Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
The flat-rate roof tarping specialist in El Portal, FL
Roof Tarping & Shrink Wrap for homes in El Portal and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
El Portal is a small, mostly residential village just west of Biscayne Boulevard, and much of its housing is older concrete-block and stucco homes from the 1920s–1950s.
We put temporary covers on damaged roofs: blue polyethylene tarps or shrink wrap. A cover is temporary. It keeps rain out until the permanent repair or re-roof is done, and it is never the repair itself. Our office is in Sunrise, in Broward County, and our state certification is valid in every Florida county, including the one El Portal is in.
El Portal's older block homes sit about a couple of miles from Biscayne Bay, and the humid, salt-influenced air wears on exposed hardware and metal. Hurricane season runs June through November, and heavy summer thunderstorms are routine here. After a storm, wind can lift tile or shingles, a limb can puncture the deck, and rain can get into an older roof quickly. A well-fastened cover buys time to schedule the permanent repair. Sun, heat and wind also wear any cover down the longer it stays up, so the permanent fix should follow as soon as it can.
Problems to watch for in El Portal
Wind lifting tile, shingles and flashing
Hurricane and tropical-storm wind can peel back roofing on El Portal's older concrete-block homes and leave the deck exposed to the next downpour.
Limbs puncturing the roof deck
A fallen limb can break through the deck and leave an opening that needs covering right away so rain does not enter.
Wind-driven rain soaking the home
Near-daily summer thunderstorms can push rain through an open roof into decking, insulation and ceilings. Florida's high humidity then keeps that moisture from drying out.
Tarps fastened the wrong way
A tarp fastened through the middle of the roof, or stopped short of the ridge, can let water run in underneath it instead of shedding over it.
Covers worn down by sun and wind
Florida sun, heat and wind age a cover the longer it stays up, which is why a cover is only a stopgap.
Heavy demand after a widespread storm
After a storm that hits a whole region, roofers and materials can be in short supply across South Florida. A temporary cover protects the home while you wait for the permanent repair.
What we do
- Look at the damage and the deck firstBefore any cover goes on, we look at the damaged area and the roof deck so the cover is fastened to something sound.
- Blue tarps secured with battensTarps are held down with wood battens fastened along the edges and run over the ridge where the roof allows, so water sheds over the cover rather than under it.
- Shrink wrap for longer coverageShrink wrap is polyethylene film heat-shrunk tight over the damaged section or the whole roof, with fewer loose edges for wind to lift. It is designed to last up to about a year (a typical lifespan, not a promise), longer than a standard blue tarp.
- Photos for your recordsWe take photos before and after the cover goes on, so you have them for your own records and for your insurance claim.
- A written flat-rate quote for the permanent repairWe give you a free estimate and a written flat-rate quote for the permanent repair or re-roof that says what is included. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement are in the scope, and we do a full cleanup.
Licenses, permits and codes in El Portal
For the permanent repair or re-roof, here is the rule as it applies in Florida: "Roofing work in Florida legally requires a licensed roofing contractor and generally a permit from the local building department; a contractor's license is verified on the Florida DBPR website." The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), through the Construction Industry Licensing Board, is the regulator. Whether a temporary cover needs a permit is up to the local building department, so confirm there before work starts. Product approvals apply to the permanent roofing products: "Miami-Dade and Broward are Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Roofing products used there need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) for that use; elsewhere in Florida they need a Florida Product Approval (or local approval). Either way the product is installed per its approval."
When to call
Florida's hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and El Portal's heavy summer thunderstorms add to the risk. A tarp or shrink-wrap cover can be needed after a hurricane, tropical storm, severe thunderstorm or fallen tree in any month. The phone is answered around the clock at (954) 775-8990, and the office keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You can also request a free estimate with the form on this page.
We serve El Portal and nearby areas including Miami Shores, Biscayne Park, North Miami, Little Haiti, the Upper Eastside, the MiMo Historic District, Morningside, Shorecrest and Belle Meade.
Roof Tarping in El Portal: questions we hear
- Is a tarp or shrink wrap a roof repair?
- No. Both are temporary covers that keep water out until the permanent repair is made. With hurricane season running June 1 to November 30, the cover is a stopgap, and the permanent repair or re-roof is what restores the roof.
- How long does shrink wrap last compared with a blue tarp?
- Shrink wrap is designed to last up to about a year (a typical lifespan, not a promise), longer than a standard blue tarp. Florida sun, heat and wind wear on any cover, so plan the permanent repair rather than relying on the cover.
- Do I need a permit to put a temporary cover on my El Portal home?
- Whether a temporary cover needs a permit is up to the local building department, so confirm with them. The permanent repair or re-roof is a separate matter, and the license and permit sentence under the rules section above applies to it.
- What should I do about insurance when my older block home has storm damage?
- Photograph the damage from the ground, keep records, and talk to your insurer or agent. We take before and after photos of the cover as well, which you can add to your records.
- What should I look for in a roof tarping company in El Portal?
- Look for a roofing-only company that is insured, holds a Florida roofing license you can verify on the Florida DBPR website, and provides a written quote for the permanent repair. Our license is Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1334537, and the number can be checked on that website.
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