Temporary Repairs and Insurance Claims: What You Need to Know
A tree falls through your roof during a thunderstorm. Water is pouring into your living room. Do you wait for the insurance company to send an adjuster — which could take days or weeks — or do you fix it now?
You fix it now. Not only is this common sense, it is actually required by your insurance policy. Every standard Florida homeowners insurance policy includes a duty to mitigate — you must take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a covered loss.
But here is where it gets complicated: if you make temporary repairs without proper documentation, you might not get reimbursed. If you make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects, you might compromise your claim. And if you do nothing, the insurer can deny coverage for any additional damage that results from your inaction.
At Greater Claims Consulting & Appraisal Inc., Reginald Amedee and our team of licensed public insurance adjusters guide South Florida homeowners through this critical early phase of the claims process. Here is everything you need to know about temporary repairs and your insurance claim.
The Duty to Mitigate: Your Legal Obligation
Your homeowners insurance policy is a two-way contract. The insurer agrees to pay for covered losses, and you agree to certain obligations — including the duty to protect your property from further damage.
Standard policy language typically states:
“In case of a loss to covered property, you must see that reasonable steps are taken to protect the property from further damage or loss.”
This means that after a covered event damages your home, you are required to:
- Take immediate action to prevent the damage from getting worse
- Use reasonable methods and materials
- Act promptly — delays can result in denied coverage for additional damage
What “reasonable” means in practice:
- Tarping a damaged roof to prevent rain intrusion: reasonable
- Shutting off water to a burst pipe: reasonable
- Hiring a plumber to cap a broken pipe: reasonable
- Completely replumbing your house before the insurer inspects: not reasonable (this is a permanent repair, not a temporary one)
Temporary Repairs vs. Permanent Repairs
Understanding the distinction is critical for your claim:
Temporary Repairs
- Purpose: Prevent further damage
- Duration: Short-term, until permanent repairs can be made
- Scope: Minimum necessary to stabilize the situation
- Timing: Immediate — do not wait for the insurer
- Insurance treatment: Reimbursable as a separate line item, on top of permanent repair costs
Examples:
- Placing a tarp over a roof hole
- Boarding up broken windows
- Shutting off water to a burst pipe
- Extracting standing water
- Running fans or dehumidifiers to prevent mold
- Patching a leaking pipe with a temporary fix
- Covering exposed wiring to prevent electrical hazards
Permanent Repairs
- Purpose: Restore property to pre-loss condition
- Duration: Long-term or indefinite
- Scope: Full repair or replacement
- Timing: After the insurer has inspected and assessed the damage
- Insurance treatment: Covered under the claim settlement
Examples:
- Replacing a damaged roof
- Installing new windows
- Replumbing damaged pipes
- Rebuilding walls and ceilings
- Replacing flooring
The Critical Rule
Make temporary repairs immediately. Do not make permanent repairs until the insurer has inspected the damage (unless your public adjuster advises otherwise based on specific circumstances).
Why? The insurer needs to see the damage to assess your claim. If you replace the roof before they arrive, they have no way to verify the extent of the damage. This can lead to disputes about the scope and cost of your claim.
How to Document Temporary Repairs
Documentation is everything. Follow these steps for every temporary repair:
Before the Repair
- Photograph the damage from multiple angles — wide shots and close-ups
- Video the damage, narrating what you see and the conditions (rain still falling, water still flowing, etc.)
- Note the date and time of the damage and the documentation
- Photograph surrounding areas to show the extent of the affected zone
During the Repair
- Photograph the repair in progress — this shows what was done and why
- Keep all receipts for materials (tarps, plywood, tape, caulk, pumps, fans)
- Get written invoices from any contractors or service providers
- Note the names and license numbers of any professionals you hire
After the Repair
- Photograph the completed temporary repair — the tarp on the roof, the boarded windows, the capped pipe
- Create a written summary of what was done, when, by whom, and at what cost
- Preserve replaced materials when possible — damaged pipe sections, broken window glass, removed shingles
Common Temporary Repairs and Their Costs
| Repair | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Roof tarp (standard blue tarp) | $200 - $500 | DIY; professional installation $500-$2,000 |
| Roof tarp (shrink-wrap) | $1,000 - $4,000 | More durable, professional installation |
| Window board-up | $75 - $200 per window | Plywood and fasteners |
| Water extraction | $500 - $3,000 | Depends on volume and area |
| Dehumidification | $500 - $2,000 | Equipment rental for 3-5 days |
| Pipe capping/patching | $150 - $500 | Licensed plumber recommended |
| Electrical disconnect | $100 - $300 | Licensed electrician recommended |
| Debris removal (safety hazard) | $200 - $1,000 | Immediate hazards only |
All of these costs are reimbursable as part of your insurance claim, provided they are documented and reasonable.
What the Insurance Company Might Dispute
”The repair was not necessary”
The insurer might argue that the damage did not require temporary repair — that it was minor or did not pose a risk of further damage. Your pre-repair documentation disproves this by showing exactly what the conditions were.
”The cost was unreasonable”
After major storms, emergency service prices spike. The insurer may argue that you should have waited for a cheaper option. Counter this by documenting the urgency (active water intrusion, security risk) and the lack of available alternatives.
”You made permanent repairs, not temporary ones”
If your “temporary” repair looks too permanent — for example, you replaced the roof rather than tarping it — the insurer may argue that you made permanent repairs before they could inspect. This is why the distinction between temporary and permanent is so important.
”The additional damage happened before you acted”
The insurer might claim that the additional damage (water damage from a roof breach, for example) occurred before you could reasonably act, and therefore is part of the covered loss. Alternatively, they might argue it happened because you waited too long. Timestamped photos resolve this.
Temporary Repairs After Florida Hurricanes
Hurricane season creates unique temporary repair challenges in South Florida:
Contractor availability: After a major hurricane, every roofer, plumber, and restoration company in the region is booked solid. Wait times for temporary repairs can stretch from hours to weeks. Document your attempts to find available contractors — this protects you if the insurer argues you should have acted faster.
Material shortages: Plywood, tarps, and other materials may be scarce after a major storm. Buy what you can, when you can, and keep receipts.
Multiple rounds of damage: Florida’s hurricane season runs six months. A temporary repair from one storm may fail during a subsequent storm. Document each event separately and report each to your insurer.
FEMA blue tarps: After federally declared disasters, the Army Corps of Engineers may offer free blue tarp installation through Operation Blue Roof. This is a temporary repair that does not affect your insurance claim — you can still file for permanent roof repair.
The Mold Factor
In South Florida’s humid climate, mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours of water intrusion. Temporary repairs that prevent continued water entry and emergency drying (extraction, dehumidification) are critical to preventing mold growth.
If mold develops because you delayed temporary repairs, the insurer may argue that the mold damage was avoidable and deny coverage for it. Conversely, if you made timely temporary repairs and documented them, any mold that develops despite your efforts is much harder for the insurer to exclude.
Key temporary measures to prevent mold:
- Tarp or cover all openings immediately
- Extract standing water as soon as possible
- Run dehumidifiers and fans in affected areas
- Remove wet materials that cannot be dried quickly (wet drywall, carpet padding)
- Open windows for ventilation if weather permits
How Greater Claims Consulting Handles Temporary Repairs
When you contact us after a loss, we move quickly:
- Immediate guidance: We advise you on what temporary repairs to make and how to document them
- Contractor coordination: We can connect you with reputable emergency repair contractors in South Florida
- Documentation review: We review your photos, videos, and receipts to ensure complete coverage
- Claim integration: We include all temporary repair costs in your claim from the beginning
- Dispute prevention: Our thorough documentation prevents the insurer from disputing your temporary repair costs
Act Fast, Document Everything
The first hours after property damage are critical. Make temporary repairs immediately, document everything thoroughly, and contact a licensed public adjuster before the insurance company arrives.
Call Greater Claims Consulting & Appraisal Inc. at (877) 462-7036 the moment damage occurs. Reginald Amedee and our team of licensed public insurance adjusters serve homeowners throughout South Florida.
We work on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.