Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Before hiring a roofing contractor in Fort Lauderdale, FL, photograph and record the roof damage, report the claim promptly, and arrange reasonable emergency mitigation to stop additional loss. Preserve damaged materials when practical, retain every receipt, and read all work and payment documents before signing so the insurer can evaluate a well-documented claim.

Protect the property without erasing the evidence

Address immediate safety hazards first. Reasonable emergency mitigation may include temporary measures needed to keep rain from entering, but avoid unnecessary removal or permanent repair before documenting the conditions and giving the insurer an opportunity to investigate when circumstances permit.

Florida's Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights advises policyholders to make and document emergency repairs necessary to prevent further damage. It also advises keeping damaged property when feasible, retaining receipts, and taking photographs or video before and after repairs. These are recommendations in the Bill of Rights, not the source of a separate mitigation duty. Any duty to protect the property or cooperate with the claim investigation comes from the insurance policy.

Review the policy's duties after loss, managed repair provisions, and any insurer right to repair. Contact the insurer before entering a repair contract to confirm whether those provisions affect the work.

Document the roof before materials are removed

Take clear photographs and video before a contractor removes shingles, underlayment, flashing, gutters, ceiling materials, or damaged contents. Capture wide views showing the affected area and closer views showing punctures, lifted materials, staining, openings, and interior water paths. Record exterior conditions only when it is safe.

Keep a written timeline identifying when the damage was discovered, where water entered, and what temporary measures were taken. Preserve damaged materials or representative samples when practical. If something must be discarded for safety or sanitation, photograph it first and record what was removed and why.

Collect the contractor's written estimate, scope of work, measurements, invoices, receipts, change orders, photographs, and proof of payment. Separate emergency mitigation from permanent roof replacement so the insurer can see what work was performed at each stage.

Report the claim promptly and preserve proof

Report the loss directly to the insurer according to the policy. Save the claim number, submission confirmation, communications, requested documents, and the names of people who discuss the claim with you.

Under section 627.70132, Florida Statutes, a claim or reopened claim under a property insurance policy, including one issued by an eligible surplus lines insurer, is barred unless notice is given according to the policy within 1 year after the date of loss. A supplemental claim must be noticed within 18 months. Those periods are tolled during a combat-zone or combat-support deployment that materially affects a named insured servicemember's ability to file. For specified weather events, the statutory date of loss is tied to landfall or verification by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Read the roofing contract and payment forms

Confirm that the contractor is licensed to do business in Florida. Ask for proof of insurance and references, as the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights advises. Review the work description, materials, price, change-order process, payment schedule, warranties, and responsibility for permits and debris removal.

Read every work authorization, direct-pay form, direction-to-pay form, and repair contract. Do not assume a document is merely permission to begin work. Determine whether it authorizes insurer payments, gives another party control over claim proceeds, or transfers any post-loss insurance benefits or rights.

A work authorization is not an assignment unless it transfers post-loss benefits. If a document mentions insurance benefits, claim rights, direct payment, litigation, or control of proceeds, consider asking a lawyer to review it before signing. Keep a complete copy of every signed document.

Know what the insurer must do

For residential property insurers, including surplus lines insurers providing residential coverage, section 627.70131, Florida Statutes generally requires review and acknowledgment of claim communications within 7 calendar days, unless payment is made during that period or failure is caused by factors beyond the insurer's control. The acknowledgment provisions have limited application when the claimant is represented by counsel.

Unless the policy or law provides otherwise, the insurer must begin a reasonably necessary investigation within 7 days after receiving proof-of-loss statements, unless factors beyond its control prevent it. If the investigation involves a physical inspection, the insurer must conduct it within 30 days after receiving those statements. The assigned adjuster must provide a name and state license number.

If the insurer's adjuster generates a detailed estimate, the insurer must send a copy within 7 days after it is generated. The statute does not require creation of an estimate when one is not reasonably necessary to the investigation.

For residential coverage, the insurer must pay or deny an initial, reopened, or supplemental claim, or a portion of it, within 60 days after receiving notice unless failure to pay is caused by factors beyond its control. It must provide a reasonable written explanation based on the policy, facts, or applicable law. If payment is below the insurer's detailed estimate, it must explain the difference in writing.

Factors beyond the insurer's control include specified Office of Insurance Regulation orders involving a declared emergency, reportable security breach, or information technology issue. Such an order cannot extend the payment-or-denial period by more than 30 additional days. The definition also includes policyholder fraud, lack of cooperation, or intentional misrepresentation that reasonably prevents compliance.

Statutory requirements are tolled during qualifying mediation or contractual alternative dispute resolution. They may also be tolled when requested material claim information is not supplied within 10 days after receipt of the request, but only when the insurer sent the request at least 15 days before its payment-or-denial deadline. Tolling ends when the insurer receives the information.

Keep documenting while the roofer works

Photograph temporary protection and completed work. If concealed damage appears, document it before covering or removing it, notify the insurer, and request an updated itemized estimate. Continue saving invoices, material records, change orders, and communications.

Cooperate with reasonable inspection and information requests. Provide accurate information and avoid guessing about the cause, date, or extent of damage. The roofing contractor can document physical conditions and repair costs, but the insurer applies the policy when making its coverage decision.

When a claim problem warrants legal advice

Consider speaking with a property insurance lawyer if the insurer denies coverage, does not explain a partial payment, omits documented work, delays the claim beyond an applicable deadline after accounting for exceptions and tolling, or requests a release that may resolve disputed damage. Legal review may also be appropriate before signing a contractor document that affects insurance benefits or claim rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can emergency roof mitigation begin before the insurer inspects?

Reasonable measures needed to prevent additional damage may be appropriate before an inspection. Document the condition first when safe, notify the insurer, follow the policy, and preserve damaged materials when feasible. Distinguish temporary mitigation from permanent repairs that could change the available evidence.

Must I keep damaged shingles and roofing materials?

The Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights advises keeping damaged property when feasible. Preserve representative samples when practical, along with photographs showing where they came from. Safety and sanitation may make retention impractical, so document discarded material and the reason it could not be kept.

What should I request from a roofing contractor?

Request proof of Florida licensure and insurance, references, an itemized estimate, a clear scope, material specifications, payment terms, change orders, photographs, invoices, and warranties. Read any document addressing insurance proceeds or claim rights before signing it.

When should I receive the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights?

An insurer issuing a personal lines residential property policy must provide the Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights under section 627.7142, Florida Statutes within 14 days after receiving the initial claim communication. It summarizes parts of the claims process but does not contain every policyholder right or create a civil cause of action.

Talk to Louis Law Group

This article is general information, not legal advice.

If your roof claim was denied, delayed, or underpaid, or a contractor document may affect your insurance rights, contact Louis Law Group at (833) 657-4812 or see if you qualify. Louis Law Group is a law firm and does not provide roofing, restoration, or cleanup services.