Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
The flat-rate roof tarping specialist in Miami Beach, FL
Roof Tarping & Shrink Wrap for homes in Miami Beach and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
Miami Beach is a low-lying barrier island where, per the Census, the typical home dates from about 1968, and many Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival and MiMo buildings are older still, often with flat or low-slope roofs. When a storm opens one of those roofs, look for a roofing-only contractor with a license you can verify on the Florida DBPR website, proof the company is insured, and a written flat-rate quote that says what is included. Flat Rate Roofing Inc is a Florida Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC1334537) and is insured.
We cover storm- or leak-damaged roofs with blue polyethylene tarps or shrink wrap. First we look at the damage and the deck, then we fasten the cover to suit your roof type, and we take photos before and after for your records. A cover is temporary until the permanent repair is done. Our office is in Sunrise, and our state certification is valid in every Florida county, including Miami-Dade.
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and Miami Beach sits on a narrow island where wind-borne debris, storm surge and tidal flooding are real concerns. Wind can lift tile, shingles and flashing, and a fallen limb can puncture the deck. Rain can then soak decking, insulation and ceilings in a building made of concrete block and stucco. Salt-laden air and constant humidity also wear on roof edges and metal, and sun, heat and wind wear a cover down the longer it stays up. Census data shows that fewer than half of homes here are owner-occupied, and condominiums far outnumber single-family homes. Condo and HOA governance is the norm, so the first call after damage may be to your association or property manager, who may need to approve the cover and the permanent repair.
Problems to watch for in Miami Beach
Wind-lifted tile, shingles or flashing
Hurricane and tropical-storm wind can lift roofing and leave openings, and Miami Beach's low-lying island setting gives that wind little to slow it.
Punctured roof deck from fallen limbs
A fallen limb can break through the deck. Even a small hole lets water into the building until a cover goes on.
Wind-driven rain through an open roof
Near-daily summer thunderstorms across Florida can push rain into a damaged roof, soaking decking, insulation and ceilings below.
Leaks on flat and low-slope roofs
Much of Miami Beach's older stock has flat or low-slope roofs, where water can pool and find a damaged spot quickly.
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.
Covers worn down by sun and wind
Heat, sun and constant ocean wind wear on any temporary cover the longer it stays up, which is why the permanent repair should not wait.
Long waits after a widespread storm
After a storm that hits a whole region, roofers and materials can be in short supply. A temporary cover can protect the building while you wait for the permanent work.
What we do
- Look at the damage and deck firstBefore any cover goes on, we look at the damage and the deck so the cover is fastened where it will hold.
- Blue tarps done to shed waterWe secure polyethylene tarps with wood battens fastened along the edges and run them over the ridge where the roof allows, so water sheds over the cover rather than under it.
- Shrink-wrap roof coversPolyethylene film is heat-shrunk tight over the damaged section or the whole roof, leaving fewer loose edges for wind to lift. Shrink wrap is designed to last up to about a year (a typical lifespan, not a promise), longer than a standard blue tarp.
- Fastened to suit your roofWe fasten covers to suit tile, shingle, metal and flat roofs, which matters in a city with both older low-slope buildings and tile-roofed homes.
- Photos and a written flat-rate quoteYou get photos before and after for your records and insurance claim, then a written flat-rate quote for the permanent repair or re-roof that says what is included.
Licenses, permits and codes in Miami Beach
A tarp or shrink-wrap cover is a temporary measure until the permanent repair. Whether a temporary cover needs a permit is up to the Miami Beach building department, so confirm there. For the permanent work, here is the rule as we have it: "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." Licensing is overseen by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) through the Construction Industry Licensing Board. Miami Beach is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, and the rule on products reads: "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)." Those approvals apply to the permanent roofing products. On the extent of a repair: "Florida's 25% roof rule (Florida Building Code, Existing Building volume, section 706.1.1): when more than 25% of a roof or roof section is repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period, the entire roof or section has to be brought up to current code." Verify how it applies to your roof with the building department. Condo associations and historic-district rules may also affect what can be replaced and how it must look.
When to call
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and Miami Beach demand tends to rise from late spring preparation through the September–October peak. A cover can be needed in any month after a hurricane, tropical storm, severe thunderstorm or fallen tree. In winter, seasonal residents return and open up units, and that is when some roof leaks are first found. Call (954) 775-8990. The phone is answered around the clock, and the office keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You can also request a free quote with the form on this page.
We serve Miami Beach, including South Beach, South of Fifth, Mid-Beach, North Beach, Normandy Isles, the Venetian Islands, Sunset Islands, Star Island, Palm Island, Hibiscus Island, Belle Isle, La Gorce, Nautilus and Collins Park.
Roof Tarping in Miami Beach: questions we hear
- 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. Either one is temporary, and the permanent repair should follow. Sun, heat and wind wear on a cover the longer it stays up.
- Is a tarp a roof repair?
- No. A tarp or shrink wrap is a temporary cover that keeps water out until the permanent repair. We follow the cover with a written flat-rate quote for that repair or re-roof.
- Who do I call first if I own a condo unit in Miami Beach?
- Condominiums far outnumber single-family homes here, and condo and HOA governance is the norm. Contact your association or property manager, because the roof may be theirs to approve and arrange. Photograph visible damage safely from the ground and keep records.
- Do I need a permit for a roof tarp in Miami Beach?
- Whether a temporary cover needs a permit is up to the local building department, so confirm with the Miami Beach building department. The permanent repair is a separate matter, covered under the rules above.
- What should I do about my insurance after roof damage?
- Photograph the damage from the ground, keep records, and talk to your insurer or agent. We take photos before and after the cover for your records. What your policy does is between you and your insurer.
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