Commercial Water Damage Roof Repair Minneapolis MN

Mapping wet insulation with infrared scanning

Infrared roof scanning uses the thermal differential between wet and dry insulation to map moisture extent across a roof surface. Wet insulation retains solar heat after sundown longer than dry insulation — an infrared camera pointed at the roof surface one to two hours after sunset shows wet areas as warm anomalies against the cooler dry insulation background. The scan produces a heat map of the entire roof surface that identifies wet insulation extent with high confidence.

We conduct infrared scans during the two-to-three-hour window after sunset when the thermal differential is greatest. Scan results are paired with core samples at anomaly locations to confirm moisture presence — infrared identifies where to look, core samples confirm what the infrared detected. Together they produce a defensible wet area map that insurance adjusters and building owners can rely on for scope development.

The Hennepin County commercial building inventory has a significant number of structures in the 20-to-40-year age range — office parks in Edina and Bloomington, light industrial buildings in Hopkins and St. Louis Park, warehouse buildings in the North Loop and Northeast Minneapolis — where chronic small leaks over multiple seasons have produced wet insulation accumulation that extends well beyond the visible surface damage. These buildings benefit most from infrared scanning because the true scope of the problem is not apparent from a surface walk.

Wet insulation removal and replacement

Wet insulation cannot be dried in place and restored to its original R-value. Once polyisocyanurate board is saturated, it must be removed and replaced. Recovering over wet insulation traps moisture in the assembly, accelerates steel deck corrosion from below, and produces continued thermal performance loss — the R-value degradation from wet polyiso is permanent. We do not scope recovers over wet insulation regardless of the cost differential.

The wet insulation removal scope identifies affected zones from the infrared and core sample data, specifies full-depth removal to deck in affected areas, and specifies replacement insulation type and R-value. For Minneapolis commercial buildings, the replacement insulation stack must Buildings that had insulation below that R-value before the water damage event may need to upgrade the full insulation stack as part of the repair, not just the wet zones.

Where steel deck shows surface rust from prolonged moisture exposure, we treat the deck surface before installing new insulation. Significant section loss in the deck flutes — found by probing and by visual inspection from below — requires structural engineer review before the new insulation is installed.

How do I know if my Minneapolis commercial roof has wet insulation I cannot see?

Three indicators: a history of interior leaks that were patched but not investigated for their moisture extent, heating and cooling costs that have increased over time without a change in building use (wet insulation reduces R-value, increasing thermal load), and visible ponding on the roof that has been present for multiple seasons. An after-sunset infrared scan is the diagnostic step — it costs substantially less than the secondary damage that wet insulation produces if left in place.

Does commercial property insurance cover wet insulation replacement?

Insurance covers water damage resulting from a covered peril — storm, wind, hail, ice. If the wet insulation resulted from an insured event, insulation replacement is part of the covered scope. If it resulted from long-term deferred maintenance, coverage is less certain. We document the damage mechanism as part of the inspection report, providing the adjuster the information needed to make a coverage determination.

Water damage assessment and repair.

• Snow Load Damage Roof Repair
• Ice Storm Damage Roof Repair
• Wind Damage Roof Repair
• Hail Damage Roof Repair
• Tornado Damage Roof Repair
• Occupied Building Reroofing
• Roof Inspections
• Industrial Roofing