Do this first
What to do right now
- Note the date and time of the storm before you forget it, and save a screenshot of the local warning or wind report. Carriers ask for the date of loss.
- Walk the property and photograph anything that moved: shingles or tile fragments in the yard, dented gutters or soffit, damaged screens, a bent vent cap.
- Look at the ceilings in every room, including closets and the garage, in good light. New hairline stains are the earliest sign.
- Go into the attic during daylight with the lights off and look for pinholes of light, damp sheathing or darkened insulation.
- Book the inspection before you file anything. Knowing what the damage actually is puts you in a much better position than filing blind.
- Ask for the report in writing with photographs organised by slope, not a single-line estimate on a business card.
What a real storm inspection covers
A useful inspection on a Jacksonville roof is not a walk-around. It should cover every slope, close-up: the condition of the sealant bond on asphalt shingles, creasing and granule loss, missing or displaced ridge and hip caps, the condition of pipe boots and flashings, valleys, drip edge and rake, and the state of the underlayment where it is visible. It should include the attic, the underside of the deck tells you more about water intrusion than the surface does, plus gutters, soffit, fascia and any siding or exterior damage from the same event. The output should be a written report with dated, organised photographs, damage identified by slope and by type, and a clear statement of what is storm-related and what is wear.
Why "free inspection" is normal here, and where to be careful
Free storm inspections are standard practice in Florida roofing and there is nothing wrong with them. The caution is about what comes attached. Be wary of an inspector who wants you to sign an assignment of benefits or a contingency contract before you have seen the report; who tells you the insurance company will definitely pay; who offers to cover, absorb or rebate your deductible, which is not legal in Florida; or who produces damage on your roof while inspecting it. Ask for the licence number and check it yourself in the state search at myfloridalicense.com. A legitimate inspector will hand you the report and let you decide.
The inspection is not insurance advice
A roofer can tell you what is wrong with your roof. A roofer is not your insurer, is not a public adjuster, and cannot tell you what your policy will pay. Two things in particular you should confirm yourself: whether the damage triggers your hurricane deductible, which in Florida is separate from the all-other-perils deductible and usually a percentage of dwelling coverage; and the current deadline for giving notice of the claim, which Florida law sets and the legislature has changed more than once. Ask your carrier or agent directly rather than trusting a number quoted on a driveway.
Worth doing even if there is no claim
If the inspection comes back clean, you have a dated baseline record of your roof condition, which is genuinely useful the next time a storm rolls through Jacksonville. It is also a good moment to ask about a wind mitigation inspection for insurance credits, and about the My Safe Florida Home programme, which has periodically funded free wind mitigation inspections and matching grants for qualifying homeowners, check the current status and funding of the programme before you plan around it.
