Secondary Water Resistance in Palm Beach County2026 Cost, Insurance Savings & What Happens Without It
Without SWR on your roof, one hurricane can cause $20,000-$60,000 in interior water damage -- even if only a few shingles blow off.
By Alex Mompie, licensed roofing contractor in Palm Beach County since 2007. CBC 1256195 / CCC 1329890. Over 1,500 roofs installed across West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Delray Beach, and every city in Palm Beach County.
What Every Palm Beach County Homeowner Needs to Know
The Risk Without SWR
- ❌ One storm = $20K-$60K interior water damage
- ❌ Insurance may DENY your claim without SWR
- ❌ Your roof deck is exposed if shingles fail
- ❌ Felt paper and synthetic nail-downs are NOT enough
What SWR Gives You
- ✓ $400-$1,200/year insurance discount in Palm Beach County
- ✓ Your home stays dry even if roofing material blows off
- ✓ Meets HVHZ code -- passes Palm Beach County inspection
- ✓ Only $900-$2,200 (included in your roof replacement)
Your Roof in Palm Beach County Is One Storm Away from Disaster -- Unless You Have This
I am Alex Mompie. In 19 years of replacing roofs across Palm Beach County, I have seen the same disaster play out hundreds of times: a hurricane hits, a few shingles or tiles blow off, and within hours the entire interior of the home is flooded. Ceilings collapse, drywall soaks through, furniture is destroyed. The homeowner files an insurance claim -- and finds out their old roof had no secondary water resistance. The claim gets reduced or denied.
This is not hypothetical. After Hurricane Irma in 2017, our team at Mompie Construction responded to over 200 emergency calls across West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Jupiter, and Palm Beach Gardens. The pattern was brutal and predictable: homes without self-adhered underlayment suffered an average of $35,000 in interior water damage. Homes we had re-roofed with Polyglass self-adhered peel-and-stick underlayment? Minimal to zero interior damage -- even when shingles were completely gone.
The difference between a $200 tarp job and a $40,000 remediation bill is a layer of material that costs $900 to $2,200 as part of your roof replacement. If your roof does not have it, you are gambling with your home every hurricane season.
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What Is Secondary Water Resistance? (And Why Your Home in Palm Beach County Cannot Go Without It)
Secondary water resistance (SWR) is a self-adhered peel-and-stick membrane that bonds directly to your roof deck. It is the last line of defense between a hurricane and everything inside your home. When your shingles, tiles, or metal panels get torn off by 130+ mph winds, this sealed membrane keeps water out.
Without SWR (Your Risk)
- ❌Every nail hole in your deck is an open pathway for wind-driven rain
- ❌Lose a few shingles = thousands in water damage to ceilings, walls, floors
- ❌Insurance carrier sees no SWR = reduced payout or denied claim
- ❌You are paying MORE on insurance every year without the SWR discount
- ❌Fails Palm Beach County inspection -- not legal for re-roofing
With SWR (What You Get)
- Sealed deck -- zero water penetration even with roofing material gone
- Self-seals around every nail -- no open holes in your roof deck
- $400-$1,200/year insurance savings in Palm Beach County
- Passes HVHZ dry-in inspection -- 100% code compliant
- Qualifies for My Safe Florida Home grants up to $10,000
In Palm Beach County, SWR is not optional. The entire county is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). Florida Building Code Section 1523.6 requires self-adhered peel-and-stick underlayment on every roof replacement. No exceptions. If a contractor tells you otherwise, they are wrong -- and their work will fail the Palm Beach County dry-in inspection.
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How Much Does Secondary Water Resistance Cost in Palm Beach County? (2026 Prices)
Real pricing from our 2025-2026 roof replacements across West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens.
SWR is included in every Mompie Construction roof -- never an add-on or surprise charge.
Shingle Roof
2,000 sq ft home
Tile Roof
2,000 sq ft home
Metal Roof
2,000 sq ft home
Flat/Low-Slope Roof
Commercial or residential
The Real Cost: Roof WITHOUT SWR vs WITH SWR in Palm Beach County
Without SWR (The Gamble)
With SWR (The Smart Move)
Based on average pricing for a 2,000 sq ft shingle roof in Palm Beach County. Insurance savings vary by carrier, coverage, and proximity to coast.
Watch Out for Cheap Roofing Quotes in Palm Beach County
If a roofing contractor gives you a quote significantly lower than everyone else, ask them: "What underlayment are you using?" Some unlicensed or out-of-area contractors use mechanically attached synthetic underlayment -- which costs 50-70% less -- knowing it will FAIL the Palm Beach County dry-in inspection. You end up with a torn-off roof, a failed inspection, and a contractor who disappears. Every Mompie Construction quote includes Polyglass self-adhered underlayment, full permitting, and all required inspections. No surprises.
Want to know exactly what SWR will cost for YOUR roof?
Free on-site inspection + written estimate. Same day in Palm Beach County.
How SWR Saves You $400-$1,200 Per Year on Insurance in Palm Beach County
Over 20 years, that is $8,000-$24,000 back in your pocket. The SWR pays for itself multiple times over.
Every Florida homeowners insurance company uses the Wind Mitigation Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802) to calculate your premium. Question 5 specifically asks: "Is there a secondary water barrier?" If the answer is yes -- and your entire roof deck is covered with self-adhered underlayment -- you get the maximum discount for this category.
In Palm Beach County, this SWR insurance credit alone saves homeowners $400 to $1,200 per year, depending on your carrier, coverage level, and how close your home is to the coast. Homes in coastal Boca Raton, Jupiter, and Palm Beach Gardens typically see the highest savings because their base premiums are higher.
Combined with other wind mitigation credits from a new roof -- roof-to-wall connections, roof geometry, and opening protection -- a complete roof replacement with SWR in Palm Beach County typically saves $1,600 to $2,800 per year. Over a 20-year roof lifespan, that is $32,000 to $56,000 in insurance savings -- often more than the entire roof replacement cost.
My Safe Florida Home Grants -- Up to $10,000
The State of Florida's My Safe Florida Home program provides grants up to $10,000 for hurricane-hardening improvements including SWR installation. Palm Beach County homeowners with a homestead exemption who have owned their home at least one year may qualify. Mompie Construction handles the contractor documentation for the application. This grant can cover a significant portion of your roof replacement cost.
Mompie Construction coordinates your wind mitigation inspection after every roof installation. We provide the inspector with full Polyglass product documentation, Florida Product Approval numbers, and installation photos. This ensures you receive the maximum available insurance credits.
Want to find out how much YOU can save on insurance?
We calculate your projected savings before you sign anything.
What Happens to Your Palm Beach County Home During a Hurricane Without SWR
Hurricane season in Palm Beach County runs June 1 through November 30. If your roof does not have self-adhered underlayment, here is exactly what happens when a Category 2 or higher storm hits:
Wind reaches 100+ mph. Shingles begin lifting. First tiles crack.
With old felt paper or synthetic underlayment, wind-driven rain immediately penetrates through nail holes and torn seams.
Multiple shingles or tiles are gone. Large sections of deck exposed.
Without SWR, water is pouring into your attic. Insulation soaks through. Ceiling drywall begins absorbing water.
Storm passes. Rain continues.
Ceilings sag and collapse. Drywall crumbles. Electrical systems compromised. Furniture, flooring, and personal property damaged.
You file insurance claim. Adjuster visits.
Adjuster notes absence of SWR. Claim gets reduced because damage was preventable with code-compliant underlayment. Mold starts growing within 48 hours.
Remediation begins.
Interior damage bill: $20,000-$60,000. Mold remediation: $5,000-$15,000 additional. You are living elsewhere for weeks or months.
With Polyglass Self-Adhered Underlayment (What We Install)
Same hurricane. Same wind. Shingles blow off. But the sealed peel-and-stick membrane on your roof deck holds. Self-sealed nail penetrations hold. Overlapping seams hold. Your home stays dry. After the storm you need new shingles -- not a new interior. Cost: $8,000-$15,000 for re-roofing vs $60,000+ for interior remediation plus re-roofing.
Do I Need Secondary Water Resistance in Palm Beach County? (Yes -- It Is the Law)
Palm Beach County HVHZ Requirements
All of Palm Beach County -- every city, every neighborhood, from Boca Raton to Jupiter -- is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). This is the strictest building code zone in Florida.
- Florida Building Code Section 1523.6: Self-adhered modified bitumen underlayment required on all roof replacements in HVHZ
- TAS 102, 108, 110, 111: Underlayment must pass all four Testing Application Standards
- Mandatory dry-in inspection: Palm Beach County inspector must verify underlayment BEFORE any shingles, tiles, or metal go on
- NOT compliant: Mechanically attached synthetic, felt paper (#15 or #30), or any non-self-adhered product
If a roofing contractor in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Riviera Beach, or Greenacres installs anything other than self-adhered underlayment, the Palm Beach County building inspector will fail the dry-in inspection. All work stops. The wrong underlayment must be removed and replaced. That mistake costs $2,000-$4,000 extra and adds days of delay. Mompie Construction has never failed a dry-in inspection.
Ready to re-roof with code-compliant SWR?
Licensed, insured, 19+ years in Palm Beach County. Free estimates, same day.
The Underlayment We Install on Every Roof in Palm Beach County
After 19 years and 1,500+ roofs across Palm Beach County, we use Polyglass exclusively. Here is why.
Polyglass Polystick MTS
PREMIUMBest for: Tile roofs, metal roofs, coastal homes in Boca Raton, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens
FL# 11836.1 | Miami-Dade NOA | TAS 102/108/110/111
Polyglass Polystick TU Plus
MOST INSTALLEDBest for: Shingle roofs, budget-friendly option, homes in West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Wellington
FL# 11836.2 | Miami-Dade NOA | TAS 102/108/110/111
When Do You Need SWR Installed in Palm Beach County?
Your roof is 15+ years old
Time for a full replacement with SWR. Most shingle roofs in Palm Beach County last 15-20 years. If yours is approaching that age, you are overdue.
You are paying high insurance premiums
A new roof with SWR can save $1,600-$2,800/year. Get a free estimate and we will calculate your projected savings before you commit.
Storm damage to your existing roof
File your claim immediately. Mompie Construction handles the insurance process for you and installs SWR as part of the replacement.
Your roof was installed before 2004
Pre-2004 roofs in Palm Beach County likely do NOT have proper SWR. You are at serious risk every hurricane season.
You are buying or selling a home
Buyers and their insurers are checking for SWR. A roof without it can kill a deal or increase the buyer's insurance by thousands per year.
Your insurance company is requiring upgrades
Many Florida carriers are now requiring roof upgrades for policy renewal. SWR is always part of the requirement.
Do Not Wait for the Next Hurricane to Find Out Your Roof Is Not Protected
Free roof inspection + SWR assessment + insurance savings estimate. Palm Beach County homeowners only.
Secondary Water Resistance FAQ -- Palm Beach County Homeowners
Answers from Alex Mompie, licensed Palm Beach County roofing contractor (CBC 1256195)
Is secondary water resistance required in Palm Beach County?
Yes -- no exceptions. All of Palm Beach County is in the HVHZ (High-Velocity Hurricane Zone). Florida Building Code Section 1523.6 requires self-adhered modified bitumen underlayment on every roof replacement. This applies to every city: West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Riviera Beach, and Greenacres. Mechanically attached synthetic underlayment and felt paper do NOT meet code. If your contractor uses them, the Palm Beach County inspector will fail the dry-in inspection.
How much does secondary water resistance cost in Florida?
For a typical 2,000 sq ft home in Palm Beach County, the self-adhered underlayment costs $900 to $2,200 depending on the product used and roof complexity. This is 6-12% of your total roof replacement cost and is always included in Mompie Construction's quote -- never an add-on. The real question is: can you afford NOT to have it? Without SWR, a single hurricane can cause $20,000 to $60,000 in interior damage, and you are paying $400 to $1,200 more per year on insurance.
Does SWR lower my homeowners insurance in Florida?
Significantly. The wind mitigation inspection (Form OIR-B1-1802) that every Florida insurer uses has a specific question about secondary water resistance. With SWR covering your full roof deck, you qualify for the maximum discount on that question -- typically $400 to $1,200 per year in Palm Beach County. Combined with other new-roof credits, total annual savings are $1,600 to $2,800. Over 20 years: $32,000 to $56,000 in insurance savings. Mompie Construction coordinates your wind mitigation inspection after every installation.
Can I add SWR to my existing roof without replacing it?
No. Self-adhered underlayment must be applied directly to the bare roof deck. That means the existing roofing material must be completely torn off first. There is no way to retrofit SWR without a full re-roofing. However, if your home was re-roofed after 2004 in Palm Beach County, it likely already has SWR because the code has required it. Not sure? Call Mompie Construction at (561) 248-6039 for a free inspection -- we will check your permit history with Palm Beach County and inspect your current underlayment.
What happens if my contractor uses the wrong underlayment in Palm Beach County?
The Palm Beach County building inspector will fail the mandatory dry-in inspection. All work stops. The wrong underlayment must be completely removed and replaced with code-compliant self-adhered product. Extra cost: $2,000-$4,000 plus days of delay. If the contractor already installed shingles or tiles before calling for inspection (a code violation), those must be removed too -- potentially doubling the total project cost. We have been called to fix this exact problem at homes in Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, and Lake Worth Beach. Always verify underlayment plans before work begins.
How long does SWR installation take?
The underlayment installation itself takes 3-5 hours on a typical Palm Beach County home. However, it is part of the full roof replacement process: tear-off (4-6 hours), deck inspection and repair (1-3 hours), underlayment installation (3-5 hours), then the mandatory dry-in inspection from Palm Beach County (1-2 business days wait). After the inspector approves the SWR, your shingles, tiles, or metal panels go on. Total project: 1-7 days depending on material type. Mompie Construction handles the entire process including permitting and inspection scheduling.
Who is the best SWR roofing contractor near me in Palm Beach County?
Mompie Construction has installed Polyglass self-adhered underlayment on over 1,500 roofs across Palm Beach County since 2007. Licensed (CBC 1256195, CCC 1329890), insured, and rated 4.9 stars with 263+ reviews. We serve every city in Palm Beach County including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Riviera Beach, and Greenacres. Free estimates, same day. Call (561) 248-6039.
Protect Your Palm Beach County Home Before the Next Hurricane
Free roof inspection. Free SWR assessment. Free insurance savings estimate. No pressure, no obligation.
Licensed (CBC 1256195 / CCC 1329890) -- 19+ Years in Palm Beach County -- 263+ Reviews -- 1,500+ Roofs Installed
Serving West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Riviera Beach, Greenacres & all Palm Beach County
Secondary Water Resistance Roofing Contractor in Palm Beach County
Mompie Construction is Palm Beach County's trusted SWR roofing contractor, installing Polyglass self-adhered underlayment on every roof replacement across West Palm Beach (33401-33417), Boca Raton (33427-33499), Delray Beach (33444-33448), Boynton Beach (33424-33474), Jupiter (33458-33478), Palm Beach Gardens (33408-33420), Lake Worth Beach (33449-33467), Riviera Beach (33404-33419), Royal Palm Beach (33411), and Greenacres (33413-33467).
Whether you need a complete roof replacement with SWR in Boca Raton, want to check if your current roof in West Palm Beach has proper secondary water resistance, or need an insurance savings estimate for your Jupiter home, call Mompie Construction for a free same-day inspection. Get your free estimate today or call (561) 248-6039.