How do I choose a roofer in Orlando?

After a named storm, Orlando streets fill with roofing trucks, some with out-of-state plates. Seven checks sort the local, licensed crews from the rest. Each one ties to a public record or a Florida law, and you can run most of them online.

How do I check a roofer's license in Florida?

Go to MyFloridaLicense.com, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) license portal. You can search by name, license number, city or county, or license type.

Check three things:

1. The license is active. Not expired, suspended or delinquent.
2. The name matches the company on your estimate and contract.
3. The license type fits the job. Florida defines a roofing contractor as one whose services are unlimited in the roofing trade (Chapter 489, Part I, Florida Statutes).

Florida has two kinds of contractor licenses. A certified contractor holds a state certificate and can work anywhere in Florida. A registered contractor can work only in the local jurisdiction where it qualified. Ours is a certified roofing license, CCC1326792.

What insurance should a roofer carry?

Florida requires contractors to attest to workers' compensation coverage, or an exemption, and to public liability and property damage insurance when they get or renew a license. Ask for current certificates for both. If an uninsured worker gets hurt on your property, it may not be clear who pays.

Who should pull the roofing permit?

Your roofer should. Reroofs in Orlando and unincorporated Orange County need a permit and inspections (City of Orlando residential roof permit page, Orange County permit guide). If a contractor suggests skipping the permit, or asks you to pull it as an owner-builder, walk away. As an owner-builder you take on the legal responsibility for the work. See roof permits in Orlando and Orange County.

What are the red flags of a storm chaser?

Storm chasers follow the forecast cone. After a hurricane passes through Central Florida, watch for:

• No local address or a brand-new company name
• Pressure to sign today
• A license that does not match the name on the truck
• An offer to "handle everything" with your insurance company

Florida law spells out several things a contractor may not do.

• Offer anything of value for a claim. No cash, gift cards or deductible waivers in exchange for an inspection or a claim.
• Act as your adjuster. No reading your policy or negotiating your claim without a public adjuster license.
• Pay or accept referral fees for property insurance work.
• Give you a repair agreement without a good-faith, itemized estimate.

Each violation can cost a contractor up to $10,000. Our guide to roofers, deductibles and claims covers the full list and the contract notices.

What changed with assignment of benefits in 2023?

An assignment of benefits (AOB) contract signs your insurance claim rights over to a contractor. It was a common storm-chaser tool.

Florida shut that door for newer policies. On a home policy written January 1, 2023 or later, a post-loss assignment is void and cannot be enforced (section 627.7152, Florida Statutes). If a contractor hands you a document that assigns your benefits, do not sign it. You keep control of your claim. More on claims in what to do after roof storm damage.

How much of a deposit is normal?

There is no legal maximum, so the real test is what happens after you pay. A roofer who takes more than a tenth of the price up front owes you a permit application within 30 days and a start within 90 days of the permit. Our roofer deposit guide explains the exceptions and the penalties. Pay by check or card, never cash, and keep the receipt.

What should the contract include?

• Company name, address and license number
• Scope of work, materials and colors
• Who pulls the permit
• Price, payment schedule and deposit terms
• Start and expected completion timing
• Warranty terms in writing
• The Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund notice, required when labor and materials exceed $2,500

How do I compare estimates?

Compare scope as well as price. A low bid that leaves out deck re-nailing, a secondary water barrier, new flashing or permit fees will grow once those items go back in. Ask every bidder to list those items. Our Florida Building Code roof requirements guide explains which ones the code requires, and our Orlando roof replacement cost guide shows typical prices.

Why Assure-U?

We have roofed Central Florida since 2004, hold certified roofing license CCC1326792, are rated A+ by the BBB and install Owens Corning shingle systems. Our crews are in-house, and inspections are free. Book a free roof inspection or read about our roof replacement service.