Keep Your Business Prepared For Hurricane Season and Avoid Unnecessary Storm Damage
Hurricane season has officially begun, and it pays to be prepared! When a hurricane hits, your roof becomes your facility’s first line of defense—and potentially, its greatest vulnerability. High winds, heavy rain, and flying debris can cause serious damage to your commercial roof, leading to costly storm damage repairs, dangerous conditions, and prolonged downtime.
1. Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
Start with a comprehensive roof inspection. This inspection should assess:
- Membrane integrity: Look for blisters, punctures, tears, or open seams.
- Flashings and edges: Ensure all terminations, metal flashings, and edges are fully sealed and secure.
- Drainage systems: Check that all drains, gutters, and downspouts are unobstructed and functional.
Storm damage should be documented with photos and detailed notes to establish a pre-storm condition record for insurance purposes.
2. Perform Preventive Maintenance & Repairs
Based on the inspection, complete all noted maintenance and repairs. Key action items might include:
- Seal or patch any roof membrane damage immediately.
- Secure loose flashing or coping that can be torn off by high winds.
- Reinforce rooftop HVAC units and penetrations (vents, skylights, etc.) with appropriate anchors or hurricane straps.
- Ensure walk pads are fastened securely to prevent uplift or displacement.
Every loose component on your roof is a potential projectile during a storm—eliminate vulnerabilities before they can be exposed.
3. Clear Debris and Eliminate Ponding Risks
Loose debris can block drains and become airborne hazards during storms. Before hurricane season:
- Remove leaves, branches, tools, trash, and other assorted loose materials from the rooftop.
- Check for low areas where water ponds—these may need additional drainage or insulation buildup.
- Ensure scuppers, downspouts, and drains are free of all obstructions.
A clean roof is a safer roof. Regular cleaning also improves the efficiency of your drainage system and prevents membrane degradation.
4. Document the Roof’s Condition Before the Storm
Detailed pre-storm documentation is essential for insurance claims and disaster response.
- Take wide-angle and close-up photos of all sections of the roof, including flashings, mechanical units, skylights, and penetrations.
- Create a portfolio of inspection reports and invoices for any repairs or maintenance done.
- Store this information digitally and back it up to the cloud or secure offsite location.
This documentation will support your insurance claim should damage occur and help you quickly assess post-storm impacts.
5. Review Emergency Roofing Contacts and Response Plan
When disaster strikes, time is of the essence. Before the season begins:
- Remember that RoofConnect offers 24/7 service, as well as emergency roofing services and fast response crews.
- Create a rapid response plan for post-storm inspections and temporary repairs.
- Review insurance policies to understand your wind and water damage coverage.
Have our contact information readily accessible to minimize downtime and secure tarping or temporary solutions quickly after a storm.
Don't Wait Hurricanes to Cause Damage to Your Business
Hurricane preparedness for commercial roofs isn’t a reactive measure, it’s a preventive necessity. By taking these steps ahead of time, you not only reduce the risk of storm damage and liability but also preserve the long-term integrity of your roof and continuity of your operations.
Need Expert Help? Contact RoofConnect
Ensure your roof is hurricane-ready with help from the nation’s largest commercial roofing services provider. RoofConnect offers detailed roof inspections, maintenance programs, emergency response services, and full-scale roofing solutions to keep your facility safe—before and after the storm. Contact us today!
Call – 877.942.5613
Email – information@roofconnect.com