Pre-loss documentation in Dallas, TX
A dated record of every roof and exterior on your Dallas commercial and multifamily properties, in photos, drone video and written notes, made before the next storm.
We schedule each inspection with a certified inspection partner and check the package before it goes into your record.
Hail in Dallas
- Hail days a year
- 5.4
- 1 inch or larger
- 4.7
Average within 15 miles of the center of Dallas, 2016 to 2025.
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Full hail history for DallasStorms and buildings in Dallas
On June 13, 2012, two supercells crossed Dallas County with hail up to 3 inches across, and in many areas the hail lasted at least 30 minutes.1 NOAA's Storm Events Database says the storms caused over a billion dollars in hail damage in the county. Tens of thousands of cars were damaged, windows were shattered and roofs were damaged.1 In the Lakewood area, baseball-size hail left holes in some roofs.1 On October 20, 2019, an EF-3 tornado tracked about 15.8 miles from northwest Dallas to Richardson, with peak winds of 140 mph and a path up to three-quarters of a mile wide.2 NWS survey teams found roof damage to commercial buildings, churches, offices and apartment complexes along the path, and windows were blown out at office buildings.2 NOAA's Storm Events Database lists $1.55 billion in property damage from this tornado.2
Dallas has used the 2021 International Building Code and 2021 International Residential Code, with local amendments, since May 12, 2023.3 The city requires a re-roof permit to replace large areas of a roof or an entire roof, and a building permit when storm damage reaches roof joists or rafters.4
Sources
- 1. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Dallas County, June 13, 2012
- 2. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Tornado, Dallas County, October 20, 2019
- 3. City of Dallas Development Services: Current City Code
- 4. City of Dallas Development Services: Storm Damage Repair Information
What the record covers
The roof, section by section
Covering or membrane type and condition, seams, flashing, edges, parapets, penetrations, drains, rooftop equipment, and any repairs or patches, each in close-up and in a wider shot for context.
Every elevation
Wide views of each side of every building, so any photo can be placed on the property.
Drone photos and video
Views from several directions, each roof area and elevation, a perimeter video of the layout, and slower video of anything worth a closer look. Flown where law, weather and airspace allow.
Exterior equipment
Gutters, windows, HVAC and rooftop units, siding, fences, carports and solar panels: at least 10 close-up and 10 wider photos of each one present.
Written observations
For each item: where it is, what it is, its condition and size, and the photos that show it. Areas that couldn't be reached are listed with the reason.
Drainage, openings and outdoor structures
Downspouts, scuppers, drains and where they discharge; glazing, screens, doors, louvers and seals; condensers, vents and equipment screens; balconies, decks, patios, pergolas and detached structures.
The inspector's own roof report
The partner's normal roof inspection report, the same kind it gives its commercial customers, alongside our checklist record.
An exception list
Every area that couldn't be reached, every missing view, and any safety, weather or airspace limit, so gaps are on paper, not discovered later.
Original files
Full resolution, with timestamps and metadata intact. Nothing is compressed, edited or drawn over; marked-up copies come in addition to the originals.
In your portal
The report sits on each property's page in the Cloudbreak app, next to your policies.
How it works
01
Scope
We confirm the buildings, access, known hazards and the on-site contact for each property.
02
Inspect
A certified inspection partner works through our capture checklist on the roof, around each building and by drone.
03
Check
We review the package for missing views before it goes into your record. Anything that couldn't be captured is listed with the reason.
04
Walk through
We go over the findings with you on a call.
Questions
Who does pre-loss inspections for apartment complexes and commercial properties in Dallas?
Cloudbreak. We schedule each inspection in Dallas with a certified inspection partner, who works through our capture checklist on the roof, around each building and by drone. We check every package for missing views before it goes into your record.
How often does it hail in Dallas?
NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Dallas on 5.4 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 4.7 of them with hail 1 inch or larger.
When should Dallas properties be documented?
Before the months with the most hail. April, May and March have the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of Dallas since 2010, in that order. A record made before then shows each building's condition going into the season.
What does the record cover?
Every roof section, every elevation, rooftop and exterior equipment, drone photos and video, and written notes on each item, in original files with their timestamps intact.
Pre-loss documentation in other Texas cities
Why Cloudbreak exists
We come from the commercial restoration side of the business, where we saw how insurance claims are really won and lost.
Cloudbreak puts that expertise on the owner’s side, with direct access to the people responsible, not a ticket queue.
No upfront cost. Policy reviews are free for any owner.