Commercial Roof Storm and Hail Damage in Dallas

What this page covers

This page is for owners, property managers, and facility teams after a storm passes over a low-slope or metal business roof. The building may not leak yet, but you want to know what the storm did.

If water is pouring in now, start with our emergency commercial roof repair page. If you already know where the leak is, our commercial leak repair page explains the search and fix. This page is about sorting out storm damage across the whole roof.

Why storm damage on flat roofs is hard to see

Many business roofs are low-slope, which means nearly flat. You often cannot see the roof from the ground. Even on the roof, some damage is hidden.

Hail can crack or bruise the top sheet without leaving a clear hole. It can crush the foam board under the sheet, called insulation, so the surface feels soft. Wind can loosen the sheet at edges and corners even if it settles back down.

That is why a storm check on a flat roof should be careful and well recorded.

What to do first

• Keep people away from building edges, where loose metal could fall.
• Check inside for new drips, stains, or wet ceiling tiles.
• Look for debris, metal, or roof pieces on the ground.
• Take photos and note the date and time of the storm.
• Look for dents on rooftop units you can see from a safe spot.

Do not send staff onto the roof right after the storm. Wait for dry, calm weather and a trained crew with fall gear.

What a storm check should include

A good crew walks the whole roof, not just the corner near a leak. They should look at each of these areas:

• The top sheet, called the membrane, for cuts, cracks, bruises, and loose seams
• Edges and corners, where wind pulls hardest
• Flashing at walls, curbs, and around rooftop units
• Drains and scuppers, which may be blocked by debris
• Skylights and roof hatches
• Rooftop air units, vents, and their curbs
• Metal edge pieces and coping on top of walls

Each finding should be photographed and marked on a simple roof map.

Testing for hidden water

If the storm opened the sheet, water may have soaked the insulation under it. Wet insulation does not dry well and can lose its strength.

A crew may use moisture meters or infrared cameras to find wet areas. Infrared works best after a sunny day, when wet spots hold heat longer into the night. A small test cut, sealed right away, can confirm what is under the sheet.

Ask the crew to show you where they tested and what they found. This matters for both repair and any claim.

Hail on different roof types

Carlisle, a large membrane maker, describes TPO and PVC as heat-welded single-ply sheets. Hail can crack or puncture them, especially when the sheet is older or the insulation below is soft.

EPDM is a synthetic rubber sheet. Carlisle notes it comes in black or white and can be held down in different ways. Hail may bruise it or damage the seams.

Mod-bit and built-up roofs use layers of asphalt-based material. Hail can knock off the surface layer or crack it.

Metal roofs dent. Some dents are only cosmetic. Others crack the coating or bend seams so they no longer shed water well.

Wind on business roofs

Wind pushes against walls and pulls up on roofs. The pull is often strongest at corners and edges.

Watch for lifted or bent edge metal, loose seams, and areas where the sheet ripples or balloons. A sheet that lifts and drops in wind can tear fasteners loose underneath.

Our wind uplift page explains how this works in plain words.

Rooftop equipment

Rooftop air units, fans, and solar parts often take hits. Dented fins on air units can be a clue that hail fell, though they may not mean the roof itself was harmed.

Equipment can also move in high wind. If a unit shifted, the flashing around its curb may be torn. Ask your roofer and your air system company to look together, so nothing is missed between them.

Weekend and night storms

Storms do not keep business hours. Make sure someone checks the building after a storm, even on a weekend. A quick walk inside can catch a leak before it ruins stock or floors.

Keep your roof contacts on a list that night and weekend staff can find.

Insurance roles in Texas

The Texas Department of Insurance says a roofer cannot act as your public adjuster or offer to cover your deductible. The roofer can document the roof and give an estimate.

Your insurer decides what is covered. Large business claims can be complex. Some owners hire a licensed public adjuster to deal with the insurer for them. That is your choice, and that person must be licensed.

Repair or a larger project

After a storm check, you may hear different options. A few cuts and loose seams can often be repaired. Large wet areas, many broken spots, or an old roof may point toward a larger project.

GAF's guidance on repair versus replacement centers on how widespread the damage is. On business roofs, wet insulation adds to that choice. Patching over wet layers does not dry them.

Ask for each option in writing, with the reasons. Our commercial roof replacement page explains recover versus tear-off.

Warranties after a storm

If your roof has a maker's warranty, read what it says about storms. Some warranties exclude hail above a certain size. Some require an approved roofer for repairs.

Call the maker or check your warranty papers before work starts. Using the wrong roofer or material can affect coverage.

What drives the cost

We do not post prices. These things change the cost of storm work:

• How much of the roof is damaged
• Whether insulation is wet and must be removed
• The roof type and its materials
• How hard the roof is to reach
• Work around rooftop units and other trades
• Permits and any building access limits

Questions to ask the roofer

• Did you walk the whole roof, and can I see the map and photos?
• Did you test for wet insulation, and where?
• Which findings do you think came from this storm, and which are older?
• What do you suggest for each area, and why?
• How will you protect the building and people during work?
• How does your plan affect our roof warranty?

Mapping the roof

A simple roof map makes storm work much clearer. It is a drawing of the roof from above, showing drains, units, skylights, and edges. Each finding gets a mark and a number that matches a photo.

If your building does not have a roof map, ask the roofer to make one during the storm check. Keep it in your roof file. It will help with every future visit and claim.

Multiple buildings

Owners with more than one building should check each roof, not just the one with a leak. Storms can hit one building and miss another on the same lot.

Keep a separate file and map for each roof. Note each roof's type, age, and warranty. This makes it easier to plan repairs across the whole property.

Working with tenants

If tenants occupy the building, tell them when storm checks and repairs will happen. Ask them to report any new leaks right away, with the time and place.

Some leases say who is responsible for the roof. Review your lease and talk with tenants about access to the roof and any spaces under work areas.

Safety on the roof after a storm

Storm debris can hide holes and sharp edges. Skylights may be cracked. Edge metal may be loose. Only trained crews with fall gear should go up.

Ask the roofer how they will protect their crew and your building. A safe plan is part of a good job.

Rooftop solar and storm checks

Solar panels on a business roof can hide damage under them. Hail can crack panel glass, and wind can shift racks. Both can tear the roof sheet where the racks sit.

Ask your solar company and your roofer to plan the check together. Panels carry power even on cloudy days, so only trained solar workers should move them. The roof under them may need its own look once they are moved.

Interior signs that point to roof damage

Some storm damage first shows up inside. Look for stained ceiling tiles, rust spots on the metal deck, damp insulation above a drop ceiling, and musty smells in upper rooms.

Mark these spots on a floor plan with the date. Share it with the roofer. Matching inside spots to the roof map often points straight to the problem area.

After the repairs

When storm repairs are done, ask for a short closeout package. It should include the updated roof map, before and after photos, a list of what was fixed, and any warranty papers.

Add it to your roof file. Plan a follow-up check after the next heavy rain. This confirms the work held and catches anything that was missed.

Storm findings on a business roof

Common questions

Do we need a check if there is no leak?

After a large storm, a check is often wise. Some damage does not leak right away but can get worse.

Can a drone do the storm check?

A drone helps with photos. It cannot test for wet insulation or feel soft spots. A person on the roof is still needed.

How soon should we act?

Fix open areas before the next rain. Report damage as your policy asks. Plan larger work after a full check.

Can the roofer deal with our insurer for us?

Not in Texas. A roofer cannot act as your public adjuster. They can give photos and an estimate.

Does a coating fix storm damage?

Not by itself. Damaged and wet areas must be fixed first. Our roof coating page explains when coatings fit.

What if the roof was already old?

A good report separates storm damage from aging. Both matter for planning. Ask the roofer to explain each.