Hurricane Roof Damage: How to File an Insurance Claim in Florida

Florida homeowners file more wind and hurricane roof claims than homeowners in any other state. If your roof was damaged by a named storm, hail, or straight-line wind, your homeowner's policy almost certainly covers the loss — but the process is full of pitfalls that can turn a valid claim into a denial or a lowball payout. Here's the step-by-step process ProCraft Renovations walks Brevard County homeowners through after every major storm.

Step 1: Document the damage immediately. Before any temporary repairs or cleanup, photograph everything. Shoot wide-angle photos of each side of the roof from the ground, then close-ups of missing shingles, lifted ridge caps, displaced tiles, debris-impact damage, and any interior water staining. Time-stamp everything. Insurance adjusters look for proof the damage was caused by the storm event you're claiming — pre-storm satellite images and your photos are the primary evidence.

Step 2: Tarp active leaks but don't make permanent repairs. Florida law requires you to mitigate further damage to your property. Tarping is mitigation — full replacement is not. Save every receipt for tarps, plywood, and emergency labor. Your insurer will reimburse these costs as part of the claim. Do not let anyone perform full roof replacement before the adjuster has inspected, or you may forfeit the claim.

Step 3: Call your insurance carrier and open the claim. Get your claim number in writing. Note the date, time, and name of the representative you spoke with. Florida has a statutory deadline to report hurricane claims (one year from the date of loss for the initial notice, with adjustments during emergency declarations), so don't delay.

Step 4: Use a licensed Florida roofing contractor. Florida law (the 2021 statute and 2023 reforms) prohibits unlicensed contractors from doing roof work over $2,500 — and your insurance carrier will not pay an unlicensed contractor. Verify any contractor's license at myfloridalicense.com before signing anything. ProCraft Renovations is Licensed Florida Roofing Contractor #CCC1335912.

Step 5: Get a written scope before the adjuster arrives. A licensed contractor can produce a line-item Xactimate-format scope of repairs documenting every damaged component. Xactimate is the pricing software most Florida carriers use, so a scope written in the same format eliminates pricing disputes. ProCraft prepares this scope at no charge as part of every storm claim.

Step 6: Meet the adjuster on-site with your contractor. This is the most important step. An adjuster who arrives without your contractor present often misses damage, misclassifies repairs, or values the loss too low. Having your roofer on the roof with the adjuster ensures every damaged component is documented and priced correctly. Most adjuster visits last 45 to 90 minutes.

Step 7: Review the claim payment carefully. The initial payment is typically Actual Cash Value (ACV) — replacement cost minus depreciation. After repairs are complete, you submit final invoices and receive the Recoverable Depreciation as a supplemental payment. If the original scope was incomplete or the pricing was below market, your contractor can request a re-inspection or supplemental claim.

Avoiding unlicensed storm chasers. After every named storm, out-of-state contractors flood Brevard County with door-to-door sales tactics. They often offer to waive your deductible (illegal in Florida), promise free roofs, or pressure you to sign Assignment of Benefits agreements that transfer your claim rights to them. Never sign anything at your door. Always verify Florida license, local business address, and insurance certificates. A legitimate roofing contractor like ProCraft will gladly come back another day.

Get help with your storm claim. ProCraft Renovations handles insurance claims end-to-end across Brevard and Indian River County. We document damage, meet adjusters on site, provide Xactimate-format scopes, and complete repairs with full warranty coverage. Free post-storm storm damage repair inspection.