New construction roofing in Palm Bay, FL

Roof sheathing is fastened with ring shank nails, 2 1/2 inches long, in the grade the residential code names. Ring shanks hold the deck down harder than smooth nails, which matters in the wind-driven rain Brevard County saw from Hurricane Matthew in 2016, when damage mostly involved roof shingles and soffits.

For a shingle or metal roof, the code gives three dry-in options. You can cover the whole deck with self-adhering underlayment, tape every deck joint and then add an approved underlayment, or lay two layers of felt-type underlayment nailed with cap nails. The metal edge flashing sits on top of that underlayment, with nailing spaced closer where design wind speed is 110 mph or more.

Every roofing product must carry statewide Florida product approval, and you can look up its number on the Florida Building Commission search. Ask your builder for that number before materials are ordered. A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance is a different document, and its own wording ties it to Miami-Dade and areas where the local building official allows it.

The code lists inspections in order: foundation, framing, sheathing, exterior wall coverings and soffit, roofing, then final. The sheathing inspection can be a dry-in inspection or done separately at the contractor's request. The roofing inspection covers dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing.

Who installs matters too. A general or residential contractor may put on asphalt shingles itself only on a new building of its own construction. For a tile, metal or membrane roof, hire a state-registered roofing contractor. Record the Notice of Commencement and post it at the job before the first inspection.

After closing, Florida requires a builder to warrant a new home for one year against defects in equipment, material or workmanship that violate the code. Natural disasters and normal wear are excluded.