The short answer
For a commercial hail claim, protect the building and operations first, document the roof and rooftop equipment with dated photos and weather data, notify your broker and insurer, and get an independent roof assessment. Large, multi-building or business-interruption claims are where a public adjuster most often adds value.
Who this is for
Owners, CFOs, facility and property managers of offices, warehouses, retail centers, multi-family buildings, schools, churches and other commercial properties.
First: protect the building and operations
Keep staff off the roof unless they have proper fall protection (OSHA: Fall protection). Get a roofer or mitigation company to make temporary repairs, and log when operations were affected. Temporary repairs before the adjuster
What to document on a low-slope roof
- Membrane punctures, fractures and seams; insulation that is wet or crushed.
- Rooftop units: dented fins, coils and housings. Skylights, vents, drains and flashing.
- Gutters, downspouts, wall panels and signs.
- Interior leaks, ceiling tiles and damaged stock or equipment.
- Weather data for the date of loss from the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
Pull roof age, warranties and maintenance and inspection records too. Full documentation checklist
Business interruption and extra expense
If the damage slowed or stopped operations, you may also have a business interruption or extra expense claim. Track lost revenue, overtime, temporary space and equipment rental from day one. Business interruption claims
Several policies and deductibles
Commercial programs can have separate wind or hail deductibles, and more than one policy may respond. Ask your broker for the full policy and every endorsement.
Government and school entities in Oklahoma
Since November 1, 2025, a public adjuster working for a governmental entity covered by Oklahoma’s Governmental Tort Claims Act may not charge more than 10% of the claim, including expenses (Oklahoma Insurance Department Bulletin 2025-07).
When a public adjuster helps
Large, multi-building or business-interruption claims are where a public adjuster most often adds value, especially when the insurer’s estimate is far below your roofer’s. If the estimate looks low · Do I need a public adjuster?. Related: what to do after a hail storm (commercial) · storm claim steps.
Sources
Last checked: October 28, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
