Pre-loss documentation in Houston, TX
A dated record of every roof and exterior on your Houston 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 Houston
- Hail days a year
- 2.0
- 1 inch or larger
- 1.7
Average within 15 miles of the center of Houston, 2016 to 2025.
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Full hail history for HoustonStorms and buildings in Houston
On September 13, 2008, the center of Hurricane Ike moved up Galveston Bay just east of Houston.1 Hobby Airport measured a gust of 80 knots (92 mph), Ike downed numerous trees and power lines across the Houston area, and downtown streets were littered with traffic signals and glass.1 On May 16, 2024, a derecho crossed the Houston area with gusts estimated at over 100 mph, and numerous skyscraper windows downtown were blown out.2 On July 8, 2024, Hurricane Beryl passed over the western side of the Houston metro area, and Bush Intercontinental Airport measured a gust of 72 knots (83 mph).3 The NHC report cites an NCEI estimate of $7.2 billion in U.S. property damage from Beryl.3
Houston's 2021 construction codes, including the 2021 International Building Code and International Residential Code, took effect January 1, 2024.4,5 A city presentation on the adoption lists the ASCE 7-22 standard, with updated rain, wind and tornado loads, among its significant amendment changes.5 The Houston Permitting Center lists a permit, with required plan review and inspection, for a re-roof or roofing overlay on a home and for a new roof or overlay on a commercial building.6,7
Sources
- 1. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ike (AL092008)
- 2. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Harris County, May 16, 2024
- 3. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Beryl (AL022024)
- 4. City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center: Building Code Modernization Update
- 5. City of Houston, Houston Public Works: Houston Construction Code Modernization: 2021 Building Code Adoption
- 6. Houston Permitting Center: Residential Roofing Permit
- 7. Houston Permitting Center: Commercial Roofing Permit
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 Houston?
Cloudbreak. We schedule each inspection in Houston 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 Houston?
NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Houston on 2.0 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 1.7 of them with hail 1 inch or larger.
When should Houston properties be documented?
Before the months with the most hail. May, April and June have the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of Houston 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.