Bigfoot Roofing in Miami-Dade: What Local Homeowners Should Know

The Problem

Miami-Dade Roofing Is Not a Routine Trade

Hiring the wrong contractor here costs more than a bad roof — it can cost your insurance policy.

Most South Florida homeowners searching for a roofing contractor already know the basics: get three quotes, check the license. But Miami-Dade and Broward sit inside the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) — a code designation that makes local roofing inspections, product approvals, and installation requirements stricter than almost anywhere else in the United States.

A shingle system approved for Orlando is not automatically approved for Miami-Dade. A nail pattern that passes in Broward may fail inspection here. And Citizens Insurance is actively non-renewing homes with roofs 20–25 years or older. The stakes are real, and the margin for error is thin.

This article covers what Miami-Dade homeowners should know specifically about how Bigfoot Windows & Roofing approaches roofing work in this market — what licenses are held, what materials are used, what warranties are available, and who this company is not the right fit for.

Local Context

Why HVHZ Changes Everything About Your Roof

Miami-Dade County and Broward County are the only two counties in Florida designated as HVHZ. Every roofing product installed here must carry a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) — a separate product approval layer on top of the Florida Statewide Product Approval (FL#). Not every manufacturer obtains an NOA; not every contractor knows the difference.

The practical impact on homeowners:

• Product selection narrows. Only NOA-approved shingles, tiles, and metal panels may be legally installed. Substituting an unapproved product fails inspection and triggers a complete redo.
• Nail patterns and fastener schedules are stricter. The HVHZ wind uplift requirements govern how many fasteners are used, where, and at what spacing.
• Secondary water barriers are code-required. Peel-and-stick underlayment covering the full deck now qualifies under the 2024 Florida Building Code; 30-lb felt does not qualify as a secondary barrier and will not earn the wind mitigation credit.
• Permits are mandatory. No permit = no inspection = no wind mitigation report = no insurance benefit and a potential lien on your sale.

Bigfoot Windows & Roofing operates from Miami, FL 33155 and pulls permits in Miami-Dade County regularly. If you want to verify any license before hiring, the Florida DBPR lookup at myfloridalicense.com is the official source.

What You Need to Know

Roofing Materials, Costs, and Warranties in South Florida

Here is a plain-English breakdown of the four main roofing categories Bigfoot installs in Miami-Dade, with honest cost ranges and what drives each range.

Cost per square = per 100 sq ft installed, including tear-off, permit, and underlayment. Actual quotes vary by roof size, pitch, existing deck condition, and code-required accessories.

GAF Shingle: What Silver Plus Certification Means for You

Bigfoot holds GAF Silver Plus certification. This matters because it unlocks the System Plus warranty: 50-year non-prorated coverage on shingles, labor, tear-off, and accessories. The Wind Proven feature carries no maximum mph limit and is not voided by a named storm making landfall in your county — a meaningful difference from competitor warranties typically capped at 130 mph or voided on named storms.

Important clarification: Bigfoot is not yet GAF Master Elite. The Golden Pledge warranty, which requires Master Elite status, is not currently available. If a sales rep promises a Golden Pledge, that is inaccurate — ask for it in writing.

Metal Roofing: Englert Standing Seam

For standing seam metal, Bigfoot uses Englert panels fabricated with 24-gauge C4 steel and a multi-coat proprietary paint system. Panels run one continuous piece from ridge to eave — no horizontal seams that can fail under wind-driven rain. The clip system uses Englert-stamped clips at the correct spacing to allow thermal float. Knockoff clips have caused full inspection failures in Miami-Dade; the stamped clip requirement is non-negotiable on permitted work here.

Florida SB 293 prohibits HOAs from blocking metal roofing installation — if your HOA has told you otherwise, that restriction is legally unenforceable.

Comparison

GAF Shingle vs. Standing Seam Metal: Which Makes More Sense for Miami-Dade?

When shingles are the better fit: If you plan to sell within five to seven years and the existing deck is in good condition, a GAF shingle replacement with System Plus warranty makes financial sense. The upfront savings are real, and the warranty transfers to a buyer.

When metal is the better fit: If you intend to stay in the home long-term and want the lowest lifetime cost per year of coverage — and maximum wind mitigation benefit — standing seam metal typically delivers better value over a 20-plus-year horizon in South Florida’s heat and storm environment.

Scope & Services

What Bigfoot Roofing Covers — and Why the GC License Matters

Roofing in South Florida often reveals structural issues that a roofing-only contractor cannot legally address. Rotted rafters, damaged trusses, missing hurricane straps — these are structural repairs that require a general contractor license, not just a roofing license.

Because Bigfoot holds both a Certified Roofing Contractor license (CCC1333168) and a Certified General Contractor license (CGC1531370), structural scope — including hurricane strap installation, deck replacement, and code-driven structural repairs — can be handled under a single contract without subcontracting the work to a separate GC. That means one permit, one point of accountability, and no gaps between trades arguing over whose scope a problem belongs to.

This is not a marketing claim about better outcomes — it is a structural fact about license authority. For homeowners whose roofs reveal structural damage during tear-off, it eliminates a logistical problem that otherwise requires finding and coordinating a second licensed contractor mid-project.

For impact window and impact door work, the Glass & Glazing Specialty license (SCC131153098) covers that scope in-house as well. Many homeowners pair a full roof replacement with window upgrades in a single project to maximize wind mitigation inspection results and minimize permitting cycles.

The Process

How a Roofing Project Works in Miami-Dade

1. Estimate and material selection. A field visit confirms roof size, pitch, deck condition, and current underlayment. Material options, NOA compliance, and warranty tiers are reviewed before any number is quoted.
2. Permit application. Bigfoot pulls the permit with Miami-Dade Building Department before any tear-off begins. No permit means no inspection, which means no wind mitigation report and no insurance benefit.
3. Tear-off and deck inspection. Once the old material is removed, the deck is inspected. If structural issues appear — rotted sheathing, missing hurricane straps — this is when they are addressed under the GC license before new underlayment goes down.
4. Underlayment and installation. Full-deck peel-and-stick underlayment is installed first. This is the secondary water barrier required for the wind mitigation secondary barrier credit under the 2024 Florida Building Code.
5. Final inspection and wind mitigation report. The inspector closes the permit. A licensed inspector then issues a wind mitigation report, which you submit to your insurance carrier to request a premium review.

If you are considering financing your roofing project, PACE financing is available through the property tax bill — no credit score impact, no prepayment penalty. Rates are approximately 9.49%; a $15,000 project at 20 years runs approximately $173/month. Always consult your CPA regarding any potential tax implications.

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Who We’re Not the Right Fit For

• Homeowners needing the absolute lowest bid. Bigfoot is not a volume-discount operation. We pull permits, use NOA-approved products, and carry four licenses. That overhead is real. If the lowest number on the page is your only criterion, another contractor will likely beat our price — and we are fine with that.
• Commercial or large multifamily projects. Our primary focus is residential single-family and small multifamily in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Large commercial flat roofing projects with complex project management requirements are outside our normal scope.
• Homeowners wanting work done without a permit. We will not install a roof without pulling a permit in Miami-Dade. A no-permit roof cannot receive a wind mitigation inspection, cannot support an insurance claim, and creates a title problem when you sell. We are not the right fit if this is what you are looking for.
• Homeowners outside South Florida. We serve Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. We do not operate statewide and cannot serve the Jacksonville, Central Florida, or Panhandle markets.