Question 1

What does a new roof cost in Fort Myers?

Accepted Answer

Tear-off and replacement on a typical Lee County home of about 26 squares runs roughly $12,500–$19,800 in architectural shingle, $18,200–$33,800 in tile, $18,000–$34,000 in low-slope membrane and $29,900–$48,100 in standing seam metal. Pitch, layers of old roof, deck condition and access all move a real number, which is why the written quote comes off a survey rather than a phone call.

Question 2

How long does a roof replacement take?

Accepted Answer

Most single-storey shingle roofs are two working days on site — tear-off, dry-in and re-nail on day one, covering on day two. Tile and metal run four to seven days. The waiting is in the Lee County permit before that, typically one to two weeks depending on the queue.

Question 3

My insurer says my roof is too old. Do I have to replace it?

Accepted Answer

Not always. Most Florida carriers baulk at a shingle roof over fifteen years for a new policy and over twenty-five at renewal, but many will accept an inspection report showing remaining life. We produce that report free, and we will tell you honestly if it will not hold up — chasing a renewal on a roof that is genuinely finished just delays the bill.

Question 4

Do you handle the insurance claim?

Accepted Answer

We document, we attend the adjuster's inspection and we read the estimate with you. What we do not do is negotiate the claim on your behalf — in Florida that is public adjuster work and it is licensed separately. Anyone offering to 'handle everything' and waive your deductible is describing insurance fraud, and it is a felony for both of you.

Question 5

How long after a hurricane can I file?

Accepted Answer

One year from the date the storm made landfall for a new claim, and eighteen months for a supplemental or reopened one. Those are statutory deadlines and they are not negotiable, so notify your carrier even if you are not yet sure how bad it is.

Question 6

What is a wind mitigation inspection worth?

Accepted Answer

On a lot of Lee County policies, several hundred dollars a year — sometimes over a thousand. It documents roof covering, deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections, roof geometry and secondary water barrier. Every roof we build is designed to score well on that form, and we complete it for you.

Question 7

Can you just repair it instead?

Accepted Answer

Often, and we would rather. A repair is the right answer where the covering is sound and the failure is at a penetration or a small area. It is the wrong answer when the shingles are brittle across the whole slope — you cannot lay new material into old without breaking more than you fix, and we will say so.

Question 8

Do I need to replace the whole roof if only part is damaged?

Accepted Answer

Since 2022, Florida law says no in most cases. If your roof was built to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, or is otherwise compliant, only the damaged portion has to be brought up to code rather than the entire roof. Whether repairing part of it is the right call is a separate question from whether you are allowed to.

Question 9

Metal or shingle for a coastal house?

Accepted Answer

Metal, if the budget reaches. Aluminium standing seam near the water — not steel — because salt finds steel through any coating eventually. It costs two to three times shingle and lasts twice as long, takes wind better, and is increasingly what makes a carrier comfortable.

Question 10

What warranty do I get?

Accepted Answer

Ten years on our workmanship in writing, plus the manufacturer's material warranty, which on most shingle systems is thirty years or better and can be extended where we are a certified installer. Workmanship is the one that matters — almost all roof failures are installation, not material.

Question 11

Do you tarp after a storm?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is the first thing we do. In season we run a storm list and work it by severity, prioritising anything with water actively entering the building. Tarping is also your duty under the policy to prevent further damage, and the cost is usually recoverable.

Question 12

Who pulls the permit?

Accepted Answer

We do, always. Lee County and the City of Fort Myers both require a permit for a roof replacement, the product approvals have to be submitted with it, and the work is inspected at dry-in and at completion. If a contractor asks you to pull an owner-builder permit for their work, that is a warning sign, not a favour.

Roofing in Sanibel & Captiva

What we do most in Sanibel & Captiva

Metal roofing

Full replacement

Storm response

Neighbourhoods we cover

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