Post-hurricane roof inspection in Florida: what a licensed contractor checks.
Summary
Definition: A post-hurricane roof inspection is a formal assessment by a licensed Florida contractor (CBC, CGC, or CRC under FL Stat. §489.103) that documents all storm-related roof damage before any repair work begins. The inspection covers six primary areas: roof deck, ridge and valley details, soffit and fascia, flashing at penetrations, gutters and drip edge, and attic structural framing. Florida's windstorm claim deadline is 5 years from the date of loss (FL Stat. §627.70132), but prompt notice is required by most policies within days.
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Why it matters
Three reasons to inspect before anything else.
Insurance documentation
Your insurer requires contemporaneous documentation of all damage. An inspection report from a licensed contractor, created before any demolition or repair, is the strongest possible evidence for your claim. Adjusters who arrive after cleanup can — and do — dispute damage that was not photographed in the post-storm state.
Mitigation duty
Florida homeowner's policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a storm. Failure to mitigate — leaving an exposed opening uncovered — can give the insurer grounds to deny added water damage that occurs after the event. The inspection establishes the pre-mitigation baseline.
Hidden structural damage
Hurricane-force winds create uplift loads that can partially separate roof framing without displacing any shingles. A visual check from the ground misses this entirely. A licensed contractor with attic access and, where appropriate, thermal imaging equipment identifies damage that becomes a total loss in the next storm.
Inspection scope
Six areas a licensed contractor inspects.
A comprehensive post-hurricane roof inspection covers these six areas in order from the most structurally critical to the most commonly overlooked. Each area has a distinct failure mode and a distinct insurance documentation requirement.
Roof decking and sheathing
The inspector checks for delamination, punctures, and fastener withdrawal from the deck. In high-wind events, sheathing panels can separate from trusses even when the roof covering appears intact. Thermal imaging often reveals delamination invisible from the surface.
Ridge, hip, and valley details
Ridge caps, hip shingles, and valley metal are the highest-pressure zones in a hurricane. The inspector checks for lifting, displacement, cracked tabs, and exposed underlayment. Standing seam on metal roofs is checked for panel separation at clip attachments.
Soffit and fascia
Soffits fail early in high-wind events and are frequently underestimated in post-storm assessments. The inspector checks for delamination, detached panels, and broken vent screens. Open soffit panels create a wind-scoop effect that can lift the entire roof assembly from the inside.
Flashing at penetrations and walls
Step flashing, pipe boots, skylight curbs, and chimney saddles are inspected for displacement, tearing, and caulk failure. Flashing failure accounts for a disproportionate share of interior water damage because the entry point is remote from the visible wet area.
Gutters, downspouts, and drip edge
Drip edge separation from the fascia, gutter detachment, and downspout disconnection are noted. Drip edge protects the fascia board from wicking — a common source of wood rot that insurance does not cover as storm damage.
Attic and structural framing
Where accessible, the inspector views the attic to check truss plate connections, blocking, and any visible rafter or purlin displacement. Hurricane clips (required in Florida under FBC R802.11.1) are verified at each rafter-to-top-plate connection.
What happens next
From inspection to permitted repair.
Step 1 — Document (within 24–48 hours)
The contractor photographs every damaged area before any emergency tarping or cleanup. Photo documentation is timestamped and geolocated. This contemporaneous record is the foundation of your insurance claim.
Step 2 — Scope and estimate
The contractor produces a written scope of work that categorizes damage as: emergency mitigation (immediately reimbursable), insurable repair (submitted to the insurer), and code-upgrade repair (required under FL Building Code for permits, may or may not be insurable depending on your policy).
Step 3 — Emergency tarping or boarding
Open roof sections are tarped or boarded as emergency mitigation. Florida homeowner policies require this — it is not optional. Keep every receipt: emergency mitigation costs are reimbursable under most policies. The contractor should provide a signed mitigation invoice.
Step 4 — Permitted permanent repair
Structural repairs require a building permit from the county building department. Only a licensed Florida contractor may pull the permit (FL Stat. §489.103). In Miami-Dade and Broward HVHZ, all roofing work requires a permit regardless of scope. The inspection report becomes part of the permit package.
FAQ
Post-hurricane roof inspection — common questions.
Can a Florida homeowner inspect their own roof after a hurricane?
You can perform a visual inspection from the ground or from a ladder to identify obvious damage and document it for your insurer. However, a licensed Florida contractor (CBC, CGC, or CRC under FL Stat. §489.103) must perform the formal inspection before any permitted repair work begins. Your insurance adjuster's inspection is separate from the contractor's — the contractor provides the scope of work, the adjuster provides the claim value. The two should be compared; underpayments are common after large-scale storm events.
Does my homeowner's insurance pay for a post-hurricane roof inspection?
The cost of a licensed contractor's inspection is typically billed as part of the repair scope and is reimbursed through your property insurance claim. If no damage is found, most insurers do not separately reimburse inspection fees — verify with your carrier before scheduling. Florida's insurance claim deadline for windstorm damage is 5 years from the date of loss under FL Stat. §627.70132, but prompt notice is required by most policies within days of the event.
What permits are required for post-hurricane roof repairs in Florida?
Any structural repair — replacement of decking, trusses, or more than 25% of the roof covering — requires a building permit from the county. Partial shingle replacement (under 25%) is typically a non-permit repair, but county rules vary. Miami-Dade and Broward Counties (the HVHZ) require building permits for all roofing work regardless of scope. Only a licensed Florida contractor may pull the permit and supervise the work.
How long do I have to get my roof repaired after hurricane damage?
Florida law does not set a statutory deadline for completing repairs, but your insurance policy likely requires 'prompt notice' of damage (typically 24–72 hours) and 'reasonable mitigation' of further damage (tarp an exposed opening, prevent further water intrusion). Failure to mitigate can give the insurer grounds to deny added damage that occurs after the storm. Emergency tarping should happen within 24–48 hours of the storm passing.
What if my roof was already old before the hurricane — does insurance still cover it?
Florida law limits insurers' ability to deny windstorm claims solely based on roof age, but policies often include Actual Cash Value (ACV) endorsements for roofs over a certain age that reduce the payout by the depreciation amount. If your policy includes an ACV endorsement for the roof, the claim payment will be less than full replacement cost. Review your declarations page with your agent before hurricane season — not after a loss.
Related guides
More Florida hurricane construction resources.
Storm damage? Get a licensed Florida contractor on-site today.
24-hour response. Written inspection report. Insurance documentation included. Licensed CBC/CGC/CRC with permit authority.
Request your inspectionLast updated: 2026-09-21. Florida Building Code and insurance claim deadlines change each legislative session — verify current rules with a Florida-licensed contractor and attorney before relying on any specific timeline for action.