Is Your South Florida Home Ready for Hurricane Season? A Contractor's Checklist
- Steve Goolsby
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
Hurricane season runs June through November, and if you live in South Florida, you already know how fast things can go from a tropical watch to a direct hit. Most homeowners think about stocking water and batteries. But what a licensed contractor is looking at is completely different — and honestly, it matters a lot more for protecting your home and your investment.
At SPS Group Construction, we've been working on homes in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties since 2002. Here's what we actually check when a homeowner asks if their house is ready.
1. Your Windows and Doors Are Your First Line of Defense
This is the big one. If your home still has single-pane or non-impact windows and doors, a serious storm can compromise your entire envelope — meaning once a window fails, your roof is at much greater risk of coming off due to pressure changes inside the house.
Impact-rated windows and doors with Low E glass are the standard in South Florida now, and for good reason. They're rated to handle wind-borne debris and keep your home sealed during a storm. If you haven't upgraded, this is the highest-priority item on the list.
What to check: Open and close every exterior door and window. Look for gaps in the frame, failed seals, or hardware that doesn't latch properly. If you have accordion shutters or panel shutters, make sure every panel and bolt is accounted for and that the hardware isn't corroded.
2. Your Roof Needs a Pre-Season Look
Roofing issues don't always announce themselves. A missing nail here, a lifted shingle there — none of it is visible from the ground, but in a Category 2 or higher, those small vulnerabilities become big problems fast.
If your roof is more than 10 years old or you haven't had it inspected recently, get eyes on it before the season picks up. We always recommend a licensed roofing contractor for this, not just a general inspection.
What to check: From the ground, look for lifted, curled, or missing shingles. Check the soffits and fascia for rot or gaps. Inside your attic, look for water stains or daylight coming through — either one is a red flag.
3. Check Your Exterior for Stucco Cracks and Water Entry Points
South Florida homes deal with heat, humidity, and storm cycles year-round. Over time, stucco develops hairline cracks that seem cosmetic but can allow water intrusion during a heavy storm. Once water gets behind stucco and into your wall system, you're dealing with mold, rot, and structural damage.
Walk the perimeter of your home before hurricane season and look at the stucco closely, especially around windows, door frames, and where different materials meet. Caulking around windows and doors also dries out and fails over time.
What to check: Look for cracks wider than a hairline, areas where stucco is bubbling or soft to the touch, and any gaps in caulking around penetrations and window frames.
4. Your Garage Door Is a Bigger Vulnerability Than You Think
Garage doors are one of the most common failure points during a hurricane. An older single-skin garage door that isn't hurricane rated can bow inward from wind pressure and fail, which again creates an opening in your home's envelope.
If your garage door isn't rated for South Florida wind loads, it needs to be. Many homeowners added a horizontal brace kit as a temporary solution, but if the door itself isn't rated, that's only a partial fix.
What to check: Look for the wind load rating sticker on your garage door. If it's not there or you're not sure, call the manufacturer with the model number. Also check the weatherstripping around the door for gaps.
5. Drainage and Grading Around Your Foundation
Standing water after a storm is normal in South Florida. Water that pools against your foundation is not. Over time, poor drainage erodes soil, allows water into your slab, and creates moisture issues that can compromise your home structurally.
Before hurricane season, walk around your home after a heavy rain and watch where the water goes. It should be moving away from the house, not sitting against it.
What to check: Look for low spots where water collects near the foundation. Check that downspouts are extended away from the house (at least 6 feet). Make sure any French drains or area drains on the property are clear of debris.
6. Don't Forget the Inside
Hurricane prep isn't just exterior. Interior water intrusion from a compromised roof or window can do serious damage fast. A few things to have on your radar inside:
Know where your main water shutoff is
Check under sinks and around toilets for any slow leaks that a storm surge or backup could make worse
If you have a generator, make sure it's properly grounded and vented -- carbon monoxide from improper generator use is one of the leading causes of storm-related deaths in Florida
When to Call a Contractor
Some of this checklist is DIY-friendly. Other items -- stucco repair, window replacement, roofing work, drainage corrections -- need a licensed contractor. In Florida, unlicensed repair work can void your homeowner's insurance and create problems when you sell.
SPS Group Construction is a licensed general contractor (CGC 1537778) serving Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties. If you want a professional set of eyes on your home before the season gets busy, we're happy to take a look.
Get a free estimate at spsgroupconstruction.com or call us at 954-404-4717.
SPS Group Construction has been serving South Florida homeowners since 2002. We specialize in residential remodeling, additions, and new construction.
Comments