Roof Consulting for Retail and Shopping Centers
A storm over a shopping center doesn't hit one roof. It hits a row of tenant spaces, dozens of rooftop units and penetrations, and often roofs of different ages and systems. Snow Consulting gives owners, managers and claim professionals an independent picture of what the storm did to the roof, written by an experienced roof consultant with over 30 years on roofs, including strip centers.
We focus on the largest facilities and large-loss scale: big single roofs, multi-building campuses and portfolios, on buildings from 10,000 square feet to multi-million-square-foot facilities.
Common roof problems
- Many roofs under one name. Older anchor buildings, newer pad sites and tenant additions often have different systems, ages and repair histories.
- Rooftop clutter. HVAC units, curbs, skylights, signage supports and conduit create the most seams and the most places for water to get in.
- Tenants feel every leak. Water over a sales floor or a restaurant kitchen turns a roof problem into a tenant problem fast.
- Long, low-slope fields. TPO, PVC, EPDM, built-up and modified bitumen roofs where hail and wind damage isn't always visible from the ground or even from a walk.
What makes retail roofs different
- Many roofs under one name. Older anchor buildings, newer pad sites and tenant additions often have different systems, ages and repair histories.
- Rooftop clutter. HVAC units, curbs, skylights, signage supports and conduit create the most seams and the most places for water to get in.
- Tenants feel every leak. Water over a sales floor or a restaurant kitchen turns a roof problem into a tenant problem fast.
- Long, low-slope fields. TPO, PVC, EPDM, built-up and modified bitumen roofs where hail and wind damage isn't always visible from the ground or even from a walk.
What we do
- Post-storm assessments of every roof area, with drone inspections and drone thermal scans to find wet insulation and water infiltration.
- Leak tracing from the stain in the tenant space back to where the water actually enters the roof.
- Repair vs. replace findings for each roof section, so one bad section doesn't decide the whole center, or the other way around.
- Remaining service life and condition reports for budgeting and acquisitions. See roof age and remaining service life.
- Appraiser and umpire work when the owner and carrier disagree on the amount of loss. Insurance appraisal
Independent on every file
We don't negotiate or settle claims for anyone, and we don't give legal or coverage opinions. We report what's on the roof.
Where we work
Retail properties of any size in Texas and Oklahoma, including all of Dallas–Fort Worth. Outside Texas and Oklahoma, large-loss assignments only.
How we help
Drone roof inspections
Aerial documentation of every roof area on the center.
Infrared moisture scans
Thermal scans to find wet insulation and water infiltration.
Portfolio roof condition surveys
Condition and remaining-life ratings by roof section.
Forensic roof consulting
Hail and wind causation, storm damage vs. wear and installation defects, failure analysis, and core cuts and moisture surveys, documented for claims and disputes.
Large-Loss Certified Appraisal and Umpire
An independent appraiser or umpire when the amount of loss is disputed.
Independent by design
Snow Consulting is engaged for the report. Our deliverable is a documented opinion on roof condition, damage, scope and cost. We don't negotiate or settle insurance claims for anyone.
Frequently asked questions
Can you inspect without disrupting tenants?
Yes. Most of our work is on the roof and from the air, and we schedule interior checks with the manager.
Can one report cover the whole center?
Yes. We document each roof area separately and pull it together into one report.
Do you look at rooftop equipment?
We document hail marks on units and soft metals because they help confirm hail size and direction. We don't evaluate the mechanical equipment itself.
We have no visible leaks. Is an assessment still worth it?
Hail damage on low-slope roofs often doesn't leak right away. A thermal scan and close inspection show what a walk-by misses.
How are fees handled?
Fees are provided per project.