Storm Water Damage Restoration
Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton faces six months of hurricane season each year. When tropical weather pushes water through your roof, windows, or walls, Mizner Restoration Group responds immediately — extraction, drying, documentation, and direct insurance coordination from a single Boca Raton-based crew.
BOCA RATON STORM RISK
How Tropical Weather Causes Storm Water Damage to Boca Raton Properties
Boca Raton’s position on the southeast Florida coast makes it one of the most storm-exposed real estate markets in the country. June through November, the Atlantic basin generates systems that directly track toward Palm Beach County — and every storm event carries multiple water intrusion pathways.
Roof Membrane & Tile Failure
Boca Raton’s aging tile roofs (common in communities built in the 1980s–1990s along Military Trail and Jog Road) are vulnerable to tile displacement in 60+ mph sustained winds. A single displaced tile creates a direct water pathway into the attic, rafter space, and insulation below.
Storm Surge — Intracoastal & Coastal
Properties east of Federal Hwy and A1A face storm surge from both the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway. During major systems, the ICW can overtop seawalls throughout the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, Boca Harbour, and coastal condo communities. Surge water is Category 3 — full biohazard protocol required.
Wind-Driven Rain Intrusion
Even without direct storm surge, sustained 40–60 mph winds drive rain horizontally through window frame gaps, soffit vents, and sliding door tracks. This enters wall cavities where it is invisible until mold appears weeks later. Common in older condos along A1A and east Federal Hwy.
Stormwater Ponding & Flat Roofs
West Boca office parks and commercial buildings along Glades Road, Yamato Road, and Clint Moore Road frequently have TPO or modified bitumen flat roofs. A blocked drain or ponding area from 4+ inches of rain overwhelms the membrane seams and enters the structure.
Boca Raton Storm Season Calendar
Water damage risk by month — plan your preparedness accordingly.
WHAT WE DO
Storm Damage Restoration & Storm Water Damage Cleanup — Post-Event Response
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Storm Damage Questions
My roof is damaged — should I call a roofer or a water damage company first? +
Call a water damage restoration company first to stop active intrusion and document existing damage. Roofers typically cannot begin structural repairs until the storm passes and they have time, while we respond immediately. We tarp the opening, extract standing water, and start drying — which is what your insurance adjuster needs documented before reconstruction begins.
Do I need flood insurance or homeowners insurance for storm damage? +
It depends on the water source. Wind-driven rain entering through a storm-created opening (broken roof, shattered window) is covered under standard homeowners insurance. Rising water from outside — storm surge, overland flow, flooding — requires an NFIP or private flood policy. Most Boca Raton storm events involve both types, so having both policies is the right coverage strategy east of Federal Hwy.
Can I wait until after the storm passes to call? +
You must wait until it’s safe, but call us the moment conditions allow access. Florida insurance law requires prompt mitigation — insurers can reduce or deny claims if documented evidence shows the homeowner took no steps to mitigate damage after the storm passed. We respond as soon as road access opens, often within hours of a storm’s end.
What does storm surge water damage look like vs. rain intrusion? +
Storm surge enters from the bottom up — through door thresholds, garage floors, and seawall gaps. It’s salt-contaminated and classified as Category 3, requiring full demolition of all contacted porous materials. Rain intrusion enters from the top down through roof and wall openings. It starts as Category 1 (clean water) but degrades rapidly. Our moisture mapping distinguishes both pathways for insurance documentation purposes.
Real Storm Damage Jobs
Storm Damage Case Studies
Three real Boca Raton storm response jobs — what we found, what we did, and what the insurer paid.
Boca del Mar — Tropical Storm Roof Tile Loss
4BR CBS home · $41,200 Citizens claim
Scenario
A tropical storm with 65 mph gusts dislodged 18 clay roof tiles over the master bedroom and den area. Rain entered the open substrate for approximately 6 hours before the storm passed. Homeowner tarped the roof and called us the following morning.
What We Found
Moisture readings in attic insulation exceeded 90% saturation across 220 sq ft. Ceiling drywall in the master bedroom (160 sq ft) had absorbed water and showed Category 1 contamination. Attic wood sheathing measured 38% MC. Mold window: 24–48 hours from discovery.
Actions Taken
Emergency tarping secured. Saturated attic insulation removed and disposed. Ceiling drywall pulled and dried. Axial fans and desiccant dehumidifiers placed in attic space for 4-day dry cycle. Wood sheathing brought to 12% MC before roofing contractor restored tiles. Photo documentation provided Citizens adjuster with same-day aerial moisture map.
Outcome
Citizens Property Insurance approved $41,200 covering emergency tarping, attic mitigation, ceiling drywall replacement, insulation, roofing, and interior repainting. Zero mold found at post-drying inspection — the 18-hour response time was the decisive factor.
Royal Palm Yacht & CC — Storm Surge Intrusion
Waterfront condo · $67,500 NFIP + Citizens split claim
Scenario
Hurricane-category storm produced a 4-foot storm surge affecting ground-floor condos on the Intracoastal. Water entered through parking garage, lower lobby, and unit entry doors. Category 3 water (salt contaminated) saturated flooring, drywall to 24″, and all lower cabinetry in 3 units.
What We Found
Salt water contamination of all porous materials below 30″. Florida-based NFIP policies classify storm surge as a separate flood event from wind-driven rain intrusion — requiring dual insurance documentation. All affected tile, drywall, insulation, and base cabinetry required complete removal per IICRC S500 Category 3 protocol. No salvageable materials below flood line.
Actions Taken
Full Cat 3 demolition and disposal of all materials to flood line. Antimicrobial treatment of concrete substrate. Industrial drying: 14 air movers and 6 commercial dehumidifiers per unit for 72 hours. Separate moisture documentation packages prepared for NFIP adjuster and Citizens wind adjuster. Both adjusters received our aerial and in-unit photo evidence package within 6 hours of arrival.
Outcome
NFIP approved $38,200 for flood-specific damages. Citizens approved $29,300 for wind-driven rain and resulting interior damages. Total settlement: $67,500 across 3 units. Dual-claim navigation was made possible by our separate documentation packages — a critical skill for coastal Boca Raton properties.
West Boca Commercial — Wind-Driven Rain Through HVAC Penetrations
Office suite · $29,800 commercial property claim
Scenario
A commercial office suite in West Boca sustained wind-driven rain through three unsealed HVAC rooftop unit curbs during a storm with 72 mph gusts. Rain tracked down the air handler shafts and into the ceiling plenum above 2,400 sq ft of open-plan office space.
What We Found
Ceiling grid saturated across 800 sq ft. 40 ceiling tiles absorbing and redistributing water into the plenum below. Server room in building corner showed elevated moisture readings: 74% RH. Contents (office equipment, documents) affected in two private offices. Full moisture mapping documented 6 distinct water paths from roof penetrations to floor level.
Actions Taken
After-hours emergency response to protect server room first. Ceiling tiles removed, plenum dried with directed-heat air movers. Structural drying of wall framing adjacent to HVAC shafts. Contents documented for adjuster. HVAC curbs sealed by roofer we coordinated same-day. All drying completed before business reopened Monday morning.
Outcome
Commercial property insurer approved $29,800 for emergency mitigation, ceiling replacement, structural drying, and partial contents replacement. Business re-opened Monday with zero downtime lost to mold or structural failure. Server room suffered no equipment loss.
Is This Your Situation?
Storm Damage Diagnostic Questions
The storm ended 12 hours ago. My roof is tarped but the attic smells musty — do I need emergency drying now or can I wait for my adjuster?
You cannot wait. The 24–48 hour mold window starts the moment water enters your structure — not when your adjuster arrives. Florida insurance law under FS 627.70132 specifically requires prompt mitigation, and adjusters are required to account for mitigation that was reasonably needed even before their arrival. Call us now; we document everything for your adjuster and begin drying immediately. Waiting 3–5 days for an adjuster visit in Boca Raton’s climate almost guarantees secondary mold damage that complicates your claim.
My ground floor flooded from what looks like storm surge — is that covered by my homeowner policy or my flood policy?
Storm surge is categorized as flooding and is typically covered under a separate NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) or private flood policy — not your standard homeowner policy, which covers wind and wind-driven rain. If you have both policies (common and recommended in coastal Boca Raton), you may be entitled to separate claims under each: flood claim for surge-related damage, homeowner claim for wind-driven rain intrusion through the roof or openings. We prepare separate documentation packages for each insurer, which is essential for coastal property owners navigating dual claims.
My roof has no visible damage but water is getting in somewhere during heavy rain — what’s the most common hidden entry point in Boca Raton homes?
The most common hidden entry points in South Florida homes are: (1) cracked or missing tile mortar at ridgelines and hips — water wicks under tiles invisibly; (2) deteriorated HVAC curb seals around rooftop units; (3) window glazing compound failures on older impact windows; (4) stucco cracks at window corners and control joints that allow wind-driven rain to track behind the wall cladding. We use thermal imaging to identify these pathways without destructive investigation — critical for targeting your roofer’s repair scope before storm season.
A neighbor’s tree fell on my roof and rain got in. Is that covered differently than a pure storm damage claim?
Tree-fall events are typically covered under the windstorm / covered peril provisions of a standard homeowner policy, regardless of whether the tree was yours or a neighbor’s. Florida courts have generally held that neighbor liability applies only if the tree was demonstrably diseased or dead and the neighbor was notified. The important thing for your claim: the moisture intrusion that results from a tree-fall opening is documented and mitigated identically to any other storm event — we provide the same full-scope moisture report and drying documentation your adjuster needs. Don’t delay mitigation waiting to resolve the tree liability question.
Boca Raton Homeowners
What Our Clients Say
“Tropical storm came through Thursday night and dislodged tiles on my master bedroom roof. Mizner was at my house by 9 AM Friday, tarped the roof, and had drying equipment running before noon. Citizens adjuster came two days later and approved the full amount. They saved us from what could have been a massive mold situation.”
Thomas & Elaine W.
Boca del Mar • Storm Roof Damage • $41,200 Citizens claim
“Storm surge hit our ground floor condo in Royal Palm. I didn’t know I needed separate claims for flood and wind. Mizner prepared two completely separate documentation packages — one for NFIP, one for Citizens — and we ended up recovering $67,500 total. Without them I would have only filed one claim and left tens of thousands on the table.”
Patricia N.
Royal Palm Yacht & CC • Storm Surge • $67,500 dual-insurer recovery
“Storm came through on a Friday night, water entered through HVAC penetrations into our office ceiling. Mizner responded after hours, prioritized our server room, and had the whole office dried and ready to reopen by Monday. We didn’t lose a single work day. They also navigated the commercial claim perfectly — $29,800 approved without a single dispute.”
David K.
West Boca Office • Commercial Storm Response • $29,800 claim
Make the Right Call
Storm Response: Mizner vs. Your Other Options
Not all storm response is equal. Here’s how we compare on the factors that determine claim outcomes.
| Factor | Mizner Restoration | DIY Tarping Only | General Contractor | National Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Storm Response Time | ✓ 60 min — Boca-based | Immediate but no drying | 1–3 days | 4–48 hrs via dispatch |
| Moisture Mapping & Documentation | ✓ Thermal + meter mapping | ✗ None | ✗ Not their specialty | Basic documentation |
| Dual-Claim Navigation (Flood + Wind) | ✓ Separate packages for each insurer | ✗ Cannot assist | ✗ Not their role | Single-insurer focus only |
| Mold Prevention (48-hr window) | ✓ Same-day drying deployed | ✗ No drying — mold risk high | Depends on availability | Variable |
| Florida Insurance Law Compliance | ✓ FS 627.70132 mitigation docs | ✗ No documentation | ✗ Not restoration-trained | Partial compliance |
| Boca Raton Local Knowledge | ✓ Based here — knows flood zones | ✗ N/A | General South FL knowledge | ✗ Dispatched from outside area |
Storm Hit Your Boca Raton Home?
Call Mizner Restoration Group the moment it’s safe. We’re Boca Raton-based, we respond in 60 minutes, and we handle your Citizens or NFIP claim from day one.
(561) 979-050424/7 Storm Response • All Boca Raton Zip Codes • 4201 N Dixie Hwy, Boca Raton FL