After a Storm: What to Repair First

Water intrusion first, structure second, cosmetics last. The order matters more than the speed.

After a storm the instinct is to deal with what is visible. The right order is nearly the opposite of that.

Document before you fix anything

Photograph everything, widely and in detail, before any repair or cleanup. Insurers ask, and after work has been done there is nothing left to show. Include dated wide shots showing context, not just close-ups of damage.

Keep receipts for anything you buy, including tarps and materials for temporary protection — those are frequently recoverable.

First: stop water getting in

Everything else can wait. Water entering a building compounds daily, and mould in Florida humidity establishes fast.

• Temporary covering over any roof breach.
• Board or cover broken windows and doors.
• Get standing water out and get air moving.
• Pull up saturated carpet and padding rather than trying to dry it in place — padding does not recover.

Second: find the water you cannot see

This is where storm damage becomes expensive later. Wind-driven rain gets into walls through failed seals around windows and doors, through soffits, and through any gap in the envelope. There may be no ceiling stain and still be a wet wall cavity.

Check for damp at the base of walls, soft flooring near exterior doors, and any musty smell. Those need opening up rather than waiting.

Third: structure and envelope

• Soffit and fascia damage — extremely common and a direct route for water and wildlife into the attic.
• Screen enclosure and lanai frame damage.
• Fence posts and gates.
• Exterior trim and any siding that has lifted.

Last: cosmetics

Paint, drywall finishing and anything purely visual. There is no benefit to finishing a wall before you are confident what is behind it is dry, and there is real cost to doing it twice.

Be careful who you hire

Storm chasers arrive within days. Verify licence and insurance, get scope and price in writing before work starts, and do not pay in full up front. Licensed and insured is not a slogan; it is verifiable.

Getting it done

Call (863) 633-5499 or request a free estimate and we will look at it properly.

Frequently asked questions

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