Finding it takes experience and the right tools: moisture meters, infrared, nuclear moisture surveys and core cuts. Our team has done this for 25+ years, and we'll give you an honest answer on what's really up there.
Cross-section of a typical insulated flat roof after hail
A shingle roof shows hail. A flat roof hides it. That's the single biggest reason flat roof claims are denied.
On single-ply roofs like TPO and PVC, hail leaves ring-shaped or star-shaped fractures in the top ply. On EPDM, forensic engineers note the cracks "can be difficult to see with the naked eye," while the insulation underneath gets dented. On built-up and modified bitumen roofs, the reinforcing felts can fracture inside the membrane with little or nothing showing on top.
An adjuster walking the roof for 30 minutes, without cutting a test sample or running a moisture survey, often can't find any of that. So the report says "no functional damage," and the claim is denied.
Some denials are fair. Many come from an inspection that never looked deep enough.
The membrane looks intact from a walk-through, so the inspection stops at the surface.
We checkTest areas across the roof, with core cuts to see the felts, cover board and insulation for ourselves.
Without moisture readings, there's no record of water getting into the roof after the storm.
We checkMoisture meter, infrared and nuclear moisture readings, mapped on a grid and backed up by core samples.
Many commercial policies exclude cosmetic damage. If fractures aren't documented, dents get called cosmetic.
We checkWhether the roof still keeps water out: fractures, open seams, crushed boards and wet layers.
Flat roofs get blamed on old age, standing water or poor upkeep, even when hail did the damage.
We checkWhether the damage is random and matches a storm, versus even, gradual aging or drainage problems.
Hail damage on flat roofs leaks slowly. When the leak finally shows up, the storm may be a year or more back.
We checkStorm dates and hail reports for your address, and how fresh the fractures and impact marks are.
A patch-and-go estimate ignores what's underneath, plus code rules and the roof's fire and wind ratings.
We checkWhether the roof can legally be repaired or re-covered, or needs to come off down to the deck.
No single test tells the whole story. We use them together, so the findings hold up when anyone asks.
| Test | What it finds | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Close visual & test areas | Fractures, split seams, dents, displaced gravel and crushed bitumen. | Takes a trained eye. Many fractures are tiny, and some only show when the membrane is flexed. |
| Moisture meter | Wet versus dry areas just below the surface. | Fast and handy for spot checks. Shows where it's wet, but not how wet. |
| Infrared thermography | Wet insulation, which holds heat longer than dry insulation after sunset. | Covers a whole roof quickly. Needs the right weather, and warm spots must be confirmed. |
| Nuclear moisture survey | Water in the roof, measured on a grid across the entire roof, several inches deep. | Works where infrared can't, including over ponded areas. Done by licensed operators. |
| Core cuts & lab testing | The actual layers: fractured felts, crushed boards and measured moisture content. | The proof that backs up every other test. Cuts are patched the same day. |
| Storm data | Hail size and date of the storm at your address. | Ties the damage to a specific event, so it can't easily be called old. |
Most building owners never know this is happening until it's expensive.
The membrane fractures and the boards underneath are crushed. Nothing leaks yet.
A quick inspection doesn't test below the surface. The claim is denied or never filed.
Rain gets through the cracks and spreads through the insulation, out of sight.
R-value drops, energy bills go up, the deck rusts and mold can start.
Now it's a full tear-off, and the insurer says the damage is old.
SkyView Restoration Group is a team of roofing experts with 25+ years of hands-on experience on commercial and flat roofs, working alongside engineers, consultants and roofing experts nationwide. We take the time to document storm damage the right way, so it can be proven to anyone who asks. And if it isn't there, we'll tell you that too.
A detailed report with photos, moisture maps and core findings. We can meet the adjuster on the roof and show exactly what we found.
We explain what we see, whether it's worth pursuing, and what to watch for after the next storm.
If the roof is sound, we'll say so. You get a Clearance Certificate to keep on file for your insurance and future storm claims.
Yes. Hail can fracture the membrane and crush the boards underneath without an immediate leak. Water often works in slowly, and leaks can take months or even years to show up.
Not always. It depends on your policy and your state. A tested, documented inspection gives the insurer new evidence to look at. Check your policy's time limits and get the roof looked at as soon as you can.
Core cuts are small samples taken in a few chosen spots. They're patched the same day and are the standard way to see what's really happening inside the roof.
Building codes don't allow a new roof over an existing roof that's water-soaked or not sound enough to support it. Wet insulation has to come out, and the new system has to meet its fire and wind ratings.
No. SkyView is not a public adjuster or law firm. We inspect, document and write the repair scope, and meet the adjuster on the construction scope. All construction is performed by licensed Approved Contractors. You may hire any licensed public adjuster or attorney, or none.
The inspection and damage report are free. If you later sign a Project Agreement, its fee and cancellation terms are at SkyViewRestore.com/terms.
