March 2026 · 5 min read

Houston Storm Season: How to Prepare Your Commercial Roof

Houston's storm season runs roughly June through November, but if you've lived here long enough, you know April hailstorms and March windstorms are just as real. Preparing your commercial roof before the heavy weather hits is the cheapest insurance you'll buy all year.

Start with drains. Every internal drain, scupper, and gutter on your roof should be completely clear of debris before storm season. A single clogged drain during a 3-inch-per-hour Houston downpour turns your roof into a swimming pool. That ponding load can exceed the structural capacity of the deck. We've seen roofs sag permanently from a single storm event where the drains were blocked.

Check your edge metal and coping caps. Wind uplift starts at the edges and corners of a roof. If the edge metal is loose, corroded, or has gaps, that's where wind gets under the membrane and starts peeling it back. A $200 edge repair before the storm prevents a $20,000 membrane replacement after it.

Inspect all rooftop equipment. HVAC units, exhaust fans, satellite dishes, signage. Each one penetrates the membrane and has flashings that can fail. Make sure nothing is loose that could become a projectile in high winds. Secure any rooftop items that aren't permanently mounted.

Know your emergency plan. Have your roofer's number saved, not buried in a file drawer. Identify your building's most vulnerable points (typically edges, corners, and areas around older equipment) so you can communicate quickly if damage occurs. Keep a tarp kit on-site for temporary weatherproofing.

After any significant storm event, get a professional inspection within 48 hours. Hail damage on a commercial membrane often isn't visible from the ground. Small impacts that bruise the membrane without puncturing it can fail weeks later when UV exposure breaks down the weakened material. Document everything for insurance before you make any repairs.