Hurricane Roof-Prep Checklist for South Florida Homeowners

Updated June 2026 · From the licensed team at Duke Contractors LLC (FL License CCC1325931) · Hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30

Most hurricane roof damage in South Florida starts with something small that was visible in May: a cracked tile, a lifted shingle edge, clogged gutters, a soft fascia board. This is the exact checklist our inspectors use across Miami-Dade and Broward — print it, walk your property, and call a licensed roofer for anything you can’t safely verify from the ground. (Stay off the roof itself; binoculars and a phone camera with zoom do the job.)

Before the season (June — or today, if you haven’t)

• ☐ Walk the perimeter and photograph every roof slope from the ground — these “before” photos are your single most valuable insurance document.
• ☐ Look for cracked, slipped, or missing tiles and lifted or curling shingle edges, especially along ridges, hips, and eaves where wind gets under the covering first.
• ☐ Check flashing lines around chimneys, vents, skylights, and wall intersections for gaps, rust, or dried-out sealant.
• ☐ Clear gutters and downspouts — a clogged gutter in a tropical downpour backs water under the roof edge.
• ☐ Scan ceilings inside (closets too) for new stains — water travels, and a small stain is rarely directly under the leak.
• ☐ Trim trees back from the roofline. Branch abrasion plus 100-mph gusts is how “minor” trees take out whole roof sections.
• ☐ Strap or remove rooftop equipment — satellite dishes, solar water panels, loose vent caps.
• ☐ Find your roof’s permit history. Knowing when it was last replaced (and under which code) determines whether Florida’s 25% rule requires full replacement after damage — see our Roofing Permit & HVHZ Guide.
• ☐ Locate your insurance policy and check your hurricane deductible (it’s usually a percentage of dwelling coverage, not a flat number — many owners are surprised).
• ☐ Book a professional inspection if your roof is 10+ years old or you found anything above. A documented pre-season inspection is also your proof of pre-storm condition in a claim dispute.

When a storm is named and coming (48–72 hours out)

• ☐ Re-shoot the photo set of every slope and your ceilings — date-stamped “day before” evidence.
• ☐ Bring in or anchor anything on the roof or near it (patio furniture becomes roof shrapnel).
• ☐ Do not attempt last-minute roof repairs yourself — emergency rooms fill with ladder injuries before every storm. Tarping and emergency dry-in are contractor work.
• ☐ Save our line in your phone: (786) 468-7663 — after a storm, callback order matters.

After the storm

• ☐ Photograph everything before any cleanup — debris on the roof, water inside, fallen branches. Claims are won and lost on documentation.
• ☐ Check ceilings and attics within 24–48 hours; slow leaks show up late.
• ☐ Call a licensed local contractor for tarping/dry-in first, and verify the license at the Florida DBPR site before anyone climbs your roof.
• ☐ Beware storm chasers: out-of-state plates, door-knockers demanding you sign an AOB (assignment of benefits) on the spot, “free roof” promises, and pressure to skip permits. Every one of those is a documented scam pattern in South Florida.
• ☐ Notify your insurer promptly, and keep every receipt (tarps, emergency repairs are typically reimbursable).
• ☐ Get the permanent repair permitted — unpermitted storm repairs resurface at sale time and in the next claim.

The honest answer on “repair vs. replace” after storm damage

It depends on three things: how widespread the damage is, the age and code-generation of your existing roof, and Florida’s 25% rule (with its post-2007-code exception). We give you a documented inspection with photos and a straight recommendation — including “this is repairable, don’t let anyone sell you a full roof” when that’s the truth.

Want this done for you? We do free pre-season roof inspections across Miami-Dade and Broward, with a photo report you can keep for your insurance file. Call (786) 468-7663 or book online.