Roof repair in Melbourne Village, FL

The median Melbourne Village home was built in 1963, against 1988 countywide, so the town's housing is older than the county's. That is an inference about homes, not a statement about any one roof. Your roof's own history decides which rule applies to it.

The Florida Building Code limits repair to 25 percent of a roof or roof section in any 12-month period. Past that threshold, you have to replace either the whole roof or the section that is affected. The exception covers any roof that was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition. When that applies, only the repaired portion has to meet current code.

An insurer must let you have an authorized inspector check a roof that is 15 years or older, at your expense. If the inspection shows 5 or more years of useful life remaining, the insurer may not refuse coverage or decline to renew based on age alone. For how that rule applies to your own policy, ask your insurer or agent.

Under HB 803, roofing work is not exempt from permits, according to the Town of Melbourne Village. Its permits are valid for one year and take about 7 days to review. Small repairs can fall under the building official's minor-repair approval, so confirm with the town before work starts.

• Keep off a roof that is wet or damaged, and do your looking from the ground.
• Photograph missing shingles, soffit, fascia and ceiling stains.
• Tarp openings only if you can do it from the ground or a ladder you trust.
• Report the loss to your insurer within the 1-year notice window.