Nobody waits for a leak to develop before calling a roofing contractor. Or at least, that’s what I hope.
Unfortunately, many commercial property owners don’t call their roofing company until water leaks through the roof. Others wait until a storm damages the roofing membrane or their energy bills suddenly skyrocket. By this point, the damage has already occurred, costs have increased, and there’s little they can do to speed up repairs.
For 27 years, we’ve helped commercial property owners in 11 different markets across 7 states move from reactive repairs to proactive roof protection. In particular, our proprietary Weather Watch program helps make that transition possible.
We believe commercial roof protection begins before the problems start.
Reactive Roof Management
A commercial roof doesn’t fail all at once. Instead, it fails slowly.
Seams loosen. Flashings degrade. Ponding water forms. Meanwhile, hail can damage the membrane in ways you can’t see from the ground.
Over time, these problems can lead to water damage, mold, insulation loss, and structural damage inside your building. Therefore, waiting until you notice obvious signs of trouble can make a relatively small roofing problem much more expensive.
If you rely on reactive roof management, you may face the following issues:
- Repair costs can continue to grow as the problem worsens. For example, crews can quickly patch a small puncture when they catch it early. However, once water seeps into your insulation, that same problem can require a much more extensive repair.
- Water can damage the interior of your building. As leaks spread, they may affect ceilings, walls, electrical wiring, merchandise, equipment, and other valuable assets.
- Roof problems can disrupt business operations. In some cases, water intrusion may force temporary closures, production slowdowns, or customer and tenant relocation.
- Your roof may not last as long as it should. With proper maintenance, a roof can last beyond its expected lifespan. In contrast, neglected roofs may not even reach theirs.
- You may face insurance difficulties. For instance, your insurer may question how damage developed over time without proper maintenance or documentation.
Fortunately, many catastrophic roof failures are entirely avoidable. The key is catching problems before they get out of hand instead of after they’ve escalated.
What Is Weather Watch?
Weather Watch is a proactive roof monitoring and asset management program offered by Weather Contracting.
Instead of waiting for a storm or leak, the program puts your commercial roofing assets on a regular inspection and maintenance schedule. Additionally, professionals with almost 30 years of commercial roofing experience oversee the process.
As a result, you gain a clearer understanding of your roof’s condition and can address developing problems before they become emergencies.
Here’s what the Weather Watch program involves:
Scheduled Inspections by Professionals
A professional inspector will examine your roof about every six months and again after severe weather.
During these inspections, we examine the membrane, flashing, seams, penetrations, ponding water, hail and wind damage, drainage, surface conditions, and accessible structural decking.
After each inspection, you’ll receive photos and a written assessment. Consequently, these records provide a dated history of your roof’s condition and help you track changes over time.
Photos and Written Assessments
Each inspection produces documented findings, photographs, and a written assessment.
The photos show your roof’s condition in detail. Meanwhile, the written report translates technical roofing terminology into actionable recommendations ranked by urgency and cost.
With this documentation, you can:
- Support insurance claims — If you need to file a claim, you’ll have photos showing your roof’s condition before the damage occurred.
- Plan your budget — Instead of reacting to unexpected emergencies, you can forecast repairs, coatings, or replacement costs.
- Protect your warranty — Additionally, documented maintenance can help you meet manufacturer warranty requirements.
Ultimately, this documentation gives you a clearer picture of what your roof needs now and what it may need in the future.
Proactive Maintenance & Early Intervention
When inspections uncover lifting seams, cracked flashings, or early signs of ponding, Weather’s crews can address them before they worsen.
In many cases, small, proactive repairs cost far less than major reactive repairs. Therefore, identifying problems early can help you avoid unnecessary expenses later.
Just as importantly, we’ll never pressure you to replace something that doesn’t need replacing.
If a section can be patched, we’ll patch it. Likewise, if a coating can add another 10–20 years to your roof, we’ll recommend that option over replacement.
Our goal is to stretch the value of every roofing dollar you’ve already spent.
Storm Event Rapid Response
Even with proactive maintenance, severe weather can cause sudden roof damage. That’s why Weather Watch members receive priority for rapid response after storms.
When hail, high winds, or heavy rain move through the area, our crews can quickly evaluate your roof and repair damage. Typically, we respond within 24–48 hours.
For multi-site properties across Tornado Alley and the Gulf Coast, the process becomes even simpler. One phone call can trigger a response across all your properties in our markets.
As a result, you can spend less time coordinating multiple contractors and more time keeping your properties operational.
Insurance Claims Support
If damage occurs, Weather Contracting can assist with your insurance claim from start to finish. Specifically, we help with documentation, repair justification, and the claims process itself.
Pre-storm inspections create documented evidence of your roof’s condition before and after an event. As a result, that documentation can help limit disputes about when damage occurred or what condition the roof was in beforehand.
Of course, we don’t guarantee claim approval. However, our experience working on thousands of commercial roofs helps us prepare complete claims with accurate supporting documentation.
Therefore, if you do experience storm damage, you’re not starting the documentation process from scratch.
Who Should Subscribe to Weather Watch?
Weather Watch is ideal for building owners and managers who view their roofing systems as long-term investments.
In particular, it’s beneficial for:
- Portfolio owners with multiple properties that need consistent documentation and maintenance.
- Industrial facility owners who need to protect products, machinery, equipment, and operations inside large buildings.
- Property management companies and REITs that want to prevent unexpected costs and preserve property value.
- Commercial property owners in storm-heavy areas who need frequent assessments to catch weather damage before it grows.
Regardless of property type, the goal remains the same: identify roofing problems early and make informed decisions before those problems become expensive emergencies.
Weather Watch vs. Traditional Roof Maintenance
Reactive maintenance means waiting until there’s a leak. Often, it also means having no maintenance history, storm-preparedness records, or planned repair schedule.
Additionally, reactive maintenance can mean relying on emergency repairs and receiving storm response on a first-come, first-served basis.
Weather Watch replaces that model with regular inspections, photographic evidence, and dated condition reports. Furthermore, it provides planned maintenance, proactive intervention, consistent portfolio tracking, and priority storm response.
Instead of reacting to roof problems, you gain a system for identifying and addressing them early.
More importantly, you gain the information needed to make better decisions about repairs, maintenance, coatings, and eventual replacement.
The Numbers: How Proactive Monitoring Saves Money
Let’s say you have a 50,000-square-foot commercial flat roof with a TPO membrane.
During a proactive inspection, we might uncover failing flashing and early signs of ponding. If we catch those problems early, you may be able to repair them for a relatively low cost.
However, if no one catches them, those same issues could saturate the insulation beneath your roof. At that point, you could face the much higher cost of replacing large sections of both the membrane and insulation.
Now apply that scenario to five properties. Naturally, the potential benefits multiply.
Moreover, that doesn’t include the value of avoiding interior damage and business downtime. Proper documentation may also help support future insurance claims.
For these reasons, proactive monitoring is a form of risk management. It can mean longer roof life, fewer emergency repair costs, better documentation for insurance purposes, and greater peace of mind.
27 Years of Experience. 11 Markets. One Standard of Care.
Weather Contracting is a division of Starks Builders, which holds national licenses, bonds, and insurance across all 11 service markets.
In addition to Weather Watch, we offer a complete commercial roofing package. Our services include TPO, EPDM, PVC, metal, shingles, slate, tile, coatings, and shrink wrap.
Over the years, our crews have inspected and repaired roofs through tornado seasons, Gulf Coast hurricanes, Plains hailstorms, and everything in between.
That experience drives every Weather Watch inspection.
For example, our teams know how to identify hail damage on an aging EPDM roof. They also know where weak flashing can create problems and how ponding water can threaten a roofing system.
Most importantly, we keep the records so you don’t have to wonder about the condition of your roofing investments.
Start With Proactive Roof Protection
Whether you own one facility or manage a multi-state portfolio, Weather Watch gives you greater visibility into the condition of your roofs.
In addition, you gain professional documentation and a partner who understands roofing as a long-term investment.
The process starts with a free professional roof inspection. Afterward, you’ll receive photo documentation and a written report.
From there, we can explain your roof’s current condition and recommend the next steps. Depending on your needs, we can also create a monitoring program around your building, budget, and risk tolerance.
Instead of waiting for the next leak or storm to reveal a problem, you can start protecting your roofing investment today.
Request a free commercial roof inspection at (888) 441-5215 or weathercontracting.com.
We are available 24/7 to respond to storms in all 11 service markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are Weather Watch inspections done?
Usually, inspections are performed twice a year, plus additional inspections after severe weather.
However, older roofs or buildings with specific risk factors may need more frequent monitoring.
What’s included in a Weather Watch inspection?
We inspect the roof surface, seams, flashings, penetrations, drainage, ponding areas, storm damage, and coatings.
After the inspection, you’ll receive a written report with photos, prioritized recommendations, and a ballpark budget estimate.
As a result, you’ll have both a visual record of your roof and a clearer understanding of what needs attention.
Will Weather Watch assist me with an insurance claim?
Yes. Pre-storm records establish a baseline for your property’s condition.
If we determine that your building sustained storm damage, Weather Contracting will coordinate with your carrier. Additionally, we’ll document the damage and support the proposed scope of work.
However, please note that we cannot guarantee any specific claim outcome.
Does Weather Watch work with multi-property owners?
Yes.
In fact, Weather Watch can be particularly valuable for portfolio owners because it streamlines documentation, maintenance scheduling, and rapid storm response across your entire property portfolio with one vendor.
As a result, you can maintain a more consistent approach to roof management across multiple locations.
I’m close to replacing my roof. Is Weather Watch helpful?
Yes.
For example, Weather Watch can determine whether a coating may extend your roof’s life by 10–20 years. We can also identify whether localized repairs could give you more time before replacement.
On the other hand, if a complete replacement makes the most financial sense, we’ll recommend it.
Ultimately, our focus is the right solution at the right time—not the most expensive one.