Storm Damage Restoration
Restoring Tampa Bay Homes — Above the Flood
Water, fire, and mold restoration, full reconstruction, and home elevation — by a licensed Florida general contractor who builds homes, not just patches them.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton left thousands of Tampa Bay homes damaged — and many of them now face a hard question: repair, rebuild, or elevate. As a builder first, Carapezza brings more than a restoration crew. We assess the real condition of your home, navigate the flood rules that govern what you're allowed to do, and rebuild to a standard that stands up to the next storm.
The FEMA 50% rule — know it before you start
Our Specialty · Elevate Florida
Home Elevation
When a home is substantially damaged, the answer is often to lift it above the flood — and the Elevate Florida program can cover most of the cost. As a licensed Florida general contractor, we handle the engineering, permitting, lifting, and the rebuild, and we help you navigate the program from application to closeout.
Home Elevation & Elevate Florida →Restoration & Rebuild
From cleanup to a finished home.
A builder's approach to restoration
Many restoration companies are equipped to dry out and patch. We're equipped to rebuild — which matters when the damage is structural or the 50% rule turns a repair into a reconstruction. We coordinate with your insurer, document the work properly, and bring a custom-home standard to a home you may have lived in for decades.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
My home was declared substantially damaged. What now?+
A substantial-damage determination means your county considers the damage 50% or more of the home's value — so repairs must meet current flood code, often including elevation. You generally have options: elevate, rebuild elevated (mitigation reconstruction), or relocate. We'll review your determination, your timeline, and the funding available before you decide.
What is the Elevate Florida program?+
Elevate Florida is a state-run residential mitigation program (administered by the Florida Division of Emergency Management) that helps fund elevating or rebuilding flood-prone homes, with the majority of eligible costs covered for qualifying properties. Program windows, cost-shares, and eligibility change, so we verify the current details with official sources for your situation.
Do you work with my insurance company?+
Yes. We document the damage and the scope properly and coordinate with your insurer and adjuster. If you carry NFIP flood insurance, your policy may also include Increased Cost of Compliance coverage toward elevation — we'll help you understand how it fits.
Is it better to repair, rebuild, or elevate?+
It depends on the damage, your flood zone, and the 50% math. Sometimes a repair is clearly right; sometimes rebuilding elevated costs less over time than repairing a home that floods again. As a builder, we give you the honest construction picture, not just the fastest patch.
How long does storm restoration take?+
Drying and stabilization happen fast; full reconstruction and elevation take longer and depend on permitting and, for elevation, program timelines. We give you a realistic, staged schedule for your specific home.
Carapezza Custom Homes
Let's build something that lasts.
Have a substantial-damage letter, or worried you might get one? Let's review your options before the clock runs out.