Pre-Hurricane Commercial Roof Checklist

Four-stage field guide

Prepare the file. Protect the decision path.

The week a storm threatens Florida is the wrong time to discover that roof information is scattered across five people and three inboxes. Work through the stages now, then print the page for the property file.

01

Organize the roof information file

Put the facts, authority, and access path in one place.

Confirm property address, ownership, management, and emergency contacts.

Collect the roof-area map or drawing with roof sections and access points.

Record roof systems, known age, prior repairs, and active leak locations where available.

Organize contractor, manufacturer, warranty, insurer, consultant, engineer, and vendor contacts.

Gather warranties, maintenance requirements, reports, invoices, and existing roof photographs.

Assign roof-access keys, codes, escorts, after-hours authority, and work authorization.

Roof Command file: Store the current version where authorized decision-makers can reach it even if the usual manager is unavailable.

02

Establish a current-condition baseline

Document what is accessible and observed without overstating what photographs prove.

Save recent, date-labeled photographs of each accessible roof area.

Identify active leaks, recurring areas, open repairs, temporary patches, and interior symptoms.

Record visible conditions at surfaces, seams, flashings, penetrations, curbs, edges, drains, and equipment interfaces within scope.

Record inaccessible areas and inspection limitations.

Assign responsibility for checking drains, scuppers, gutters, downspouts, strainers, and discharge paths.

Document ponding, drainage restrictions, damaged components, loose debris, or stored materials for the appropriate party.

Evidence discipline: A visual record documents accessible observed conditions at a point in time. It does not prove concealed damage is absent or determine future storm causation, insurance coverage, or warranty coverage.

03

Coordinate equipment, access, and communication

Make responsibility visible before urgent work begins.

Inventory rooftop HVAC, hatches, screens, signs, antennas, solar, lightning-protection, and other rooftop items.

Assign the appropriate specialty contractor to review its equipment and attachments.

Name the owner representative authorized to request and approve work.

Confirm building, roof, parking, gate, elevator, escort, and security procedures.

Identify occupied areas, sensitive operations, tenant contacts, and interiors at higher water-entry risk.

Establish one communication chain and one location for reports, photos, authorizations, invoices, and updates.

The roofing contractor should not be presented as responsible for equipment or trades outside its contracted scope. Avoid unauthorized work that may damage the roof or affect warranties.

Stage 04 / response sequence

Decide the safe sequence before the storm.

A clear routing path reduces confusion without promising access, arrival time, coverage, causation, or a result.

Confirm which contractor is authorized to inspect or stabilize the roof after the property is declared safe and accessible.

Review what the current agreement actually includes; do not assume priority or guaranteed response.

Identify who can approve temporary protection, testing, repair, or professional review.

Keep insurer and warranty notice procedures available without assuming a condition will be covered.

Prepare an interior water-entry log with location, time, weather, photographs, and immediate actions.

Create a blank post-storm issue log and preserve original photographs when practical.

01Follow official instructions.

02Confirm safe property access.

03Keep unqualified personnel off-roof.

04Record safe observations.

05Assess accessible conditions.

06Document temporary work.

07Route the next decision.

Know the boundary

What this checklist cannot promise.

No outcome guarantee

It cannot guarantee that a roof will not leak or sustain damage.
It cannot guarantee that temporary work will be possible in unsafe conditions.
It cannot guarantee a response time unless a signed agreement states it.

No coverage or causation decision

It does not determine storm causation, insurance coverage, or warranty coverage.
Photographs alone do not prove causation, compliance, or absence of concealed damage.
It does not replace emergency plans, engineering, code review, insurer requirements, or manufacturer requirements.

OGC Roof CommandBuild a recurring roof-management file.Roof inspectionsEstablish a condition snapshot.Storm documentationOrganize pre- and post-storm records.Storm-response contextSee the restoration decision path.

Build the file before the storm builds it for you

Request a Pre-Storm Roof Assessment

OGC can review available roof records, accessible conditions, active concerns, and documentation needs, then define whether an inspection, repair scope, or Roof Command structure is appropriate.

Call 786-696-4829 →

Start the property readiness file

Tell us which Florida property needs a clearer pre-storm roof record.

Pre-Hurricane Commercial Roof Prep Checklist

Life safety comes first.