7 Steps for Fixing Hail Damage on a Commercial Roof

Kathleen Maxwell

close up of hail on a roof

April showers bring May flowers…and huge costs from hail damage from spring and summer storms. As with most maintenance issues, prevention is key. As a business owner, you keep up-to-date insurance policies, repair and maintain your structure, and address any issues as they arise. You get regular roof inspections and have implemented waterproofing and weatherproofing techniques. When it comes to Mother Nature, though, there are no guarantees. If you happen to be in the path of a vicious spring storm, hail damage on a commercial roof can be costly, and fixing it can be a headache. Here are seven steps for fixing hail damage on a commercial roof.

1. Determine the Extent of the Damage

Once the clouds have passed, you’ll want to survey the damage on the roof itself. Take all necessary precautions when making the initial inspection. If additional storms are in the forecast or the sun is setting, you may want to wait until a more opportune time to view the damage.

Once you have eyes on the roof, you’re looking to classify the type of hail damage the storm caused. An insurance professional will verify this assessment, but knowing the extent of the damage upfront will help you start to craft a strategy for repair and start researching professionals to help you get the job done right. There are a few signs of commercial roofing hail damage to keep your eyes open for when you’re surveying the structure.

2. Look for Circular Dents

This classic damage pattern can be seen on a variety of commercial roofing materials, including metal, wood, or composite materials. The dents are often arranged in a scattershot pattern, although there may be sections of the roof that have more damage than others. A circular indent indicates the presence of large hail and can range in diameter from a few centimeters to several inches in length, depending on the size of the hail.

3. Check for Missing Shingles

Shingles that are missing, askew, or not fully secured is also a sign of hail damage. Depending on the material of the shingles, inclement weather may have had the force to remove small pieces of roofing or the damage may cover the entire structure. If roofing material is darker in color, it can be difficult to determine if small sections are missing or damaged. When possible, touching material with your hands can indicate the presence of damage, even if it’s not immediately apparent to the naked eye.

4. Photograph any Black, Red, Yellow, or White Markings

Some roofing materials are able to withstand an onslaught of weather, and the only signs of structural damage may be markings from hail impacts on the commercial roofing materials or shingles themselves. Different materials show damage in different ways, and colored streaks of black, red, white, or yellow markings could indicate damage from a sudden storm.

5. Contact Your Insurance Professional

Once you’ve viewed the damage, your next call should be to your insurance professional. Having expert eyes view the damage can give you a better idea of the scope of the damage and the possible cost of repairs. Providing the assessor or agent with photographic evidence may help your claim be processed more quickly, which is essential for getting repairs completed in a timely manner.

6. Don’t Leave Commercial Roofing Damage Unaddressed

It’s important to remember that commercial roofs are not residential roofs. The cost of replacing even a small section of a commercial roof tile can be much higher than a large section of a residential roof. Commercial and industrial roofs are also subject to stricter building and safety codes. The cost and complexity can make business owners hesitate when they consider replacement. Letting even minor damage linger through a second cold winter or storm season could cause even greater costs in the long run.

7. Partner With a Company that Specializes in Commercial Roofing

Companies that mostly handle residential roofing don’t have the tools, materials, and experience to patch, replace, or repair commercial roofing. While your insurance company may give you suggestions on what company to contact, you’ll need to do careful research to make sure the contractor you work with can properly repair your commercial roofing. Unaddressed roofing issues can lead to moisture ingress, mold issues, or high heating or cooling costs due to escaping air.

Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. has years of experience installing, maintaining, and repairing a variety of commercial roofs. Schedule a call with us today to learn more about how we can help protect your investment by maintaining your building’s longevity.


Search Resources

Popular Tags

2020 2020 commercial roof 24/7 8th & Roast Accounts Payable Administrative Office Coordinator aerial roof moisture survey Alabama anchored article Anchored Client Spotlight Anchored Employee Spotlight apprenticeships architectural design asphalt Baker Twins Real Estate Brentwood Baptist Church budget Budgeting building maintenance building owners building permit new roof building temperatures built-up roofing BUR business owners careers in commercial roofing CDC checklist checklist for business owners Chelsey Cole choosing a roof type Chris Vogl church roofing Clean your roof after a storm clean your roof at regular intervals Clean your roof between seasons Clean your roof throughout the summer client spotlight client spotlights client testimonial clogged drainage cold Colliers International commecial roofing commercial building roof insulation commercial buildings commercial contractors commercial flat roofing contractors commercial investment property commercial metal roofing contractors Commercial Properties commercial real estate Commercial Reroof Commercial Roof commercial roof budget commercial roof budgeting commercial roof construction commercial roof damage commercial roof inspection commercial roof inspections commercial roof insulation commercial roof leak repair commercial roof maintenance commercial roof maintenance plan commercial roof materials commercial roof problems commercial roof quote commercial roof repair Commercial Roof Replacement commercial roof replacement cost commercial roof replacement process commercial roof replacement quote commercial roof value commercial roofing commercial roofing budget commercial roofing career Commercial Roofing Careers commercial roofing company commercial roofing construction commercial roofing contractors commercial roofing damage Commercial Roofing Employees commercial roofing faqs commercial roofing goals commercial roofing in 2023 commercial roofing in Nashville commercial roofing jobs Commercial Roofing Partner Commercial Roofing Preventative Maintenance commercial roofing questions commercial roofing quotes commercial roofing repairs commercial roofing service commercial roofing strategy commercial roofing technology commercial roofing terminology commercial roofing tips commercial roofs common questions competitive benefits comprehensive roof assessments comprehensive roof maintenance condensation Connection Between Insulation & Commercial Roofing construction construction managers construction misconceptions construction safety Contractor Contractor Warranties contractors cool roof cool roofing cool roofs coronavirus corporate buildings corporate roof cost savings costs courthouse roof COVID-19 customer experience customer service damage dan maxwell Design designer roofs develop talent Do's and Don't of Roof Installations documentation DOL draining system drains Drone Inspections drying durable materials Eco-Friendly Eco-Friendly Commercial Roofing Options eco-friendly roof Elevated roof moisture survey emergency helpline emergency repair emergency service employee appreciation employee spotlight employee training energy costs energy efficiency energy efficient tips energy savings energy-efficient roofing Ensworth School EPDM EPDM roofing estimates estimating estimator Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Fabrication fabricator facility managers fall checklist fall maintenance fall protection Fall Roofing Protection Basics faqs Featured Article Featured Client Spotlight Featured Employee Featured Employee Spotlight federal buildings flashing flat roof forecasting full-service roofing Full-service roofing services general contractor general contractors government agency government buildings government roof bids government roof insulation Grease Traps Green Roof green roofing gutters hail damage heat damage hiring Horrell Company how to address storm damage to roofs how to get commercial roofing jobs Huntsville Huntsville Commercial Roofing HVAC HVAC systems HVAC units ice ice damage impalement hazards improve performance Indian Lake Peninsula Church industrial building owners industrial buildings industrial flat roof replacement Industrial Owners industrial roof leak repair industrial roof maintenance industrial roofing industrial roofs industrial roofs issues Infrared Moisture Infrared Moisture Surveys inspection inspection plan Inspections Installation Insulation insurance jack ryan jackie sprout John Blue Realty John Maxwell Journey Design Group Kalen Canaday Kasey Fanton Leak Prevention Leaks licensing light-colored roofs lisa ann parr long-term maintenance long-term roof management longevity of a roof low-slope commercial roof maintenance maintenance plan Manufacturer Warranties manufacturing Martha Walden Material Warranties MAXCare Maxwell Monitors Maxwell Roofing Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal Maxwell Roofing Client Spotlight Maxwell Roofing employee maxwell roofing employees maxwell roofing experience maxwell team metal fabrication Metal Roof Metal Roofing metal roofs michael buckingham Michael Cox Mikki Zimonjic moisture retention Nashville Nashville Commercial Roofing nashville roof recovery nashville roof recovery systems Nashville Roofing Nashville Roofing Partner nashville winter National Safety Month new career new commercial roof new construction new roof new roof building regulations Next Generation Net Lease ongoing learning opportunities ongoing roof maintenance open penetrations operations OSHA OSHA standards planning for emergencies ponding ponding water pre-engineered metal roofs Prepare Your Roof for Fall and Winter Preparing for winter prevent a roofing emergency prevent seasonal damage preventative maintenance preventative roof maintenance pricing proactive maintenance project manager prolong roof life property management PVC PVC membranes PVC roofing qualified roof technician Quality questions to ask a commercial roofer questions to ask your commercial roofing contractor RCP Companies recovery systems recruitment Recycled or Biodegradable Roof Material regular inspections reliability Reputation Reroofing Project retail store owners Risk Management roof assessments roof budget roof cleaning roof coatings roof construction roof curbs roof damage roof debris removal roof diffusers Roof Drain Debris Removal roof holes roof inspections Roof Installation Roof installation tips roof insulation roof investment roof leak repairs Roof leaks roof life expectancy roof maintenance roof maintenance cost roof maintenance tip roof management roof materials roof performance roof preventative maintenance roof repair roof replacement Roof Replacement Projects roof replacements roof safety roof weatherproofing roof’s lifespan Roofers Coffee Shop Roofing roofing budget roofing care roofing careers roofing cleaning Roofing Company roofing construction questions roofing contractor roofing costs roofing employees roofing goals roofing industry roofing industry careers roofing maintenance roofing materials roofing membrane roofing mistakes Roofing Partner roofing problems Roofing Products roofing projects roofing questions roofing sales Roofing Specialists roofing trends rooftop bar rooftop deck rooftop features Rooftop grease traps Rooftop moisture survey rooftop patio rooftop penetrations rooftop safety routine maintenance safe construction Safety Samples Properties school roof construction school roofing safety school safety seasonal damage seasonal maintenance service account manager service and repair Service Superintendent services severe weather sheet metal sheet metal fabrication singly ply roofing systems skylights Skyline Replacement Skyline Replacement Tips sloped commercial roof snow Solar Panels solar roof Spray Polyurethane Foam spring spring maintenance spring weather state buildings Stephen Marbach storm damage storm damage to commercial roof Summer Heat summer kick-off party summer maintenance sun damage superintendent surface hazards temperature control The EDGE estimating software The Woman’s Club of Nashville thermal proofing Thermoplastic Polyolefin Tips for Commercial Roofing TN todd white top blogs top roofing blogs top talent TPO membranes training types of roofing Under-roof moisture survey Valerie Bibee values Walker Family Partners warehouse roof replacement warranties Warranty waterproofing weather damage white reflective roofs White Roof white roofs wind resistance winter maintenance winter weather winterizing roof

What Do Our Customers Have to Say?


Read Our Reviews