Usually yes, and most property policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Keep the repairs temporary, photograph before and after, and save every receipt. Hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer has had a chance to inspect, unless waiting is unsafe.
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Usually yes, and most property policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Keep the repairs temporary, photograph before and after, and save every receipt. Hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer has had a chance to inspect, unless waiting is unsafe.
Temporary repairs stop the damage from getting worse: a tarp over a roof opening, plywood over broken windows, water extraction and drying. Permanent repairs put the building back: a new roof, new drywall, replaced equipment. The Texas Department of Insurance puts it plainly: only make repairs needed to protect the property from further damage, and don’t make permanent repairs until your insurer tells you to.
Most property policies have a section called something like Duties after loss or Your duties in the event of loss or damage. It usually asks you to protect the property from further damage and to keep records of what you spent. Read your own policy; the exact words and any time limits are what count.
Mitigation on a large building can mean roof membrane patching, moisture mapping across several floors and temporary power or heat. Get a written scope before work starts and ask for daily logs. Tell your broker and insurer what is being done.
Typical temporary work is tarping, boarding up and water extraction. Keep it simple, keep the receipts, and don’t let anyone rush you into signing a full replacement contract.
If waiting for the inspection would put people at risk or let the damage spread, do what is necessary and document it heavily. Tell the insurer in writing what you did and why.
Next: how to document the damage · how to report it · the first 24 hours.
Last checked: October 28, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Generally no. Reasonable temporary repairs that prevent more damage are what most policies expect. Photograph the damage first and keep the receipts.
Reasonable costs to protect the property are often part of the claim, but it depends on your policy. Keep every receipt and send copies with your claim.
Hold off unless waiting is unsafe. If the old roof is gone before anyone from the insurer sees it, the damage is harder to prove.
Talk with a Mission PLC public adjuster about your loss. The consultation is free.
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