From your products and staff to the commercial building structure, you must protect your business. One of the main ways to protect your property is with a regular commercial roofing service. When your commercial roof is damaged, don't hesitate to get repairs or replacement. It's something you certainly don't want to wait for, especially since it can pose a huge risk to your business and employees. Here are steps to take after your roof has experienced damage. Let's take a look for more information!

1. Find a Commercial Roofing Contractor

The first thing you need to do in this kind of situation is contact your commercial roofing service. You could see if you can get referrals from other people who have used a commercial roofer, as well as check online review sites. Once you straighten things out with your insurer, you should have an idea of how much your insurance will cover. You can always call a few commercial roofing contractors to get quotes and see which ones suit your budget and potential insurance coverage.

Your commercial contractor can come out for a consultation to see what type of work needs to be done. Instead of repairs, you may decide to do a completely new replacement. A replacement may be something that your roofer may recommend, depending on the extent of the damage and the age of your existing roof. It may be the perfect time to replace your roofing. Your local roofing contractor should be able to provide insight on the best course of action.

2. Document the Damage

After contacting your local roofing company, you'll want to take as many photos and videos as possible of the damaged roof and any resulting damage inside. If you see signs of water damage and mold from the roof, add them to your documentation. You should also make note of the incident that may have caused roofing damage, such as a harsh storm, hurricane, hail impact, or a fallen tree. Keep all of your documentation in a safe space as you’ll need that for insurance purposes.

3. Contact Your Commercial Roofing Insurance

The average cost of roofing repair is about $950, according to Forbes. Now's a good time to review your commercial roofing insurance policy. After all, you want to ensure you're aware of any deductibles that have to be met before your roofing insurance will pay out. Contact your insurer as soon as possible and explain everything you know about your roof damage. Your commercial roofer can be helpful in this communication! The more transparent you are with them, the better off you will be in the long run.

4. Prepare for a Meeting With the Adjuster

Whenever you make an insurance claim, don't expect the money to be in your pocket easily. Your commercial roofing insurance will send an adjuster to assess the site damage. Be prepared to meet with them with all of your documentation. Your commercial roofer may also be able to be a part of this meeting. They can talk to the insurance adjuster in industry-specific terms so that everyone is on the same page about the scope of work that needs to be done.

5. Prepare to Adjust Work Schedules

When you have damage to your commercial roof, you may have to make adjustments to your work schedule for a while. If you have a large enough building with enough insulation, then roofing work may not affect your business production. If your commercial property is relatively small, any roofing work may make enough noise that it can disrupt your day-to-day work. At that point, you may need to temporarily move your production to a new space, or have anyone work from home who can.

A damaged roof isn't something to ignore. After all, your damaged commercial roof can damage your interior and ruin your business's curb appeal. It can also affect your overall property value. Document everything efficiently and contact your insurance company. As you get your ducks in a row, make sure you contact a reputable commercial roofing service such as our team. We understand how valuable your roofing is to your building structure. Call us at Western Roofing Inc today! Our team has many years of experience working with insurance companies and can help you every step of the way. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the near future!