This was an insurance-driven project closed in 2025. The home is a 1990s Mediterranean Revival in Palm Beach County; the original roof was concrete tile from the developer, attached under the older RAS 118 mortar-set standard. A Category 3 storm in 2024 damaged approximately 55% of the field — measured slope by slope and documented photographically.
Under the Florida Building Code's 50% threshold, the entire roof was required to be replaced to current code. The insurance settlement covered approximately 80% of the project cost; the owner funded the difference to upgrade from the original concrete tile to clay.
The original installation
- 1992 concrete tile, Spanish S profile, single solid color
- RAS 118 mortar-set attachment, original
- Felt underlayment, original (not self-adhered)
- Original galvanized fasteners
- Roughly 6,000 square feet of roof area
By 2024, the underlayment was at end-of-life. The fasteners on inspection were heavily corroded. The 50% storm damage triggered the replacement; honestly, the roof was due for a full replacement anyway.
The new specification
- Field: Ludowici Spanish S clay tile (upgrade from concrete)
- Attachment: RAS 127 foam-set
- Underlayment: full Polyglass Polystick TU Plus
- Deck: re-nailed to current code on every slope
- Fasteners: 316 stainless throughout
- Flashings: copper at all transitions
- Hip and ridge: copper cap, replacing the original concrete
The insurance interface
The carrier's adjuster did a same-day inspection within 48 hours of the storm. We were on site within 72 hours with documented photographs and a measured-damage report. The carrier accepted our measurement; no dispute on the percentage.
The settlement covered:
- Like-kind concrete tile replacement
- New underlayment to current code
- Re-nailing of deck
- New flashings to current code
The owner funded:
- Upgrade differential from concrete to clay
- Copper accents (the originals were painted concrete ridge tile)
- Decorative ridge tile (original was plain ridge cap)
What this homeowner gained
The roof now meets 2026 code on every line item. The wind-mitigation discount on the new policy is significantly better than the original (RAS 127 plus current deck-nailing plus secondary water resistance). The home now has a 75-year roof system rather than a 30-year one.
What this homeowner spent
Out of pocket, approximately 35% of the project cost. The other 65% came from the insurance settlement.
Timeline
The most compressed of any project in this series.
- Storm hit: late September 2024
- Initial inspection and tarping: 72 hours
- Settlement agreement: 6 weeks
- Permit and order: 4 weeks
- Install: 11 weeks
- Closeout: 3 weeks
Total: roughly 6 months from storm to handover, including the insurance process.
Why this matters
Storm-driven re-roofs done correctly turn an unfortunate event into a meaningful upgrade. The owner has a better roof now than they had before the storm. The insurance discount returns the upgrade premium within a few years. The work is the kind of project that justifies the way we work — disciplined, documented, completed without drama.
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