Roof inspection in Tampa, Florida

Wayne Gonzalez Roofing Contractor, Inc. inspects roofs across Tampa and Hillsborough County. We are a Florida Certified Roofing Contractor, licence CCC1325942, working out of 5625 Patterson Rd in Riverview, and we have been roofing this part of Florida for over 30 years. Call (813) 653-2279 and ask for an inspection. Estimates that come out of one are free.

Who is allowed to inspect a roof in Florida

Roofing is a licensed trade here. The state issues two things that let somebody work on your roof: a certified licence, good anywhere in Florida, and a registered licence, good only in the county that issued it. We hold the certified one.

Licence CCC1325942, Certified Roofing Contractor. Active, held since February 2004, and registered with both Hillsborough County and Pasco County contractor licensing. You can check it yourself at myfloridalicense.com by typing the number in. We would rather you did.

That matters more than it sounds. After a storm the county fills up with crews who are not licensed here, and an inspection report from an unlicensed inspector is worth nothing to an insurance adjuster.

What we actually look at

An inspection is not a walk around the yard with binoculars. On a typical single family roof we are up there for the better part of an hour, and we check:

  • Shingles and tiles. Lifted, cracked, curled, missing, or granule loss heavy enough that the mat is showing through.
  • Flashing. Around chimneys, skylights, vents and anywhere two roof planes meet. This is where most leaks actually start, not in the field of the roof.
  • Valleys. Where two slopes drain into each other and where debris collects.
  • Soffit and fascia. Rot, insect damage, separation from the wall.
  • Gutters and downspouts. Pitch, joins, and whether water is being carried away from the foundation or dumped against it.
  • Penetrations. Plumbing boots crack in this sun long before the roof around them fails. They are cheap to replace and expensive to ignore.
  • The attic, where we can get into it. Daylight through the deck, staining on the sheathing, and damp insulation. A roof can look fine from above and be leaking.

When you should have it looked at

  • After any named storm. Even one that did not feel bad. Wind damage often shows up as lifted shingles that look sealed from the ground.
  • Before you buy a house. A home inspector covers the whole property and gives the roof a few minutes. That is not the same thing.
  • Before filing an insurance claim. A written report from a licensed roofing contractor carries weight that photographs from a phone do not.
  • Every couple of years otherwise. Florida sun takes years off an asphalt roof that would last much longer somewhere cooler.
  • The moment you see a stain on a ceiling. By then water has been in the structure a while.

What you get from us

A walkthrough of what we found, in plain words, with photographs of anything we are pointing at. If it needs work, a written estimate with the scope on it, and that estimate is free. If it does not need work, we will tell you that too, and you will not hear from us again until you call.

We do not subcontract. The crew that inspects your roof is on our payroll, covered by workers compensation and general liability, which is the second thing worth asking any contractor and the one most people forget.

More on what a full inspection covers is on our Tampa roof inspection service page.

Where we go

Tampa, Riverview, Brandon, Valrico, Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Sun City Center, Wimauma, Lakeland and Bartow. We also work in Mulberry, Zephyrhills, Plant City, Thonotosassa, Wesley Chapel, Land o’ Lakes, Lutz, Carrollwood and Clearwater.

Frequently asked

Do I need to be home?

No, not for the roof itself. We do need access if you want the attic checked, and most people want the attic checked.

How long does it take?

Usually under an hour on a single storey house. A larger or steeper roof, or one with a lot of penetrations, takes longer.

Will you tell me I need a new roof when I do not?

We have been trading under the family name in this county for over 30 years, which is a poor business model for lying to people. If the roof has years left in it we will say so and tell you roughly how many.

Can you give me something for my insurance company?

Yes. A written report from a Florida Certified Roofing Contractor, with photos.

Are you licensed and insured?

Florida licence CCC1325942, active. Every employee is covered by workers compensation and general liability. We have been BBB accredited since 2008 and we are an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor.

Book an inspection

Call (813) 653-2279, Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 5:00pm. Or send the form and we will call you back.