Does my hurricane deductible apply to non-hurricane wind damage?+
No. The higher [hurricane deductible](/resources/glossary/hurricane-deductible/), typically 2 to 5 percent of your dwelling coverage, applies only to damage from a named hurricane, and your [named-storm deductible](/resources/glossary/named-storm-deductible/) only to a named storm as your policy defines it. Damage from an ordinary thunderstorm, tornado, or microburst is subject to your flat all-perils deductible, often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. That difference decides whether a smaller wind loss is even worth pursuing, so we confirm the deductible trigger against the actual event before anything is paid.
My insurer says my roof damage is wear and tear, not wind. How do I fight that?+
This is the most common wind-claim dispute. We rebut a [wear-and-tear defense](/resources/insurer-tactics/wear-and-tear-defense/) with National Weather Service wind data for your exact date and location, documentation of the damage pattern across your neighborhood, pre-loss condition evidence, and where needed an independent engineering analysis tying the damage to the wind event. A carrier that denies without a reasonable investigation may be committing an unfair claim settlement practice under [Fla. Stat. 626.9541](/resources/florida-statutes/626-9541-unfair-claim-settlement-practices/).
How long does my insurer have to respond to a wind damage claim?+
Under [Fla. Stat. 627.70131](/resources/florida-statutes/627-70131-claim-response-deadlines/), your insurer must acknowledge the claim within 7 days, begin investigating within 7 business days of your proof-of-loss, inspect within 30 days, and pay or deny within 60 days. If it misses the 60-day pay-or-deny deadline, statutory interest accrues on the overdue amount from the date you gave notice. We calendar every one of these dates at intake and hold the carrier to the schedule.
The carrier only paid to replace the damaged shingles, not the whole slope. Is that allowed?+
Often not. Under the [matching statute, Fla. Stat. 626.9744](/resources/florida-statutes/626-9744-matching-statute/), your insurer must repair with materials of like kind and quality, and when a reasonable match is unavailable, because the shingle is discontinued or the color run is closed, it must pay to replace a reasonably continuous area rather than patch a single section. We use this to turn a partial roof or siding patch into a properly matched replacement.
What if a wind event totals my home?+
If the dwelling is a total loss, [Fla. Stat. 627.7011](/resources/florida-statutes/627-7011-valued-policy-replacement-cost/) requires your insurer to pay the full replacement cost with no depreciation held back. On a partial wind loss, the carrier can pay actual cash value first and then release the withheld depreciation as repairs are completed. We document the full replacement cost up front so that holdback release is not left to the adjuster's discretion.
What can I do if my wind claim is underpaid or wrongly denied?+
First we re-inspect and build a documented, line-by-line estimate, then negotiate the [underpayment](/problems/claim-underpaid/) or [denial](/problems/claim-denied/) with the carrier. If that stalls, suing a property insurer requires a written notice of intent filed with the Department of Financial Services at least 10 business days beforehand under [Fla. Stat. 627.70152](/resources/florida-statutes/627-70152-pre-suit-notice/), and it must include an itemized settlement demand. We build the file to support that step and coordinate with counsel when a claim reaches it.
