Guides
Sourced guides for commercial and multifamily property owners: hail sizes and roof damage, the first 48 hours after hail, storm season prep and property insurance terms.
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Why storm damage claims get reduced or denied
The policy terms that reduce or deny hail and wind claims, from wear and tear and late notice to deductibles, cosmetic exclusions and roof ACV.
7 min read · 12 sources
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac insurance requirements for multifamily loans
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily insurance rules side by side: coverage amounts, deductible caps, rent loss, flood, wind and renewal reviews.
10 min read · 5 sources
How to find insurance coverage gaps in a multifamily portfolio
Where coverage gaps sit in a multifamily property policy: wind and hail deductibles, coinsurance, margin clauses, ordinance or law, rent loss and flood.
8 min read · 14 sources
El Niño and commercial property: winter 2026 to 2027
What a strong El Niño in winter 2026 to 2027 could mean for commercial property: past floods, storms and erosion, and flood insurance limits.
6 min read · 13 sources
Hurricane season checklist for coastal commercial and apartment properties
Hurricane prep for coastal commercial and apartment buildings: surge zones, roof and opening fixes, records to keep, and NHC watch and warning lead times.
6 min read · 20 sources
Hurricane, wind and hail claim deadlines by state
Time limits after hurricane, wind or hail damage to commercial property in 19 states: reporting the claim, time to sue and insurer deadlines.
12 min read · 44 sources
How to find the wind speed at an address on a date
Find past wind speeds at an address with NOAA airport station records, storm reports, damage surveys, URMA grids and hurricane best tracks.
6 min read · 21 sources
Tornado vs. straight-line wind damage
Tornado damage converges along a narrow path and gets an EF rating; straight-line wind damage lies one way or fans out and gets a peak gust value.
7 min read · 21 sources
What wind speed damages a commercial roof?
Wind speeds where commercial roofs fail, from EF scale damage tables, ASCE 7 design wind speeds, FM roof uplift ratings and hurricane studies.
6 min read · 17 sources
Texas windstorm insurance (TWIA) for commercial property
TWIA wind and hail coverage for commercial and apartment buildings on the Texas coast: eligibility, WPI-8 rules, limits, deductibles and claim deadlines.
6 min read · 19 sources
Hurricane, named storm and wind/hail deductibles
How hurricane, named storm and wind/hail deductibles work on commercial property: what triggers each, how the percentage is figured, and worked numbers.
6 min read · 13 sources
Wind damage or wear on a commercial roof
How wind damage shows on membrane, built-up, metal and shingle commercial roofs, how it differs from age and wear, and the evidence that separates them.
6 min read · 13 sources
How to choose hail monitoring for a commercial or multifamily portfolio
Hail monitoring for commercial and multifamily portfolios compared: data, alerts, roof thresholds, history, prices and what building your own takes.
8 min read · 33 sources
Property condition report vs. pre-loss documentation
A lender's property condition report is a dated, representative snapshot under ASTM E2018. How it differs from a dated pre-loss record of the roof.
5 min read · 8 sources
How to show when hail hit a building
How engineers date hail damage: NOAA storm reports, radar hail estimates, how fresh the hail marks are and dated records of the roof before the storm.
6 min read · 20 sources
Texas hail and wind claim deadlines for commercial property
Texas time limits after hail or wind damages a commercial building: notice to the insurer, TWIA's one-year rule, suit clauses and insurer deadlines.
6 min read · 14 sources
How to look up hail history for an address
Look up past hail at an address with NOAA's Storm Events Database, SPC storm reports and radar hail estimates, and see what each record can and can't show.
6 min read · 22 sources
Cosmetic damage exclusions and hail damage to rooftop HVAC
What cosmetic damage exclusions such as ISO CP 10 36 say about hail on metal and other roofs, and what research shows about hail on rooftop HVAC units.
5 min read · 11 sources
Actual cash value vs. replacement cost on a commercial roof
How actual cash value and replacement cost settle a commercial roof claim, how roof depreciation is figured, and when held-back depreciation is paid.
7 min read · 8 sources
Roof age and commercial property insurance
How roof age shapes commercial property insurance: underwriting, actual cash value roof endorsements, wear and tear exclusions and Texas rules.
5 min read · 15 sources
Texas commercial property insurance premiums: why they rose and what owners control
Why Texas commercial property insurance premiums rose from 2019 to 2024, where prices stood in 2026, and the factors owners control at renewal.
6 min read · 17 sources
Storm season checklist for commercial and apartment properties
What to check before hail and hurricane season: roofs, rooftop units, drains, condition records, policy terms to review with a broker, plans and alerts.
7 min read · 23 sources
After a hailstorm: a 48-hour checklist for commercial and apartment properties
The first 48 hours after hail hits a commercial or apartment property: roof hazards, temporary repairs, photos, weather records and Texas claim deadlines.
7 min read · 22 sources
Hail damage or wear and tear on a commercial roof
How adjusters and engineers tell hail damage from age, foot traffic and earlier storms on commercial roofs, and what roof records and weather data show.
6 min read · 14 sources
Commercial property insurance checklist: questions for your broker before renewal
Commercial property insurance terms explained, from coinsurance to wind and hail deductibles, with questions to bring to your broker before renewal.
6 min read · 13 sources
What size hail damages a roof? Commercial roofs by type
Field and lab research on the hail size that damages TPO, PVC, EPDM, modified bitumen, built-up, metal and shingle roofs, and what hail ratings test.
7 min read · 14 sources
Hail size chart
The NWS hail size chart runs from pea (0.25 inch) to grapefruit (4.50 inches), and hail 1 inch (quarter size) or larger counts as severe.
4 min read · 14 sources