Florida Certified Roofing Contractor CCC 1334537
The flat-rate roof tarping specialist in West Miami, FL
Roof Tarping & Shrink Wrap for homes in West Miami and the surrounding area — from our Sunrise headquarters. Free quote.
West Miami is a city of mid-century concrete block and stucco houses, built largely in the 1940s through the 1960s, with flat, gravel or barrel/concrete tile roofs, and it sits inside Miami-Dade County's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. When a storm opens one of those roofs, look for a roofing-only contractor with a state certification you can check. Flat Rate Roofing Inc is a Florida Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC1334537, verifiable on the Florida DBPR website) and is insured. We give a written flat-rate quote that says what is included.
We put temporary covers on storm- and leak-damaged roofs: blue tarps and shrink wrap. A cover is temporary and is not a repair. It keeps water out until the permanent repair or re-roof is done. We look at the damage and the deck first, fasten the cover to suit your roof type, take photos for your records, and then write up the permanent fix. Our office is in Sunrise, in Broward County, and the estimate is free.
West Miami's tropical storm season runs June through November, and wind in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone can lift tile and flashing on older block-and-stucco homes. From May through October the wet season brings heavy, humid weather that can soak decking, insulation and ceilings through an open roof. Salt-laden air drifting inland from Biscayne Bay also adds to the wear on fasteners and metal. After a widespread storm, roofers and materials are in demand across the whole region, so a well-installed temporary cover protects the house while the permanent repair is scheduled.
Problems to watch for in West Miami
Wind-lifted tile, shingles and flashing
Hurricane and tropical-storm wind can lift or shift roofing on West Miami's 1940s–1960s homes and leave bare patches that let rain in.
Fallen limbs through the deck
A fallen limb can puncture the roof deck and leave an opening that needs a cover right away.
Wind-driven rain inside the house
During the May–October wet season, wind-driven rain entering an open roof can soak decking, insulation and ceilings.
Tarps that let water run underneath
A tarp fastened through the middle of the roof or stopped short of the ridge can let water run in under it instead of shedding over it.
Sun, heat and wind wearing the cover down
In West Miami's intense UV and heat, any temporary cover wears down the longer it stays up, which is why the permanent repair should follow.
Salt air and worn metal
Salt-laden air from Biscayne Bay can corrode fasteners and flashings, so a storm may find weak points that were already there.
What we do
- Look at the damage and the deckBefore any cover goes on, we check the damaged area and the deck so the cover is fastened where it will hold.
- Blue tarps done rightBlue polyethylene tarps are secured with wood battens along the edges and run over the ridge where the roof allows, so water sheds over the cover rather than under it.
- Shrink wrapShrink 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.
- Covers to suit your roofWe fasten covers to suit tile, shingle, metal and flat roofs, including the flat and barrel/concrete tile roofs found on many West Miami homes.
- Photos for your recordsWe take photos before and after for your records and your insurance claim.
- A written flat-rate quote for the permanent fixWe write a flat-rate quote for the permanent repair or re-roof that says what is included. It is free.
Licenses, permits and codes in West Miami
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), through the Construction Industry Licensing Board, is the state regulator. For the permanent roof repair: "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." Whether a temporary cover needs a permit is up to the local building department, so confirm with West Miami's building department before work starts. Product approvals apply to the permanent roofing products, not to the tarp or shrink wrap: "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 we handle the permanent work, permits are pulled under our own license, inspections are scheduled and passed, and the permit is closed out.
When to call
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but a cover can be needed after a hurricane, tropical storm, severe thunderstorm or fallen tree in any month. The phone at (954) 775-8990 is answered around the clock, and the Sunrise office keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You can also request a free estimate with the form on this page. After a widespread storm, roofers across the region are in demand, so call as soon as you see damage.
We serve West Miami and nearby areas including Westchester, Coral Terrace, Olympia Heights, Flagami, Glenvar Heights, Tamiami, University Park, Sunset, Westwood Lakes, Coral Gables and Sweetwater.
Roof Tarping in West Miami: 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. In West Miami's wet season, plan the permanent work rather than leaving a cover up.
- How long does shrink wrap hold up compared with a 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 the permanent repair should follow.
- Can you cover the flat and tile roofs on West Miami homes?
- Yes. Covers are fastened to suit tile, shingle, metal and flat roofs, and many homes here have flat, gravel or barrel/concrete tile roofs. We look at the deck first so the cover is fastened properly.
- What should I do about my insurance after 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 for your records.
- Do I need a permit to tarp my roof in West Miami?
- Whether a temporary cover needs a permit is up to the local building department, so confirm with West Miami's building department. The permanent repair is a separate matter, covered in the rules above.
Get a free roof tarping quote in West Miami
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