Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
Roof tarping trouble, quoted at a flat rate in Palmetto Bay, FL
Roof Tarping & Shrink Wrap for homes in Palmetto Bay and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
Palmetto Bay sits on Biscayne Bay, and the village took a direct hit from Hurricane Andrew in 1992, so a roof opened by wind or a fallen limb is a serious problem here. Rain that gets in can soak decking, insulation and ceilings, and heavy summer rain keeps adding to the problem. A temporary cover, either a blue tarp or shrink wrap, keeps water out until the permanent repair is done. It is not a repair.
Flat Rate Roofing does roofing only. We look at the damage and the deck first, then fit a cover to suit your tile, shingle, metal or flat roof. We take photos before and after for your records, and we give you a written flat-rate quote for the permanent repair or re-roof that says what is included. The quote is free.
Much of Palmetto Bay is single-family housing on generous lots, many of them one-story concrete block and stucco ranches built between the 1950s and 1980s, alongside post-Andrew and post-2002 rebuilds. Hurricane and tropical-storm wind can lift tile, shingles and flashing on any of them. The village's mature tree canopy also means limbs can puncture a roof deck and leaves can pile up around vents and drainage after summer storms. Salt-laden air from the bay and high humidity keep working on exposed metal and fasteners as well. A cover fitted to the roof type and the damage, then followed by a proper repair, matches what the local climate does to roofs.
Problems to watch for in Palmetto Bay
Wind-lifted tile, shingles or flashing
Hurricane and tropical-storm wind can pull roofing loose in a corridor like Palmetto Bay's. The exposed spots let rain reach the deck underneath.
Limbs through the roof deck
With so many mature trees in the village, a fallen limb can puncture the deck. A hole like that needs a cover over it right away, then a permanent fix.
Wind-driven rain inside the house
Rain pushed under an open roof can soak decking, insulation and ceilings. Stained or sagging ceilings are a sign that water is getting in.
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. A cover should shed water over the top, not under it.
Covers wearing down in sun and wind
Sun, heat and wind wear a cover down the longer it stays up. That is why a temporary cover should lead to a permanent repair, not replace one.
Waiting after a widespread storm
After a regional storm, roofers and materials are in demand across the whole area. Calling early and getting the damage documented puts you in a better position.
What we do
- Look at the damage and the deckBefore any cover goes on, we check the damaged area and the deck beneath it. That tells us what the cover has to protect and what the permanent repair will involve.
- Blue tarps done properlyBlue polyethylene tarps are secured with wood battens fastened along the edges and run over the ridge where the roof allows. That way 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. It is still temporary.
- Photos for your recordsWe take photos before and after the cover goes on for your records and your insurance claim. Keep them with your own photos of the damage.
- A written flat-rate quote for the permanent fixYou get a free, written flat-rate quote for the permanent repair or re-roof that says what is included. Rotten plywood and fascia replacement are part of that scope, and the job ends with full cleanup.
Licenses, permits and codes in Palmetto Bay
A tarp or shrink-wrap cover is temporary, and the permanent work still has to be done. For that work, Florida's rule is this: "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. Our Florida Certified Roofing Contractor license is CCC1334537, and you can check it on the DBPR website. Whether a temporary cover itself needs a permit is up to the local building department, so confirm there. The permanent repair also raises the 25% roof rule: "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." How it is applied can vary, so verify with your building department. Product approvals apply to the permanent roofing products, not to a temporary cover.
When to call
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but a roof can need a cover after a hurricane, tropical storm, severe thunderstorm or fallen tree in any month. In Palmetto Bay the pre-storm rush starts in June, and repairs surge after named storms. Winter brings a smaller bump when seasonal residents return. The phone at (954) 775-8990 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. Stay off a damaged roof, and photograph the damage from the ground and inside the house. Keep your records, and talk to your insurer or agent about your policy.
We serve Palmetto Bay and nearby areas including Old Cutler Bay, the Old Cutler Road corridor, the Deering Estate area, the Coral Reef Park area, the Franjo Road corridor, the Thalatta Estate area, Perrine, Richmond Heights, Cutler Ridge and the Howard Drive (SW 136th Street) corridor.
Roof Tarping in Palmetto Bay: 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 or re-roof is done. A cover should lead to a permanent fix, not stand in for one.
- 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. Sun, heat and wind wear on any cover, so plan the permanent repair rather than relying on the cover.
- Is Palmetto Bay in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone?
- Yes. The rule for the permanent roof is: "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."
- Does a tarp in Palmetto Bay need a permit?
- Whether a temporary cover needs a permit is up to your local building department, so confirm with them. The permanent repair or re-roof is a separate matter, covered by the rule quoted above.
- What should I do for my insurance claim after a storm?
- Photograph the damage, keep your records and talk to your insurer or agent. We take before and after photos of the cover to add to your records.
Get a free roof tarping quote in Palmetto Bay
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