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Re-roofs ยท Merritt Island

Roof replacement in Merritt Island, FL

Homes on Merritt Island have a median build year of 1973, so many roofs here are likely original or close to it. Replacing one is a permitted job with inspections, and the scope can be larger than the shingles you see. Start with the age of your roof and the rules that apply to it.

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Updated October 2026

Calm sunlit water with a shoreline of palm trees and a small waterfront house under cumulus clouds.
Drone view looking down on a gray-blend shingle roof with two front gables, a debris container and a pickup in the driveway beyond.Our work
Photo: Merritt Island, Florida (southern tip) by Leonard J. DeFrancisci, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Merritt Island figures this page uses

Share of homes built before 1980
59%
Owner-occupied share of occupied homes
80%
Share of homes built 2010 or later
3.6%
Median year homes were built
1973

Roof age on the island

What the 1973 build year means for your roof

Fifty-nine percent of Merritt Island homes were built before 1980. That suggests many roofs here have already outlived a typical shingle life. Most of the housing stock is also owner-occupied, so the decision usually falls to the homeowner.

Only 3.6 percent of homes were built in 2010 or later. Few roofs on the island are newer than a decade or so, which means a replacement is often the first major roof job since the house was built.

What a re-roof triggers

Permits, inspections and the 25 percent rule on Merritt Island

Merritt Island is an unincorporated census-designated place, so the Brevard County building office issues roof permits here. Check the county Building Permits page before you start work.

Florida's 25 percent rule says no more than 25 percent of a roof can be repaired or replaced in 12 months unless the whole roof covering is replaced. Your roof may be exempt if it was built or repaired to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later. Confirm that with the county before you assume it applies.

  • Pull the permit before tear-off begins.
  • Schedule the inspections the permit lists.
  • Ask the roofer whether the deck fastening and secondary water barrier are part of the scope.

Wind and rain history

Storm exposure for Merritt Island roofs

Merritt Island sits between the Indian River and the Atlantic, and about 63 percent of the place's total area is water. During Hurricane Matthew in 2016, a peak gust of 81 mph was recorded on the island, and damage generally involved roof shingles and soffits.

Hurricane Irma in 2017 brought an EF-1 tornado to North Merritt Island that damaged numerous homes. Brevard County publishes address-level wind speed maps for permitting, so check your address before you choose materials.

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Questions

Roof replacement in Merritt Island: questions

How old are most roofs on Merritt Island?

The median home here was built in 1973, and 59 percent of homes were built before 1980. Many roofs are likely original or near the end of a typical life. Check your own roof's age on your permit history or ask a roofer to inspect it. A roof this age may also need documentation for insurance, so confirm requirements with your insurer.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25034, read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

Who issues roof permits on Merritt Island?

Because Merritt Island is an unincorporated census-designated place, roof permits for the area are handled by the Brevard County building office. Check the Brevard County Planning and Development Building Permits page for current requirements before work begins. A permit must be in place before tear-off, and it becomes invalid if work does not start within 6 months.

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

Related: Roof replacement

Does a 25 percent roof repair on Merritt Island need a full replacement?

Under Florida's 25 percent rule, if more than 25 percent of a roof is repaired or replaced in 12 months, the whole covering must be replaced unless an exception applies. An exception exists for roofs built or repaired to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later. Confirm with the Brevard County building office how the rule applies to your roof.

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

Related: Roof replacement

How much rain falls on Merritt Island in a storm?

The island is largely surrounded by water, with about 63 percent of the place's total area under water. Rain from summer storms and tropical systems can test roof edges and flashing. Ask your roofer to inspect those details when the roof is replaced.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER), read Oct 5, 2026

Related: Roof replacement

Nearby

Roof replacement near Merritt Island

Sources for this page(30)
  1. 1.Share of homes built before 1980: 59%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  2. 2.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25034. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  3. 3.Owner-occupied share of occupied homes: 80%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  4. 4.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  5. 5.NOAA National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  6. 6.Hurricane Matthew (2016). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (2016). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  7. 7.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.
  8. 8.Share of homes built 2010 or later: 3.6%. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API. 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.Brevard County, Building Code Wind Speed Maps. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  11. 11.U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (TIGERweb tigerWMS_Census2020 MapServer: POP100, HU100, AREALAND, AREAWATER). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  12. 12.Hurricane Irma (2017). NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  13. 13.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.
  14. 14.U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (acs2024_5yr), via Census Reporter API, table B25035. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  15. 15.2023 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).
  16. 16.Florida Statutes, section 553.844 (2026). Read Oct 5, 2026.
  17. 17.2023 Florida Building Code, Building, 8th ed., Chapter 1 (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). Source URL inherited from C-3 (the research cites it "as C-3").
  18. 18.NOAA NHC. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  19. 19.Brevard County Planning & Development, Building Permits, Brevard County Planning & Development. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  20. 20.Florida Statutes, section 713.135 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  21. 21.NWS Melbourne, Post Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (2017), National Weather Service. 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.Florida Statutes, section 627.7011 (2026), Florida Legislature. Read Oct 4, 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.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.
  28. 28.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.
  29. 29.FRSA, "New 2023 FBC Eighth Edition is Now in Effect", 2024-02-13, floridaroof.com. Read Oct 5, 2026.
  30. 30.Miami-Dade County RER notice, Miami. Read Oct 5, 2026.

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Roof replacement in Merritt Island

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