Impact windows or hurricane shutters?
Impact windows and hurricane shutters compared on cost, protection, insurance credits, salt air and upkeep, plus Space Coast permit and HOA rules.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 14 min read
Renovation Guides
Renovation guides for Florida homeowners
Straight answers to the questions that come up before and during a remodel: which materials stand up to Florida sun, salt air and hurricanes, how long projects really take, what belongs in a contract and how to keep a budget on track. For prices, see our cost guides; for permits, our permit guides.
Materials & design
Shingle, metal or tile roof?
How architectural shingles, metal and concrete or clay tile compare for Florida homes on cost, hurricane performance, heat, weight, insurance and HOA rules.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Composite or pressure-treated decking?
Composite, PVC and pressure-treated decking compared for coastal Florida: cost, heat, fading, mold, termites, upkeep and salt-safe fasteners.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 14 min read
Which fence material is best?
How vinyl, wood, aluminum and chain-link fences handle Florida sun, rot, termites, wind and salt air, with costs and what decides which one lasts longer.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 11 min read
Concrete or pavers for a patio?
How poured concrete and pavers compare for a Florida patio: cost per square foot, cracking, repairs, heat, sealing, upkeep, permits and coastal lots.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 11 min read
Impact windows or hurricane screens?
Fabric and roll-down hurricane screens compared with impact windows on cost, protection, storm prep, light, insurance credits, salt air and HOA rules.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 14 min read
Corrosion-resistant windows and doors
How to choose window and door frames, finishes, hardware and fasteners for Florida salt air, and what to check in coastal warranties and quotes.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 13 min read
Walk-in shower or bathtub?
Walk-in shower or bathtub? Compare cost, aging in place, safety, kids, pets, cleaning and space, plus Florida slab drains, curbless showers and permits.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 12 min read
Quartz or granite countertops?
Quartz vs. granite countertops in Florida, compared on cost per square foot, heat, stains and sealing, sun on lanais, scratches, seams and care.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 12 min read
Tile, luxury vinyl or engineered wood?
Luxury vinyl, porcelain tile and engineered wood compared for Florida slab homes on cost, leaks, slab moisture testing, flood zone rules and comfort.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 13 min read
Travertine or concrete pavers for a pool deck?
Travertine and concrete pavers compared for a Florida pool deck: installed cost, heat, slip resistance, salt pools, sealing, upkeep and pool safety.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 12 min read
Hurricanes & insurance
Avoiding storm repair scams
How to avoid contractor fraud after a Florida hurricane, from unlicensed storm-chasers to insurance claim schemes, and the laws that protect homeowners.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Roof insurance claims and roofers
How Florida roof insurance rules affect homeowners: claim deadlines, the end of assignment of benefits, roofer solicitation rules and roof age.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 3 min read
Wind mitigation inspections explained
What a Florida wind mitigation inspection checks, which upgrades can earn insurance discounts, who can inspect, and how My Safe Florida Home grants work.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Shutters and insurance discounts
How hurricane shutters can earn a Florida wind mitigation credit, why every opening counts, and the paperwork and inspection insurers rely on.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 10 min read
Planning & budgeting
Getting HOA approval for a project
How HOA architectural approval works for Florida remodels, what state law says about hurricane protection, the 2026 permit change, and tips to avoid delays.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Change orders and hidden damage
What commonly hides behind walls, floors and roofs in Florida homes, how change orders should work, and how to protect your budget when surprises show up.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
How much contingency should you budget?
How much to set aside for surprises on a Florida remodel, what a contingency should cover, and the Florida-specific costs that are not contingency at all.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
How long do renovations take?
Realistic timelines for Florida remodels, from roofs and impact windows to kitchens and additions, with permits, HOA review and hurricane season.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
How to prepare your home for a renovation
A checklist for preparing a Florida home for remodeling: dust, pets, pools, lead and asbestos testing, HOA notices, insurance and storm plans.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Common remodeling mistakes in Florida
Common, costly remodeling mistakes in Florida, from unlicensed contractors and skipped permits to ignored flood zones, HOA rules and missing lien releases.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
How to tell if a wall is load-bearing
How to spot a load-bearing wall in a Florida home, why block walls and truss roofs change the answer, and what removal involves, from engineering to permits.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
When's the best time to renovate?
When to schedule roofs, windows, painting, pavers and interior remodels in Florida, around the rainy season, hurricane season, holidays and contractor demand.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Septic rules when you remodel
When a Florida remodel or addition triggers septic review, the nitrogen-reducing septic rules near the Indian River Lagoon, and help paying for upgrades.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Renovating an older Florida home
What to check before renovating an older Florida home: pipes, wiring, panels, asbestos, lead, termites, four-point inspections, flood rules and permits.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 15 min read
Hiring a contractor
How to choose a contractor in Florida
A practical checklist for hiring a Florida contractor: state license, insurance, workers' comp, quotes, contracts, deposits, liens and red flags.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 5 min read
How to check a contractor's license
Look up a Florida contractor on MyFloridaLicense.com, check local registration in counties like Brevard, verify workers' comp and report unlicensed work.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 9 min read
Contractor insurance and workers' comp
What insurance Florida contractors must carry, how workers' comp and officer exemptions work, and how to verify coverage before you hire.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
How much should you pay up front?
How contractor deposits work in Florida: the 10% rule in section 489.126, special-order items, progress payments, lien releases and work that never starts.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 3 min read
How Florida's lien law affects you
How Florida construction lien law works for homeowners: Notices to Owner, lien releases, the final affidavit and how to avoid paying twice.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
The Construction Recovery Fund
How the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund works, which contractors it covers, current payment limits and how to make a claim.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
What a renovation contract should include
What a Florida renovation contract should include: lien and Recovery Fund notices, inspection-based payments, change orders, permits and storm delays.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 14 min read
General contractor or individual trades?
The difference between Florida general, building and residential contractor licenses, specialty trades, when to hire a GC and when hiring trades directly works.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 2 min read
Why do contractor quotes differ so much?
Why remodeling quotes for the same Florida project can differ by thousands, what the cheapest bid often leaves out, and how to compare quotes line by line.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 1 min read
Should you get three quotes?
Whether you need three contractor quotes for a Florida remodel, when one or two are enough, and how to make every quote count, especially after a storm.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 1 min read
Local guides
Remodeling in the Daytona Beach area
A local guide to remodeling around Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach: permits, storms, flood zones and beachfront rules.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 7 min read
Remodeling in Melbourne, Palm Bay and the Space Coast
Plan a remodel in Melbourne, Palm Bay or the Space Coast. Who issues permits, hurricane, flood and beachside rules, septic upgrades and hiring.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 9 min read
Hiring a contractor in Melbourne, FL
How to hire a renovation contractor in Melbourne and Brevard: state and county license checks, Palm Bay registration, permits, deposits and storm scams.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 11 min read
Remodeling in Vero Beach and Sebastian
A local guide to remodeling in Vero Beach, Sebastian and Indian River County, with permits, wind and flood rules, septic-to-sewer and nearby St. Lucie.
Updated October 12, 2026 · 7 min read
Are impact windows worth it beachside?
What impact windows cost and do for Satellite Beach and Melbourne Beach homes, what they leave out, and what to ask your insurer before you buy.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 12 min read
Salt-air corrosion on the Space Coast
What salt air corrodes on Space Coast homes, which metals and outdoor materials hold up best, and how to maintain them on the barrier island or mainland.
Updated October 26, 2026 · 15 min read
Planning a project?
Tell us about your renovation and we may be able to connect you with a contractor serving your area.