The clock starts ticking as soon as the storm passes. A roof punctured by hail or torn up by wind leaves the roof vulnerable to further damage. Water leaking through can destroy inventory, damage equipment, disrupt operations and cause further harm to the structure. When this happens, you must do everything you can to prevent the leak from getting worse.
What you do next determines the cost of the claim.
For 27 years, Weather Contracting has worked with commercial property owners across 11 markets in 7 states to repair storm-damaged roofs. One thing we’ve learned over the years: shrink wrap works much better than blue tarps to protect your roof after a storm.
Why Blue Tarps Aren’t the Best Choice for Commercial Roof Repair
Blue tarps are popular because they’re easy to get your hands on. They’re not the best choice for a commercial roof, however, because:
- Tarps don’t hold up well to wind: A second windstorm or heavy gusts could flap the tarp until it tears, rips off or pulls loose from its anchors. Your roof is now vulnerable to rain again.
- Tarps aren’t water-tight: Tying down a tarp with ropes, chains or straps isn’t enough to make the material water-tight. You need a sealed roof system.
- Tarps allow water to pool: Flat and low-slope roofs already present a challenge. Rain that falls on a tarp could collect under it and add weight to your roof or damage it further by leaking through the material.
- Tarps have a short lifespan: Tarps last for about 30 to 60 days. Beyond that, they can crack and begin failing. If your roof needs to stay covered while you wait for an adjuster or contractor, you’ll likely need to cover your roof with another tarp at some point.
- Tarps are a hazard: A loose tarp could pose a fall risk to maintenance staff. It also can become airborne and damage other property.
How Shrink Wrap Is a Better Commercial Roof Repair
With shrink wrap, Weather applies a protective membrane that is heat-shrunk to the roof and molded to its shape. This offers the following advantages:
- It’s watertight: Heat-shrunk shrink wrap creates a tightly fitted barrier to shed water. There are no areas where water could pool and leak through.
- It holds up to wind: Weather’s storm response crews shrink-wrap your roof using the highest quality materials available. We use mechanical attachment methods to ensure the membrane stays in place even in high winds and subsequent storms.
- It lasts longer: Shrink wrap will protect your building for six to 12 months or longer. This gives you plenty of time to process your insurance claim and have the roof permanently repaired.
- It fits anywhere: Heat-shrunk shrink wrap can be applied to virtually any type of roof. We can shrink wrap the roof around HVAC units, skylights, parapet walls, multiple levels, drainage areas and more. Tarps can’t effectively seal around these features.
- It’s installed properly: At Weather, our storm response crews always wear proper personal protective equipment and follow OSHA guidelines when installing shrink wrap. They also take photos and documentation to support your insurance claim.
Does your emergency mitigation method affect your insurance claim?
The answer might surprise you. Many property owners don’t know that emergency mitigation methods can impact their insurance claim.
Most commercial property insurance policies include a clause requiring the owner to take reasonable measures to mitigate further damage following a storm. Suppose a tarp does not provide adequate coverage and another storm strikes before the repairs are made. In that case, the insurer could claim that the lack of adequate mitigation resulted in additional water intrusion and deny coverage for the secondary damage.
Shrink wrap is a much better alternative. Weather Contracting takes pictures and writes up a full assessment of each shrink wrap job. In addition, Weather serves as your insurance claim advocate and ensures the emergency shrink wrap cost is properly documented on your claim.
How wrong mitigation costs you more money in the long run
A warehouse in Kansas City has a 4,000 square foot section of TPO roofing damaged by hail.
Using tarps means lower initial costs, but if the tarp fails, the insurance claim process could be delayed due to rain damaging the insulation, ceiling and inventory, or requiring multiple tarp changes. Secondary damage caused by the rain may become a contested item.
Using shrink wrap has higher upfront costs but offers several months of reliable coverage, which prevents further water intrusion and the need for repeated emergency mitigation services. It also enables Weather’s contractors to complete the permanent repairs at their leisure rather than on an urgent timeline.
Ultimately, the added expense of shrink wrap is likely less than the extra water damage, disputed items and emergency mitigation calls needed with tarps.
Is shrink wrap right for my roof?
Weather recommends different solutions based on your specific situation.
We recommend shrink wrap when the damaged area is large, the roof is complex, repairs will take longer than 60 days, or you have sensitive equipment, inventory or processes that cannot be interrupted.
Tarps may be sufficient when the damage is small and isolated, repairs can be completed in less than 30 days, and the roof is relatively simple and accessible.
Permanent repairs are best when the damage is minor, Weather can respond quickly, and your roof conditions allow us to make permanent repairs without a temporary solution.
We offer free roof inspections with pictures and written assessments to recommend the best solution for your roof.
How Weather responds to storm damage
Once you’ve called us, here’s what to expect from our emergency response team.
Rapid deployment: We have response teams covering 11 markets throughout Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Our emergency mitigation technicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Full Roof Inspection: We evaluate the whole roof to document any hail, wind uplift, membrane penetration, flashing damage, and water intrusion.
Emergency Roof Protection: In cases where emergency measures are required, we may put down shrink wrap or make temporary fixes as necessary and document everything for your insurance claim.
Insurance Assistance: We can assist the insurance company’s adjuster in assessing the claim and help ensure that your claim properly reflects the damage.
Roof Repair: If the roof needs to be fixed, we’ll do whatever’s needed, whether that means repairing the membrane, replacing part of the roof, coating the roof, or installing a new TPO, EPDM, PVC, or metal roof.
Ongoing Roof Monitoring: After roof repairs, some properties qualify to participate in the Weather Watch monitoring program.
Conclusion
Following a commercial storm event, each minute counts. Water intrusion rapidly becomes worse and a poor emergency repair can turn a good situation into a bad one.
Shrink wrap offers reliable emergency protection, better insurance documentation, and prevents secondary water damage while you wait for permanent repairs.
We have 27 years of commercial roofing and storm restoration experience in 11 markets across 7 states. We have the people, equipment, and expertise to get your commercial building from emergency response to permanent repairs, fast.
Don’t allow your temporary tarp to be the weak point of your emergency response plan.
Get your free professional roof inspection by calling (888) 441-5215 or going to weathercontracting.com. We have 24/7 storm response teams ready to respond.
Commercial Shrink Wrap Q&A
How long will commercial shrink wrap last? Commercial shrink wrap usually lasts between 6 and 12 months, depending on the weather, which should give you enough time to go through the insurance process and schedule permanent repairs.
Is commercial shrink wrap more expensive than tarps? The cost of installation is higher, but it’s likely you’ll save money in the end because you won’t need to keep replacing the tarps or pay to fix damage caused by a poorly installed tarp.
Will insurance pay for shrink wrap? Some commercial insurance policies cover emergency mitigation work, which may include shrink wrap. Coverage varies by policy. We document all emergency work and add the costs to your insurance claim.
How quickly can Weather Contracting get to my site? We have 24/7 storm response teams throughout our service areas. Depending on the severity of the storm, we can be on site within 24 hours in most markets, sometimes even sooner.
Can Weather Contracting use shrink wrap on any roof? If shrink wrap isn’t the right choice for your roof, Weather will advise you on the best alternative after providing a free, professional roof inspection.