the truth: those inflated claims don’t disappear into thin air. They come back around in the form of higher premiums and deductibles for everyone.
And let’s set the record straight, those guys who told you “you’ll only ever pay your deductible”? That was never the whole story. Insurance always covers its costs, and the money has to come from somewhere. The sad part is, it’s homeowners who end up paying for the games and shortcuts, year after year without even realizing it.
The ACV Policy Catch After 8–10 Years
Here’s something most homeowners don’t realize. Many insurance policies in Texas quietly change after 8 or 10 years. When your roof hits that age, your coverage may no longer pay full replacement cost (RCV). Instead, it drops to actual cash value (ACV).
What’s the difference?
RCV (Replacement Cost Value): Pays what it costs to replace your roof today, minus your deductible.
ACV (Actual Cash Value): Pays the depreciated value of your roof. The older the roof, the less you get.
It sounds small on paper, but in reality it’s huge. A 12-year-old roof might only get valued at 40–50% of its true replacement cost. On a $25,000 roof, that means your “covered claim” could only pay $10,000–12,000. Then throw in your deductible, you are left with a fraction of the cost of a new roof. The rest comes out of your pocket.
This shift is one of the insurance industry’s biggest cost saving moves. They know material prices keep climbing, storms keep hitting, and paying full RCV on every old roof would break them. So instead, they quietly put the risk back on you.
And most homeowners don’t even find out until after the storm, when it’s too late.
The Price of Shingles Tells the Story
There’s another piece of the puzzle that doesn’t get talked about enough, the cost of roofing materials. Over the past couple of decades, I’ve watched shingles, underlayment, nails, ventilation, and just about everything it takes to build a roof skyrocket in price.
I never thought I’d see the day where I’d brag about paying double digits for a square of shingles. Back then, if you paid $70 a square, it felt high. Today, prices have climbed so far past that it’s almost hard to believe.
That’s the reality of the roofing industry now, materials keep climbing, insurance hasn’t kept up, and the old “cheap roof” days are long gone.
How This Impacts Roof Replacements in DFW
Put it all together. Higher premiums, rising deductibles, ACV policies, and material prices that never stop climbing. It’s no wonder homeowners in DFW feel trapped. Even when a claim is “approved,” the payout often doesn’t come close to covering the true cost of a roof replacement.
Homeowners are left shocked, frustrated, and sometimes unable to move forward. This is why so many families feel like the system is stacked against them.
Because it is.
What Homeowners Can Do Right Now
You can’t stop storms, and you can’t control what the insurance companies decide to change, but you can take steps to protect yourself and your home.
Review your policy. Look for language about ACV vs RCV and check if your roof coverage changes after 8–10 years. Talk to your agent and know what questions to ask.
Know your deductible. Is it a flat amount or a percentage of your home’s value? Don’t wait until a claim to find out and start saving for it now.
Factor in rising costs. A roof that costs $20,000 today may cost $25,000 in just a few years. Waiting doesn’t save money.
Get your roof inspected and documented. Having photos and reports before a storm makes claims smoother and harder to dispute.
Work with the right contractor. Not storm chasers, not sales teams inflating claims. Find someone who explains the numbers honestly and looks out for your long term interest.
Knowledge is power. The more you understand what’s happening with premiums, deductibles, and material costs, the better positioned you are when the next storm hits.
Closing Thoughts
I’ve been in this industry long enough to see how things have changed and not for the better. Premiums are up, deductibles are higher, materials cost more than ever, and insurance coverage quietly shrinks when you need it most.
That’s why THREE24 Standard exists. We’re here to raise the standard in roofing. Built on faith, integrity, and a commitment to serve people first. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just honest work that protects your home and gives you clarity in a confusing system.
Schedule a free roof inspection today. We’ll take a close look at your roof, and give you straight answers before the next storm hits.