Roof repair
A straight answer on whether you need a repair or a replacement, and a tarp on the roof today if water is coming in.
The short answer
Whether a repair is even permitted depends on Florida's 25 percent rule. Under Florida Building Code Existing Building §706.1.1, no more than 25 percent of a roof may be repaired or replaced in any 12-month period unless the whole system is brought to current code. Senate Bill 4-D (2022, codified at Florida Statute 553.844) narrowed that: if your roof was permitted to the 2007 code, effective 1 March 2009, or later, only the repaired portion has to meet current code. So a post-2009 roof can usually still be repaired. An older one often cannot.
What we repair
- Active leaks. Traced to the actual entry point, which is often not above the stain on your ceiling.
- Storm and wind damage. Lifted or missing shingles, slipped or cracked tile, damaged flashing and ridge.
- Flashing and penetrations. Chimneys, skylights, vents and AC curbs, which is where most leaks actually start.
- Rotten decking. Localised deck replacement where water has already got through.
- Tile underlayment. Re-underlayment with the existing tile reset, where the tile is sound and the layer beneath is not.
When we will tell you to replace instead
We would rather lose a repair job than sell you one that fails. If the underlayment has aged out across the whole roof, if the deck is soft in multiple places, or if the roof predates March 2009 and the damage runs past a quarter of a roof section, a repair is money spent twice. We will say so, show you the photographs, and quote the replacement so you can compare the two honestly.
Emergency tarping
If water is entering the house, the first job is stopping it. We tarp, then assess. Document everything with photographs before anyone touches it if you intend to file an insurance claim, and see how claims work.
What our customers say.
5.0★★★★★161 Google reviews"He was prompt, professional, and gave me an on-the-spot quote. The crew efficiently removed the old roof and installed the new one with great care, leaving everything spotless."
"Outstanding experience from start to finish. They communicated clearly throughout the process, finished on time, and left everything clean."
"SkyGuard replaced my shingle roof, including some rotten decking that was causing a leak. My roof is now in perfect condition!"
Common questions.
Should I repair or replace my roof?+
It depends on the age of the roof and how much of it is affected. If the roof was permitted after March 2009 and less than a quarter of it is damaged, a repair is usually both allowed and sensible. On an older roof, or one where the underlayment has aged out, a repair often buys a year or two and then you pay for the replacement anyway.
Can you tarp my roof today?+
Call us. Emergency tarping to stop active water entry is the first thing we do on a storm call, before any discussion of repair or replacement.
How much does a roof repair cost?+
Minor repairs are typically a few hundred dollars plus the permit, which runs roughly $75 to $200 in Broward for minor work. The honest answer is that we will not quote a repair without seeing it, because the cost is driven by what is under the surface.
My tile roof leaks but the tiles look fine. Why?+
Because on a tile roof the underlayment is the waterproofing and the tile is the shell. Underlayment ages out while the tile still looks perfect. That is the normal failure mode and it usually means a re-underlayment rather than patching tiles.
Water coming in? Call now.
Emergency tarping first, assessment second. We will tell you honestly whether this is a repair or a replacement.