Hurricane season in South Florida runs June through November, and the material decisions that matter most are the ones made before a storm has a name. This is the checklist we walk buyers through every spring.
Check your roof's paper trail
Find your roof's permit records and product approvals now, not after a claim. If your roof was permitted in Miami-Dade, the NOA number for the roofing system is part of that record — and your insurer may ask for it.
Know your wind rating, not your neighbor's
HVHZ code requires roofing assemblies tested for the wind loads of your specific site and roof geometry, not a county-wide number. If you're re-roofing this year, ask for the tested assembly rating in writing.
Order material before the rush
Every year, the weeks after the first named storm bring allocation, backorders, and price movement. If a re-roof is in your plans, locking material in April costs less than chasing it in September — and gives your contractor schedule room before the rainy season.
Photograph everything
A dated photo set of your roof — ridges, flashings, penetrations — taken in May is the cheapest insurance documentation you'll ever produce. Claims move faster when "before" isn't a matter of memory.
After the storm
Inspect from the ground first, document before touching anything, and be wary of out-of-state contractors going door to door. Verify any contractor's Florida license with DBPR before signing an assignment of benefits.
