Fort Lauderdale's Expert Partner for HVHZ Commercial Roofing & Construction

Fort Lauderdale sits at the heart of Broward County, one of the most densely developed and commercially active counties in Florida. With a coastline that stretches along the Atlantic Ocean, a major deepwater seaport at Port Everglades, a thriving downtown anchored by the Las Olas Boulevard corridor, and a suburban commercial landscape that extends west toward the Everglades, Fort Lauderdale presents a diverse and demanding construction environment. Windward Roofing & Construction is expanding into this market to serve developers and property owners who need a commercial roofing and general contracting partner with proven expertise in high-stakes, code-intensive construction.

Since 1984, Windward has built more than 40 years of experience in commercial and industrial roofing through Chicago's demanding construction market. That foundation of disciplined project management, manufacturer-backed installations, and complex building envelope coordination translates directly to Fort Lauderdale, where every commercial roofing project must comply with High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements and withstand the combined forces of hurricane winds, salt-air corrosion, and tropical moisture exposure.

HVHZ Compliance for Broward County Construction

Like neighboring Miami-Dade County, all of Broward County falls within the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, subjecting every commercial roofing installation to the most rigorous standards in the Florida Building Code. Roofing products must carry a Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA) and assemblies must pass TAS 101 (wind resistance), TAS 102 (impact resistance from wind-borne debris), and TAS 103 (cycle loading) testing protocols. These requirements go well beyond the standard Florida Building Code provisions that apply elsewhere in the state.

Windward works exclusively with manufacturer roofing systems that carry full HVHZ approvals. Through our partnerships with Carlisle, Versico, Elevate, Johns Manville, ERC Systems, Sika, GAF, Tremco, and IKO, we specify and install mechanically attached and fully adhered TPO and PVC membranes, impact-rated modified bitumen multi-ply systems, high-wind standing seam metal panels, and HVHZ-approved built-up roofing assemblies. Every installation is performed according to manufacturer specifications by factory-trained crews, ensuring warranty integrity and full code compliance from the first inspection forward.

Serving Fort Lauderdale's Key Commercial Districts

The Las Olas corridor serves as the commercial spine of downtown Fort Lauderdale, running from the central business district east to the beach. Mixed-use developments, boutique hotels, Class A office buildings, and upscale retail projects along this corridor demand roofing systems that deliver both performance and aesthetic integration. Windward's building envelope coordination experience ensures that roofing installations on these prominent projects are executed to the highest standard, with proper tie-ins to parapet walls, curtain wall systems, and architectural roof features.

Port Everglades, located in the southeastern corner of Fort Lauderdale, is one of the busiest seaports in the United States, handling container cargo, petroleum products, and cruise ship operations. The commercial and industrial zone surrounding the port includes warehouses, cold-storage facilities, marine supply buildings, and logistics operations that require roofing systems engineered for heavy use, chemical exposure, and extreme weather. Windward's decades of industrial roofing experience make us a natural fit for this demanding submarket.

The Cypress Creek corridor in northern Fort Lauderdale and the commercial districts along I-595 and the Sawgrass Expressway have emerged as major office and flex-industrial hubs. New construction in these areas includes corporate office parks, medical facilities, technology campuses, and distribution centers that serve the broader South Florida market. Windward provides general contracting and roofing services for ground-up projects across these growing suburban commercial zones.

Coastal Construction Challenges

Fort Lauderdale's barrier island geography and extensive Intracoastal Waterway frontage mean that many commercial properties face elevated exposure to salt-air corrosion, wind-driven rain, and the amplified wind loads that accompany coastal construction. Roofing systems for beachfront and waterfront buildings must be specified with corrosion-resistant fasteners, salt-air-compatible membranes, and enhanced securement methods that account for the higher design wind pressures found in coastal exposure categories under the Florida Building Code.

Windward's specification team evaluates each project's geographic exposure, building height, and structural characteristics to determine the optimal roofing assembly. We select materials and methods that address the specific threats posed by Fort Lauderdale's coastal environment, delivering roofing systems that perform reliably for decades under the harshest conditions South Florida can produce.

New Construction General Contracting in Broward County

Beyond roofing, Windward serves as a general contractor for new commercial construction throughout Broward County. Our ground-up project capabilities include pre-construction planning and budgeting, value engineering, building envelope coordination, structural oversight, subcontractor management, and complete roofing system installation. We bring particular strength to projects where the roof is a critical and complex element of the building envelope, such as warehouses, distribution centers, retail buildings, multifamily housing, and hospitality developments.

Services Available in Fort Lauderdale

  • TPO Roofing Systems — HVHZ-rated, energy-efficient membranes for Fort Lauderdale's heat and hurricane exposure
  • EPDM Roofing Systems — Durable synthetic rubber membranes for long-term commercial performance
  • PVC Roofing Systems — Chemical-resistant membranes for port facilities, restaurants, and industrial buildings
  • Modified Bitumen Roofing — Impact-rated multi-ply systems for HVHZ compliance and heavy rooftop traffic
  • Built-Up Roofing (BUR) — HVHZ-approved multi-layer assemblies with proven wind performance
  • Metal Roofing — High-wind standing seam panels with corrosion-resistant finishes for coastal applications
  • Roof Coatings — Reflective coatings that reduce cooling costs and extend membrane life
  • New Construction — Full general contracting for warehouses, retail, multifamily, hotels, and distribution centers

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. All of Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale, is designated as a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) under the Florida Building Code. This means commercial roofing systems must carry Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA) approvals and pass TAS 101, TAS 102, and TAS 103 testing protocols. Windward Roofing installs only HVHZ-rated assemblies from approved manufacturers to ensure full code compliance.

Windward provides general contracting and commercial roofing services for projects in the Port Everglades area, including warehouses, cold-storage facilities, logistics buildings, and marine-related commercial structures. Our experience with large-footprint industrial roofing and building envelope coordination makes us well-suited to the port-adjacent construction market in southern Broward County.

Yes. Coastal construction in Fort Lauderdale presents unique challenges including salt-air corrosion, wind-driven rain, elevated wind exposure, and compliance with coastal construction setback requirements. Windward specifies roofing systems and building envelope assemblies designed for these harsh conditions, using materials and fastening methods that resist salt-air degradation while meeting HVHZ wind uplift standards.

Windward serves as a general contractor for a range of new commercial construction projects throughout Broward County, including multifamily apartment and condominium buildings, hotel and hospitality properties, retail centers and shopping plazas, warehouse and distribution facilities, and mixed-use developments along corridors like Las Olas Boulevard and the Cypress Creek area.