Ladder Up: December Edition

As historical data suggested, the number of days when it hailed in November drastically decreased, dropping to single digits. South-central states including Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas, saw the most hail. Texas experienced hail six of the nine hail days in November, mostly impacting the northwest part of the state.

Since 2021, only one December hail day was recorded, occurring in 2023. With the warmer weather the entire country has been experiencing, it will be interesting to see if there are multiple hail days in December this year.

The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season is officially over (although it is still being monitored)! In total, there were 18 named storms. All the tropical depressions that formed became named storms and 11 of them became hurricanes. Of those 11, five became major hurricanes. All five of those storms made landfall in the continental U.S. but only two were still major hurricanes on official landfall.

This season broke several records. It had the slowest start since 2014 in large part due to a stationary heat dome over Central America and Mexico, resulting in the first storm formed on June 19. Hurricane Beryl became the earliest hurricane on record to reach Category 5 status and the strongest June and July hurricane on record. Three weeks of inactivity, the longest in over fifty years at that point in the season, followed Beryl.

Hurricane Francine formed in early September and made landfall as a Category 2. The final week of September would bring FOUR systems beginning on September 24 with Hurricane Helene. Helene was the first major hurricane to hit the U.S. in 2024. Before Helene even became a tropical depression or storm, the NHC forecasted the system to become a major hurricane, which was the first time that had ever been done. In early October, for the first time on record, there were three storms that were all active at the same period, Hurricanes Leslie, Milton and Kirk. Milton experienced rapid intensification in the Gulf and became the second Category 5 hurricane of 2024, making it the first Atlantic hurricane season since 2019 to have multiple Category 5 storms. Milton was the second most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded over the Gulf (Rita being the first), and it was the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2024.

While the season is over, now is the time to begin your preparations for 2025. If your commercial building saw moderate impact but you are now experiencing larger issues, a new roof can help you be prepared for next year. Commercial roofs that are up to new codes and have more durable materials will help ensure that your business does not experience any downtime. Our team is highly experienced in the insurance loss industry and can help you protect your investment for years to come. Submit a contact form so we can discuss your commercial roofing needs with you and help you determine if you have an insurance claim.

For commercial building owners, a damaged or aging roof isn’t just an eyesore—it’s a financial and operational risk. While delaying a roof replacement might seem like a way to save money in the short term, the long-term costs of waiting can far outweigh the initial investment.

Small issues, like minor leaks or hail damage, often escalate over time. What starts as a manageable problem can lead to structural damage, mold growth and extensive interior damage to insulation, ceilings and even equipment. These secondary issues not only increase repair costs but also pose health risks and disrupt business operations.

Beyond mitigating damage, replacing a roof on time helps preserve the value of your property. A well-maintained roof is key in property appraisals and can make your building more attractive to potential buyers or tenants. Alternatively, an aging or damaged roof can significantly decrease your property’s value.

There’s also the potential for financial relief through your insurance provider. If hail or storm damage is the primary issue, replacing your roof through an insurance claim can reduce out-of-pocket expenses. However, delaying repairs might result in claim denial if the damage is deemed a result of neglect. Acting promptly ensures you take full advantage of your coverage.

Perhaps most importantly, replacing a roof before major issues arise prevents disruptions to your business. A sudden roof failure can force unplanned downtime, inconvenience tenants and lead to revenue loss. Proactive replacement minimizes risk, ensuring peace of mind and uninterrupted operations.

Investing in a timely roof replacement isn’t just a maintenance task—it’s a strategic move that protects your building, saves money and adds value to your property. If your roof has sustained hail damage or is showing signs of wear, don’t wait until it’s too late.

Ready to take the next step? Contact us today for a free damage assessment and custom roofing solutions.

This month, we want to spotlight one of our superintendent team leads, Mark Gonzalez. Mark began with Stellar 3 years ago as a Safety Coordinator. He was promoted to Safety Supervisor shortly after but then was transferred to our production team and has worked his way up to his current position as Superintendent Team Lead. He is responsible for listing and measuring all the materials required for our jobs to figure out the cost. Mark also coordinates the schedules of the superintendents on his team and supervises them. We asked Mark what his favorite thing about working at Stellar is and he said “My favorite thing about Stellar is the people here. Everyone here is a pleasure to work with.” We love working with you too Mark and are so grateful to have you on the Stellar team! Thank you for all that you do.