When a storm opens up your roof in Sanford, the first job is to stop the water. Home Pros Roofing and Contracting puts emergency roof tarps on homes across Sanford and the rest of Seminole County, from the historic streets near First Street and Lake Monroe to the newer subdivisions on the west side of town. We answer the phone 24/7 at 407-766-4388, we tarp the roof as soon as it is safe to work on it, and then we make the permanent repair.
This page explains what to do in the first hour, how a roof tarp should be put on, what Sanford and Seminole County require for permits, and how an emergency tarp fits into your insurance claim.
What should you do in the first hour after your roof starts leaking?
Water moves fast once it gets past the roof deck. A few simple steps protect your family and your claim:
- Stay safe first. If water is near light fixtures, outlets or the electrical panel, turn off power to that area at the breaker if you can do it from a dry spot. If a ceiling is sagging or bulging with water, keep everyone out from under it.
- Catch the water. Put buckets or totes under drips, move furniture and electronics out of the way, and lay towels down.
- Take photos and video before anything is moved or cleaned up: the ceiling, the walls, the attic if you can see it safely, and any shingles, tiles or limbs in the yard.
- Stay off the roof. A wet roof in the dark or in gusty wind is how homeowners get hurt. Leave the climbing to a licensed roofer.
- Call Home Pros at 407-766-4388, day or night, and report the damage to your insurance company.
How does a professional emergency roof tarp go on?
A tarp only works if it is fastened so the wind cannot get under it. When our crew arrives at a Sanford home, we first look at the whole roof and the attic to find where the water is really getting in, because the stain on the ceiling is often several feet from the actual opening. Then we size the tarp so it covers the damage with plenty of room to spare on every side.
- Shingle roofs: the tarp is wrapped around wood boards along its edges and the boards are fastened to the roof, and wherever we can we run the top of the tarp over the ridge so rain runs over it instead of under it.
- Tile roofs: concrete and clay tile cracks when it is walked on, so we place every step with care, set aside loose or broken tiles, and secure the tarp in a way that does not add more broken tile to the claim.
- Metal roofs: we check for panels that have lifted at the seams or edges and secure them before the tarp goes over the opening.
- Flat and low slope sections: porch roofs, carports and additions on older Sanford homes often leak at the joint with the main roof, so we cover that tie in, not just the low area.
We photograph the damage before the tarp goes on and the finished tarp afterward, and you get those photos for your claim. A tarp is temporary. Florida sun, heat and afternoon storms wear it down, so the goal is to keep the house dry while the insurer inspects and the permanent repair is scheduled.
Why do Sanford roofs take a beating in storms?
Sanford sits on the south shore of Lake Monroe, where the St. Johns River widens out, so wind comes across a lot of open water before it reaches the homes along the Sanford Riverwalk and the lakefront streets. Farther inland you have the brick streets of the historic downtown, the neighborhoods around the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the homes near Seminole State College, and the subdivisions that grew up around Orlando Sanford International Airport and the State Road 417 corridor.
That mix means very different roofs on neighboring streets. The Sanford Residential Historic District has Queen Anne, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Mediterranean Revival and frame vernacular homes, many with steep roofs, dormers, porches and old flashing that has been patched more than once. Ranch homes from the middle of the last century often have low slope porch roofs and room additions tied into the main roof. Newer homes on the west side usually have architectural shingles, with some tile and metal, and they tend to lose shingles first at the ridges, edges and corners when the wind picks up.
Recent storms show what Sanford homeowners are up against. After Hurricane Ian in 2022, the St. Johns River at Sanford reached a record crest and floodwater reached the lakefront. In October 2024, Hurricane Milton brought wind gusts of 60 to 75 mph across Seminole County, locally as high as 84 mph, with 6 to 10 inches of rain, and the county reported 554 structures affected. Even without a named storm, a Central Florida summer brings strong afternoon thunderstorms that can lift shingles and drop limbs on a roof.
Do you need a permit for an emergency roof tarp in Sanford?
Who handles roof permits depends on where the home sits. Inside Sanford city limits, the City of Sanford Building Division issues roof permits through its Citizenserve portal. Homes with a Sanford mailing address in unincorporated Seminole County are permitted by the Seminole County Building Division through Seminole County OneStop. We check the jurisdiction for every address before we pull a permit.
A tarp is a temporary measure to stop more damage, not a roof repair, but the permanent work that follows often needs a permit. The City of Sanford storm repair guidance says roof repairs covering less than 25 percent of the roof do not need a permit, and that for true emergency work the contractor has until the next business day to notify the Building Division and apply for any permit that is needed. In unincorporated Seminole County, roof repairs over 100 square feet need a permit. Both the city and the county warn that work done without a required permit may not be covered by homeowners insurance, which is one more reason to hire a licensed contractor.
If your home is a historic landmark or sits in the Downtown Commercial, Sanford Residential or Sanford Avenue historic districts, the city requires a Certificate of Appropriateness before any exterior work begins, including repairs. City rules ask that a replacement roof match the original in material, shape and color, and that shingles be architectural. We tarp first to stop the water, then help you put together what the city needs before the permanent repair starts.
How does an emergency tarp fit into your insurance claim?
Most homeowners policies expect you to take reasonable emergency measures to protect your home from more damage after a covered loss, and a roof tarp is the classic example. Citizens Property Insurance homeowners policies, for instance, pay up to the greater of $3,000 or 1 percent of your Coverage A limit for reasonable emergency measures, and spending more than that requires Citizens approval first. Other insurers have their own limits, so read your policy or ask your agent.
- Report the claim promptly. Under Florida law, a new or reopened property claim must be reported within 1 year of the date of loss, and a supplemental claim within 18 months. For hurricanes and windstorms, the date of loss is the date the storm made landfall or was verified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- Keep your rights. For policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, Florida law does not allow you to assign your post loss insurance benefits to a contractor. Be wary of anyone at the door who asks you to sign over your claim before they will put up a tarp.
- Keep every receipt and photo. Our tarp invoice and before and after photos document what was done and why.
- Watch out for deductible offers. The Florida Department of Financial Services warns that Florida law prohibits contractors from paying, waiving or rebating your insurance deductible.
Read more on our how to file a roof insurance claim in Florida page.
After the tarp: repair, replacement and insurance roof forms
Once the water is stopped, we give you an honest answer about the roof. Florida's 25 percent rule can require a whole roof section to meet current code when more than 25 percent of it is repaired or replaced within 12 months. Since 2022, roofs built or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, which took effect on March 1, 2009, are exempt. Every new roof we install is built to the current Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023).
Storm damage on an older roof often leads to insurance questions. Citizens requires a 4 point inspection on homes more than 20 years old, and for shingle roofs older than 25 years it asks for documentation that the roof has at least 5 years of useful life left. Under Florida law, an insurer cannot refuse to write or renew a homeowners policy solely because the roof is less than 15 years old. As a licensed Florida roofing contractor, Home Pros fills out insurance roof inspection forms, including Citizens' roof inspection form, when your insurer allows a roofing contractor to sign it. See our roof inspection for insurance page.
- Roof leak repair: 24/7 response, emergency tarping when it is safe, then a permanent fix.
- Roof repair: missing or lifted shingles, cracked tiles, loose metal panels, worn flashing and failed pipe boots.
- Storm damage roof repair in Sanford: inspection, photos and repairs after wind, hail and fallen limbs.
- Roof replacement: tear off, decking repair, new underlayment and flashing, with the permit and inspections handled for you.
- Free roof inspection: photos of what we find and a straight repair or replace recommendation.
We are a TAMKO Pro Certified Contractor and a CertainTeed ShingleMaster, and if a new roof is the right call, roof financing is available through Service Finance and Foundation Finance for good, fair and bad credit.
Home Pros Roofing and Contracting is a member of The Good Contractors List, an exclusive network that approves contractors only after a rigorous vetting process. Very few Florida contractors meet that standard, which is why you will find so few of them listed. Qualifying work is backed by the list's $25,000 third party workmanship guarantee, free to homeowners, so you can hire with confidence. View our Good Contractors List profile.
Why Sanford homeowners call Home Pros for emergency tarping
Home Pros Roofing and Contracting has served Central Florida since 2015 from our shop at 1935 Rafton Rd in Apopka. We are licensed in Florida as a Certified General Contractor (CGC1527172) and a Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC1332789), we answer the phone 24/7, and the same company that tarps your roof can handle the inspection, the insurance paperwork, the permit and the permanent repair. For everything else we do in the city, see our main Sanford roofing page.
Water coming through the ceiling in Sanford right now? Call us at 407-766-4388, email [email protected], or book a free roof inspection once the storm has passed.
Sanford Emergency Roof Tarp FAQs
How fast can Home Pros tarp my roof in Sanford?
Home Pros Roofing and Contracting answers 24/7 at 407-766-4388. We head out as soon as it is safe to work on the roof. During lightning or high wind nobody should be up there, so we tell you honestly when the crew can arrive and what to do inside the house until then.
Do I need a permit for an emergency roof tarp in Sanford?
A tarp is a temporary measure to stop more damage, but the permanent repair may need a permit. Inside Sanford city limits, permits come from the City of Sanford Building Division through Citizenserve. In unincorporated Seminole County, the Seminole County Building Division handles them. We confirm which one applies to your address and pull the permit when one is needed.
Will my homeowners insurance pay for an emergency roof tarp?
Most policies cover reasonable emergency measures to protect your home from more damage after a covered loss. Citizens homeowners policies, for example, pay up to the greater of $3,000 or 1 percent of your Coverage A limit for those measures unless Citizens approves more. Report the claim promptly and keep our photos and invoice.
Should I climb up and tarp the roof myself?
We do not recommend it. Wet shingles and tile are slippery, storm damaged decking can give way, and a tarp that is not fastened right can blow off and let more water in. Stay inside, catch the water, take photos and call a licensed roofer.
How long can a tarp stay on a roof in Florida?
A tarp is a short term fix, not a roof. Sun, heat and afternoon storms wear it down and can loosen it, so plan the permanent repair as soon as your insurer has seen the damage. If the wait runs long, we check that the tarp is still tight.
My home is in the Sanford historic district. Can you still tarp it?
Yes. Stopping the water comes first. Sanford requires a Certificate of Appropriateness before exterior repairs in the Sanford Residential, Downtown Commercial and Sanford Avenue historic districts, so after the tarp is on we help you put that application together before the permanent repair begins.
Can you tarp a tile or metal roof?
Yes. On tile roofs we step carefully to avoid cracking more tiles and set aside loose pieces before the tarp goes on. On metal roofs we secure any lifted panels first. Either way, we photograph the damage for your claim and then quote the permanent repair.
Sources
- City of Sanford: Storm Damage Repair information sheet
- Seminole County Building Division: Storm Damage Repair
- City of Sanford: Historic Preservation
- NOAA Storm Events Database: Hurricane Milton in Seminole County (2024)
- Section 627.70132, Florida Statutes: notice of property insurance claim
- Section 627.7152, Florida Statutes: assignment agreements
- Citizens Property Insurance: Inspections