Skip to content

Repairs ยท Merritt Island

Roof repair in Merritt Island, FL

Hurricane Matthew in 2016 brought an 81 mph peak gust to Merritt Island, and evacuations were ordered for barrier-island residents. County reports from that storm describe roof shingles, soffits and awnings as the usual damage. Most repairs here start with those same spots.

Request a quote407-242-2840

Updated October 2026

Calm sunlit water with a shoreline of palm trees and a small waterfront house under cumulus clouds.
Close view across a gray shingle roof slope with a black pipe boot, a palm and a green lawn below.Our work
Photo: Merritt Island, Florida (southern tip) by Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Storm damage

Where Merritt Island roofs fail in storms

Irma in 2017 added an EF-1 tornado on Merritt Island that damaged numerous homes and a church. The county count after Irma was over 7,132 damaged homes, with roof and shingle damage noted from several tornadoes. Wind lifts the roof edge first, then water follows the opening.

Ridge vents and soffits are the weak points to check. FEMA notes that losing a ridge vent can open a large hole in the deck, and that soffit failure often brings significant water intrusion. Leaks also track flashing at wall joints, slope changes, chimneys and vent pipes.

Age adds to the risk. The median home here was built in 1973, and 59.0 percent of housing units predate 1980, against 32.1 percent countywide. That suggests many roofs here have been replaced at least once, and some may have worn flashing or older decking beneath newer shingles.

Repair or replace

Patch or full replacement: how the 25 percent rule applies

Under Florida's building code, patching is limited to 25 percent of a roof or roof section within any 12-month period. Once repairs pass that limit, the entire roof section has to be replaced or recovered. There is one exception: when a roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition, just the repaired portion has to meet current code.

If your roof is under that line, a repair of damaged shingles, flashing or a vent is usually enough. Wet or soft decking changes that. Sheathing repair is part of a roofer's legal scope, so ask for it to be priced and shown to you with photos.

Merritt Island is an unincorporated census-designated place, so Brevard County Planning & Development issues roof permits. Whether a small repair needs one is the building official's call under the code, so confirm with the county building office before work starts.

After the storm

What to do safely after a storm

  • Stay off the roof until the wind and wet have passed. Check from the ground and from the attic.
  • Photograph missing tabs, lifted flashing, damaged soffits and any ceiling stains before anything is moved.
  • Look in the attic for daylight, wet insulation or dark staining on the underside of the decking.
  • Cover only what you can reach safely, and keep receipts for any temporary work.

For insurance, notice of a new claim must reach your insurer within 1 year of the loss date. What your policy actually covers is up to your insurer or agent to decide.

Request a quote

Questions

Roof repair in Merritt Island: questions

What is the 25 percent roof rule in Florida?

Not more than 25 percent of a roof or roof section can be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period unless the whole roof section is replaced. When your roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, current code applies only to the part being repaired. For a Merritt Island home, the county building office confirms how this applies to your roof.

Source: 2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

What is the 15 year roof rule in Florida?

Fla. Stat. 627.7011(5) is where this rule comes from. When your roof is 15 years old or older, your insurer has to allow an authorized inspector to examine it, with you paying for the inspection. Should that inspection find 5 or more years of useful life remaining, the insurer cannot decline or non-renew coverage on the basis of roof age alone. To learn how it applies to your policy, ask your insurer or your agent.

Source: Florida Statutes, section 627.7011 (2026), read Oct 4, 2026

Related: Roof repair

How did Hurricane Matthew affect Merritt Island roofs?

Merritt Island recorded an 81 mph peak gust during Matthew in 2016. County reports describe damage that generally involved roof shingles, soffits, awnings and pool enclosures. About 75 percent of customers lost power. If your roof has missing tabs, loose flashing or damaged soffits from that storm, a roofer can check those spots first.

Source: NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

Does a small roof repair on Merritt Island need a permit?

Ordinary minor repairs may be made with the building official's approval and without a permit, so it is the local official's decision. Merritt Island is unincorporated, so Brevard County Planning & Development issues permits here. Confirm with the county building office before work begins, especially if the repair is larger than a few shingles.

Source: Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof repair

Nearby

Roof repair near Merritt Island

Sources for this page(33)
  1. 1.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.Hurricane Irma (2017). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.Hurricane Matthew (2016). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25035. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25034. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.Median year homes were built: 1973. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  8. 8.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, tables B25034/B25035. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  9. 9.Permit office: Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits. Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits. Read Oct 10, 2026.
  10. 10.FEMA FL-RA2. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.FBCR Ch. 9. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  12. 12.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 15 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026. FBC text read from UpCodes (unofficial transcription): check floridabuilding.org or the ICC viewer before quoting (spec 8.7).
  13. 13.Florida Statutes, section 553.844 (2026). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  14. 14.Fla. Stat. 489.105(3)(e). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.Citizens 4-Point Inspection Form, Sample Form Insp4pt 03 25. Read Oct 4, 2026.
  16. 16.FBC-B 2023 Ch. 1. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.Florida Statutes, section 627.70132 (2026). Read Oct 4, 2026.
  18. 18.Florida Statutes, section 489.147 (2026). Read Oct 4, 2026.
  19. 19.Florida Statutes, section 627.7011 (2026). Read Oct 4, 2026.
  20. 20.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017), National Weather Service. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits, Brevard County Planning & Development. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  22. 22.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  23. 23.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25024, U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  24. 24.NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (annual/seasonal), access-data API, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  25. 25.Brevard County, Building Code Wind Speed Maps, Brevard County. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  26. 26.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER), U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  27. 27.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER), U.S. Census Bureau. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  28. 28.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration intensity estimates at the Merritt Island 2020 Census internal point (28.3092, -80.6760), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  29. 29.NOAA Atlas 14 Volume 9 version 2, partial-duration 24-hour depth estimates at the Merritt Island 2020 Census internal point (28.3092, -80.6760), NOAA Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (UpCodes viewer, unofficial transcription), UpCodes (Florida Building Code transcription). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  31. 31.Florida Statutes, section 713.135 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  32. 32.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  33. 33.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.

South Fork Roofing

Roof repair in Merritt Island

Answer a few questions about the job, or call.

Request a quote407-242-2840
CallGet a quote