Hail, high winds, and severe thunderstorms are a regular part of life in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and commercial roofs take the brunt of it. If your building has sustained storm damage, filing an insurance claim can feel like its own project on top of the repair itself. Here’s what commercial property owners should know before starting the process.
Step 1: Document the Damage Immediately
As soon as it’s safe to do so, document any visible damage — both on the roof and inside the building if leaks have occurred. Photos and notes of the date and conditions of the storm can strengthen your claim significantly. If damage isn’t obvious from the ground, that’s normal; a lot of storm damage to commercial roofing systems isn’t visible without a closer inspection.
Step 2: Get a Professional Roof Inspection Before Filing
Insurance adjusters are looking for clear, well-documented evidence of storm-related damage versus general wear and tear. A professional inspection identifies and documents specific damage — cracked membrane seams, dented flashing, displaced materials, or granule loss on shingle roofs — in a way that supports your claim rather than leaving it open to dispute. We offer free roof inspections specifically to help property owners understand what they’re dealing with before they ever talk to an adjuster.
Step 3: Understand What Your Policy Covers
Commercial roofing policies vary widely in terms of what’s covered, how depreciation is calculated, and whether you have actual cash value or replacement cost coverage. Knowing the difference matters — replacement cost coverage typically pays for a full repair or replacement, while actual cash value policies factor in depreciation, which can significantly affect your payout.
Step 4: File Promptly and Follow Up
Most policies have a window for filing a claim after storm damage occurs, and delays can complicate the process or even affect coverage. Once filed, an adjuster will typically schedule a visit to assess the damage themselves, which is where having your own documentation and a contractor’s report can make a real difference in how the claim is handled.
Step 5: Work With a Contractor Who Knows the Claims Process
This is often where property owners run into the most friction. Insurance adjusters and roofing contractors don’t always agree on the scope of damage or the appropriate repair, and going through that process alone can mean settling for less than what your roof actually needs. Our team has extensive experience assisting property owners with insurance claims, from the initial inspection and documentation through working directly with adjusters to make sure the scope of repair matches the actual damage.
Repair or Replacement: What Comes Next
Depending on the extent of the damage, a claim may cover anything from a targeted repair to a full roof replacement. We handle both, along with roof coatings for buildings where a full membrane replacement isn’t yet necessary, across flat (TPO and EPDM), metal, and asphalt shingle roofing systems.
Don’t Navigate a Claim Alone
Storm damage doesn’t always wait to make itself known, and delaying an inspection can mean more water intrusion, higher repair costs, or a claim that’s harder to support later. If your DFW-area commercial property has recently been through severe weather, explore our full range of roofing and insurance claim assistance services or schedule a free roof inspection to get an expert opinion before you file.
pulvinar dapibus leo.
Recent Comments