Contact Us

Address:
22 W Monument Avenue, Suite 31
Kissimmee, FL 34741

We’re not just good neighbors. We’re a “GREAT” neighbor. Heart of Florida Roofing appreciates all our clients in Central Florida and surrounding areas. We have been recognized as one the best and most trusted roofing contractor Kissimmee FL, Orlando and Central Florida area. 

Why Choose Heart of Florida Roofing?

You deserve “The Best”!

Local, family-owned and operated according to the Golden Rule 

Our team operates with the highest level of integrity and honesty; we will ensure you are receiving an accurate assessment of your property and quoted at a fair price. We are your neighbors as a Roofing Contractor Kissimmee FL, Orlando, and the surrounding areas of central Florida

The “Goldilocks/Just Right” choice for the best quality, service & value.

Our business avoids the bloated overhead and high pricing of the “mega-contractors”, while ensuring your property receives the quality and protection it deserves. We do not cut corners on materials, workmanship, insurance or other aspects like the smaller “Chuck and a Truck” contractors using these risky and illegal shortcuts to sell on the lowest price – but at your expense.

Do I really need a completely new roof?

Here are most important and basic factors that determine replace versus repair

The age of the roof. If your roof is over 13 years for 3 tab shingles or over 18 years for architectural shingles, consider replacing.

If you have had more than 3 leaks and/or repairs, consider replacing.

If you have shingles missing or damaged in several areas, consider replacing.

Our Policy – We will never attempt to “sell” you on a replacement if a repair is all you need.

My home was damaged in a hurricane. What should I do to verify the roofing contractor Kissimmee FL knocking on my door can be trusted?

Storm Event? 

Contractor Verification Steps

Property owners must be aware of the risks, and also the steps necessary to help verify that a particular contractor will be an honest and valuable partner in their post-storm recovery efforts.

Step 1. Verify the contractor is authorized to perform roofing services in the State of Florida

Engaging contractually and/or providing payment to unauthorized/unlicensed contractors can severely impact your legal recourse options in various nightmare scenarios, such as “I paid the contractor thousands of dollars in a deposit, and I never heard or saw him again!” Verify the contractor has a valid FL Roofing license by entering the contractor’s information into the State of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) search at  www2.myfloridalicense.com

Step 2. Verify the contractor has the necessary insurance to protect you and your property

Note: Do NOT accept a workers compensation exemption document! That is often shown/used by smaller companies, sometimes termed as “Chuck and a Truck”. This document exempts him as the owner, but does not cover the crew while they are on your property!!

Verify the contractor has active workers compensation insurance by entering the contractor’s information into the State of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) search at dwcdataportal.fldfs.com/ProofOfCoverage.aspx

Step 3. Is the contractor operating legally and ethically? 

Statutes require contractors to notify clients of their rights and to operate within certain parameters:

Property owners have 10 days to cancel without penalty Governor’s Executive Order #24-208

Contractor work agreement must specify the service and dollar amount. 

“Waiving the deductible” is illegal (a.k.a. insurance fraud). FLORIDA STATUTE 489.147

Step 4. Check the contractor’s online reviews. Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google, Yelp, Facebook,…etc. Do they have a reputation for good work and honoring warranties?

BONUS: Some of the best contractors provide free upgrades (material, warranties) as possible. Ask yours! Some contractors claim they can only legally re-install “like for like”. This is not always true; often they have the option of providing an upgrade at no charge to the client or their insurance.

How Much Will A Roof Replacement Cost?

The easiest way to get a precise cost is to request a free, no-obligation roof estimate from a trusted roofing contractor Kissimmee FL like Heart of Florida Roofing.

Roughly speaking, most shingle roofs will be $5 – $7 per sq ft. Metal has a wider variation based upon panel type, but a general range would be $7 – $12 per sq ft. Tile is usually going to be $10 – $12 per sq ft.

How is the roof replacement cost determined?

Cost of your new roof is made up of several elements

Materials     +      Labor        +      Overhead       +      Profit    

Not only shingles but also underlayment, flashing and wood for repairs.

Materials make up 40% to 55% of the total cost and can vary widely depending on quality and style/color.

Labor rates for qualified tradesmen are fairly consistent across our area.

Be wary of anyone telling you their labor costs are much lower; they are probably using unqualified and uninsured workers. 

These are all the other expenses of a roofing contractor, including advertising insurance, licensing, equipment, vehicles and salaried personnel. 

This is what we hope to clear on each job after all included expenses.

Our Policy is to keep overhead low & provide detailed estimates including a fair and reasonable profit.

I live in Kissimmee FL and am looking for a trustworthy roofing contractor – how do I select the right partner for my property?

Remember Goldilocks? Find the contractor that’s just right for you.

“Chuck and a Truck” – Too small. If he gives you a low bid that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Poor workmanship and no insurance are common ways to cut corners, and leave you holding the bag. 

Mega Contractor – Too big.  Their bloated overhead usually means a higher price to you. May or may not offer great service, but where will you fit in to their priority list of massive commercial clients and numerous projects? Will you have the owner’s cell phone number?

“This one is too small”…Be very wary of the low-bid. 

Also be wary of multiple low bids. You may have several uninsured contractors bidding the project. 

Today, insurance to protect the workers and your property is a significant cost of a construction project. 

For example, Worker’s Compensation premiums are typically no less than 20% on top of the worker’s wage, and can go as high as 100%, depending upon the type of work. 

The contractor working without insurance saves between 10% and 20% of his labor cost by operating without insurance, but he puts you at great risk. 

The contractor working without insurance (aka “Chuck and a truck”) generally has no assets and nothing to lose, so you as the owner are totally exposed to any losses. A professional contractor will readily provide you with a Certificate of Insurance and phone numbers you can call for verification

Low bid contractors will often not have the processes or people in place to support your project or service your future/potential warranty concerns

Studies on construction projects clearly show that most dissatisfaction involves the low-bid contractor.

Low-Cost Bidder…often involves massive risks to you and your property

Broken warranties, bad service, terrible workmanship, employee injury on your property without insurance…

Free Upgrades As Legally Allowed – We want you to have a great roof and offer many free upgrades as appropriate (e.g. from 3 tab to architectural. From #15 felt paper to synthetic underlayment). 

Be cautious… Many contractors do the bare minimum on materials. 

Local, Local, Local! – We live and operate in Central FL. We are the best reviewed and most trusted roofing contractor Kissimmee FL

Be cautious – Out of state contractors will almost never honor workmanship warranty; almost never conduct on-site quality checks of project work

Partnership – We utilize the same Xactimate software as insurance companies. We meet the insurance reps at your property to help ensure they understand the damage to your roof and the items in your quote. 

What are the main components of a roof?

Roofing 101 – Roof System

Underlayments – underlayment products are the final line of defense between the home and the elements. Underlayment products help block water from the roof deck and out of the home to prevent rot, mold, and water damage.

Ice & Water Barriers – designed to protect the roof where water tends to collect; including valleys, vents, chimneys and skylights

Starter Shingles – their continuous sealant bead helps defend against blow-offs and water infiltration in vulnerable areas and edges of the roof.

Shingles – shingles not only serve as the first layer of defense against the forces of nature, they also help define the character of the home.

Hip & Ridge Shingles – provide a finished look to the roof’s peak while helping to defend the ridge vent.

How do I get a contractor to bid my work?

Some owners are confused when contractors are not overeager to bid the work. If contractors believe you are not ready to buy the work, or you are just a price shopper, they may feel that you are not worth their time. Here is how you can get them to bid. 

Tell the contractor you are getting only three bids. You are not looking for ten. 

Tell the contractor you are not looking for the lowest bid, but the best value for your dollar. 

If you were referred to the contractor or you saw his work and liked it, make sure to mention that. 

Tell the contractor all involved parties will attend a meeting and will set aside adequate time to discuss details so the contractor is confident everyone is in alignment, and he/she will be able to achieve 100% Client Satisfaction.

How do I avoid and resolve disputes with a contractor?

Construction work is not an exact science. The contractor and the project are exposed to numerous uncontrollable conditions such as unforeseen weather delays, material delays, working projects expanding in scope and impacting the schedules of pending projects, manpower problems, ect. Any one of these conditions or a combination of them can trigger a dispute. 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A DISPUTE WITH A CONTRACTOR:

Independent studies of contractor/consumer disputes indicate that most disputes are caused by: 

1) Communication Problems 

2) Unrealized Expectations

3) Unforeseen additional costs

And not actual contractor negligence (wherein the contractor would be 100% responsible) or product failure. 

Because you perceive the situation to be in dispute, do not allow that thinking to erode the initial trust and confidence you had in the contractor’s negligence. What initially appears as a contractor may not be. 

Communication & Unrealized Expectations 

A contractor is negligent if he fails to perform the work as specified in the contract. The contract is the Critical Deciding Factor for resolving disputes. In order to avoid communication problems, or unrealized expectations, protect yourself by making sure the contract clearly specifies your expectations.

Unforeseen Additional Costs 

A contractor is negligent if the work in dispute could be installed by another contractor without additional cost. However, a contractor cannot bid or include in the specification’s unforeseen conditions. “What you can’t see you can’t bid.” If unforeseen conditions are anticipated, if possible, have anticipated fixed cost or formula for calculating additional cost included within the contract so you are prepared for the unexpected and you avoid the feeling of being taken advantage of by the contractor when the work is in progress. You may also wish to negotiate into the contract the “option” to use a different contractor for the additional work phase. If possible, try to avoid engaging another contractor because it triggers “split responsibility” and could cause problems with project coordination, project performance and damage liability. 

A contractor is negligent if there is damage to the owners’ property that would not normally occur with another contractor. If there is damage and it would have happened regardless of the contractor, then that damage is considered an unforeseen or unavoidable condition, not contractor negligence, and would be repaired as a Change Order. In many cases, this additional work would be covered under your homeowner’s insurance. 

STEP ONE

Stay cool! Evaluate the situation from both the owner and contractor’s position. You need to look at the situation from both sides, because if the dispute is arbitrated or litigated, that is what the outside party will do. 

STEP TWO

Establish positive ground with the contractor. Discuss what is right about the project so that the dispute can be put into its proper perspective and that it does not overshadow the entire project. “You can get more with honey than vinegar.” 

STEP THREE

Discuss the Owner/Contractor Relationship and how a mutually agreeable resolution would be beneficial for both parties. A Satisfied Owner pays his invoice in a timely manner, writes letters of satisfaction, and refers his/her preferred contractor to others. A Satisfied Contractor goes the “extra mile” for his customers and remains in business to provide service after sales. Also recognize that contracting is highly competitive business and contractors work on extremely thin margins. That is why most contracting businesses fail.

If there are unanticipated extraordinary costs in a project, a contractor would normally “absorb” the additional unexpected cost rather than risk a dispute triggering a dissatisfied customer. However, if the contractor is requesting more money, it is safe to assume he has no room for absorption in his initial contract price. 

STEP FOUR

In some cases, the roofing contractor Kissimmee FL may perceive that the owner is “not picking” or triggering the dispute to avoid payment. The best way to eliminate the concern from the dispute settlement is to establish an escrow account with a mutually agreeable third party. Thereafter, the escrow is released to the contractor upon resolution of the dispute as outlined in a mutually agreeable “Settlement Agreement.” 

STEP FIVE

Reexamine initial negotiations and contract discussions with the new data that is triggering the dispute. Is it possible that if both parties knew in advance that the dispute would occur that the contract would be different? If so, the owner is not damaged by the dispute. The dispute is then an unforeseen condition and should be handled as Change Order to the initial contract. STEP SIX. . . Reduce the dispute resolution to writing. In many cases the dispute becomes a Change Order to the initial contract so that the completed work meets the owner’s expectations. In some cases, neither party takes action. It is critical that the “ no-action” resolution is reduced to writing so that each party is in clear alignment with the resolution.