Commercial roofing in Lazy Lake, FL

Most flat or low-slope commercial roofs need at least a quarter inch of slope for every foot in new construction under the HVHZ rules, and single-ply and built-up systems have their own minimums. Ask your roofer to show the slope on the drawings, because ponding water is the first thing that shortens these roofs.

By our arithmetic, a building with a 1/4:12 slope drops only about a quarter inch of rise for each foot of run. Positive drainage means the roof clears water within 48 hours of rain, and Broward's normal annual rainfall at the Fort Lauderdale airport is 60.95 inches, so that standard matters here.

• Ask for the product approval number and check it in the Florida Building Commission product approval search.
• Ask who will hold the HVHZ roofing permit and whether the contractor is certified as a roofing contractor under Florida law.
• Ask the bidder to state in writing any possibility of ponding water and whether a structural review is recommended.
• Ask whether the bid includes replacing wood sheathing or fascia found during the work.

A commercial reroof usually asks for a notice of commencement to be recorded and posted before the first inspection, and the permit card warns owners about paying twice if it is skipped. Your building department can tell you whether the contract amount triggers that requirement.