Certified Building Contractor CBC1265305 · Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1334811
Roof Tarping & Storm Damage, repaired or rebuilt in Goulds, FL
Roof Tarping & Storm Repair for homes in Goulds and the surrounding area — permitted, inspected and closed out. Free estimate.
Goulds took the direct hit from Hurricane Andrew in 1992, so a roof opened up by storm wind here usually means two steps: a temporary cover now, then a permitted permanent repair. The cover only buys time. The repair is the part that goes through the building department: permit, in-progress inspections where the code requires them, a final inspection, and a closed permit.
Final Touch Builders handles both steps. We put on a temporary blue tarp or shrink-wrap cover, document the damage in writing, and then do the structural and interior repair under our Florida Certified Building Contractor license and the new roof under our Florida Certified Roofing Contractor license. A free quote and a written scope come before work starts.
Much of Goulds was built or rebuilt after Andrew, so concrete block walls, stucco, and tile or architectural shingle roofs are common, alongside older 1950s-70s block and frame homes. Wind can lift tile, shingles and flashing on any of them. During the May-to-October rainy season, near-daily thunderstorms can push water through an opening in the roof into decking, insulation and ceilings. Constant humidity and bay salt air also keep wet framing and drywall from drying out, which raises the risk of rot and mold if an opening stays uncovered.
Permits, inspections and close-out in Goulds
The temporary cover and the permanent repair are treated differently. Whether a tarp or shrink-wrap cover needs a permit is up to the building department, so confirm with the Miami-Dade County building department (verify which office handles your address). The permanent roof repair, re-roof and structural repairs typically need a permit, which we pull under our Florida Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC1334811) and Certified Building Contractor (CBC1265305) licenses. You can verify both on the Florida DBPR website. DBPR is the state regulator that oversees the Construction Industry Licensing Board. After the permit, inspections usually run in sequence: in-progress inspections where the code requires them (for example fastening or framing while visible), then a final inspection. Goulds is in Miami-Dade County, which is the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so permanent roofing products need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). A tarp or shrink wrap is not a code-approved or wind-rated product. After the final inspection the permit should be closed. Unpermitted or open permits can surface at sale, refinance or insurance renewal and may be cited by code enforcement. Exact inspections vary, so verify with the building department.
Problems to watch for in Goulds
Tile, shingles or flashing lifted by wind
Hurricane and tropical-storm wind can peel back roof covering and flashing, leaving the decking exposed to the daily Goulds thunderstorms.
Fallen trees and limbs
A tree or large limb can break trusses, rafters and decking. Damage like that needs a written scope, not just a cover.
Wet decking, insulation and ceilings
Wind-driven rain gets in once the roof is open and soaks the layers below. Wet framing and drywall that stay wet invite rot and mold in this humidity.
A tarp fastened through the middle of the roof
A tarp nailed through the field of the roof, or stopped short of the ridge, can let water run in under it.
A cover worn down by sun, heat and wind
Any temporary cover wears the longer it stays up. That is why the permanent repair should follow it.
Scarce contractors and materials after a wide storm
After a storm that hits a whole region, contractors and materials can be in short supply. Early documentation and a written scope help you plan the repair.
What we do
- Blue tarp coverWe fasten polyethylene tarps with wood battens along the edges and run them over the ridge where the roof allows. This is a temporary cover, not a repair.
- Shrink-wrap coverPolyethylene film is heat-shrunk tight to the roof, leaving 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.
- Photos and a written scopeWe photograph the damage before and after the cover goes on, for your records and your insurance claim. We also write up everything the storm damaged: roof covering, decking, framing, fascia, ceilings and walls.
- Permanent repair and new roofWe do the structural and interior repair under our building certification and the new roof under our roofing certification, so repairs and rebuild run under one contractor.
- Permitted, inspected, closed outWhen the work needs a permit, we pull it under our own certifications, schedule the inspections, and close the permit at the end.
When to call
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and demand in Goulds tends to rise ahead of and after it. A roof can still need a cover after a tropical storm, a severe thunderstorm or a fallen tree in any month. Call (954) 620-7812 or send the quote form on this page. We will give you a free quote and put the scope in writing before work starts.
We serve Goulds and nearby areas including Princeton, Naranja, Leisure City, South Miami Heights, West Perrine, Richmond Heights, Redland, Cutler Bay, Homestead and Florida City.
Roof Tarping in Goulds: questions we hear
- Is a tarp a roof repair?
- No. A blue tarp or shrink wrap is a temporary cover until the permanent repair is done. The permanent repair is the work that typically needs a permit and inspections.
- How long does shrink wrap last compared with a tarp?
- Shrink wrap is designed to last up to about a year, which is a typical lifespan and not a promise. That is longer than a standard blue tarp. Sun, heat and wind wear on any cover, so plan the permanent repair.
- Does a Goulds roof repair need a Miami-Dade NOA?
- Goulds is in Miami-Dade County, part of the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Permanent exterior roofing products installed there need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance. Confirm details with the building department that covers your address.
- What should I do before the cover goes on?
- Photograph the damage from the ground and keep your records. Talk to your insurer or agent about the claim. Stay off the damaged roof, since it may not be safe to walk on.
- Why does the permit matter after a Goulds storm repair?
- Many Goulds homes were rebuilt after Hurricane Andrew and may be sold or refinanced over time. An open or unpermitted job can come up at sale, refinance or insurance renewal, and code enforcement may cite it. Closing the permit after the final inspection avoids that.
Request a free roof tarping estimate in Goulds
Tell us about the project. A state-certified contractor will get back to you.
Prefer to talk?
(954) 620-7812