Ladder Up: May Edition

What a month for hail! April was only three days short of having hail on every day of the month. Had it hailed every day, it would have been a record, as there has never been a month with hail every day to date. Compared to this time last year, we are already way ahead of days when it has hailed. April of 2024 only had hail on 13 days, so about 50% less than this year.

Hail impacted more than half of the lower 48 states, stretching all the way from North Carolina to Wyoming. While most of the hail was concentrated in the Midwest region, New Mexico and South Dakota saw hail for the first time this year. The intensity of the storms were also higher than we have seen in recent months. The hail size and storm strength were consistent across the board, with most cities experiencing 1-inch hail or larger. If April is any kind of indicator for the rest of the year, I would say we are in for a very active hail season.

The most important thing you can do as a building owner or property manager is ensure your roof is ready to withstand hail damage. Check that your insurance is up to date, and if you believe your roof may need to be replaced to reduce further risk or damage, call Stellar for a free damage evaluation: 800-731-1804.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

Hurricane season is officially underway! The most important thing you can do is make sure you have taken all the proper steps to prepare. Make sure you know the threats that could impact your building, especially in terms of wind and water. If your property is in a flood-prone area, be sure that you have the proper supplies to mitigate flooding in the interior of your property. Strong winds can be harmful to your roof, so it is imperative that you check now for any damaged or loose rooftop components and trim back any low-hanging tree limbs or limbs that could potentially snap off and land on your building.

Next, be sure that you have an evacuation plan, a disaster readiness kit, confirmation of your insurance coverage and a handwritten list of emergency contacts. In your disaster kit, you’ll want to have a battery-operated radio so that you can stay up to date on the weather if the internet goes down or your phone dies. Be sure you understand the forecast information and the difference between a watch and a warning. Focusing on the impacts of the storm and not just the size or category could be crucial to your successful planning. As we saw last year with several storms, while the category may have been low, the impacts were devastating to the regions they hit.

If a storm will impact your area, get moving! Follow proper evacuation orders and be sure to help your neighbors if you are able. Before you go, be sure you know what your evacuation zone is and check with your local city or county government to see what the process is!

After the storm has passed, only return once officials have given formal clearance. It is crucial to remain vigilant, as hazards can still remain. If you see downed power lines, avoid them and call your local electric provider to report them. Mitigate any damage to your roof by having an experienced roofing contractor like Stellar install an emergency roof and help you navigate the restoration process.

For more tips, check out our hurricane preparedness checklist.

ENSURING QUALITY CONTROL AND SAFETY ON JOBSITES

We take extreme pride in the roofs that we put on buildings, and we prioritize safety to ensure industry-leading roof replacements. Our team uses a one-man, one-job structure, meaning that the superintendent you see on the first day of your project is the only superintendent you will have. This helps to create a great working relationship with our client and the crew. As scheduling allows, the client is always the first and last person we see each day, and we send them daily reports so that they have full transparency about how the job is progressing. These reports detail the percentage of the project completed, what work is scheduled for the next day and what the weather forecast looks like. Should there be any delays in work, this is also mentioned in the report. We’re also proud to have superintendents who go beyond the basics — several hold OSHA certifications, demonstrating their commitment to safety and operational excellence. Even where it’s not required, we invest in experienced leaders who know how to keep projects running smoothly and safely.

We always confirm delivery and the original order for materials. Should there be any issues with the order, our team will work diligently to make it right. Before any work is done each morning, our superintendents will discuss safety, attendance and work to be performed for the day. At Stellar, we take safety very seriously and we are committed to protecting our team as well as your employees and assets. Learn more about what goes into our HSE Program by downloading our HSE manual.

Next month, we’ll look at what roof types are best for coastal areas prone to hurricanes and dive further into the science of what makes hurricanes so powerful.

Is there something you want us to discuss? Send us a message through our contact form, and it could be featured in next month’s newsletter.