It is safe to say that not everyone knows their way around hail damage. This is an important note to make because after a major storm, it seems as though there is no shortage of so-called commercial hail restoration experts swinging through town. Even if only one bad experience takes place, these scam artists lay the foundation for all legitimate hail restoration experts to be given major side-eye.
This is why so many contractors have stepped up their community education work in recent years. They want to be sure their reputations are unsullied, but they also want to be sure that the public is at least knowledgeable of the basics that go into commercial hail restoration and repair so that they don’t get ripped off.
Perhaps the biggest thing experts wish the public understood about hail is that at the end of the day, hail is truly destructive. Newscasts and social media video tend to show hail falling in backyards, porches, and parking lots with very little fanfare. What they don’t show you is the destruction it causes. BILLIONS of dollars in damages are caused every year in the U.S. by hail. A single vehicle can have an average hail claim of $5,000. These seemingly harmless bits of ice from the sky are not to be taken lightly.
Other important info about hail worth knowing includes:
Size of Hail Varies A Lot — Variations in the size of hail can be quite immense, with everything from a pea to a grapefruit. Furthermore, the size of hail also determines just how fast the stone is falling. Some hailstones about golf ball size can reach speed in the 50-60mph range, with larger stones being able to hit triple digits.
Hail Almost Always Comes with Rain Damage — Restoration experts will emphasize that while it can be devastating to see how much damage hail caused your business, remember the high likelihood of major rain/water damage that occurred. Few things can be as catastrophic as water damage. Depending on how badly windows or the roof were impacted by hail during a storm, the situation may be dire.
Commercial hail restoration experts are also big on getting the public to understand that time is of the essence. This applies to getting on the premises, inspecting and documenting damage, and starting the insurance claim filing. It is very likely that if one business was heavily impacted by a passing storm system, other homes and businesses were as well. This means that insurance companies will be doing their best to keep up with claims, leaving plenty of room for mistakes to happen and reports to fall through the cracks.
During this immediate aftermath stage, restoration experts advise that business owners at least do the following:
- Don’t forget to inspect signage, gutters, parking areas, and other parts of the business where damage occurred.
- (if applicable and safe) When checking the roof, remember that dents can be as problematic as cracks.
- Hail can create warping in roofing panels, thereby keeping them from operating as intended when installed.
- Like rain/water damage, hail is usually accompanied with strong winds. Check for general wind damage and upheaval in roofing panels.
THR Roofing Solutions has made a name for itself as the commercial hail restoration experts in Texas. We are based in the Lone Star State and are dedicated to being an advocate for our clients. It’s tough enough facing the uncertainty that comes with having your business out of commission for an unknown amount of time. The last thing you need to worry about is fighting for a complete insurance claim and making sure the work is done to your satisfaction.
Call 512-431-6775 Today for a Free Consultation.
