Roof inspections in Lazy Lake, FL

An insurer may not refuse to issue or renew your homeowner's policy solely because the roof is under 15 years old. Once the roof reaches 15 years, you have the right to bring in an authorized inspector at your own cost. An inspection that finds 5 or more years of useful life protects you from a refusal or non-renewal based only on age.

Authorized inspectors include a roofing contractor, a licensed home inspector, a building code inspector, an engineer or an architect, once your insurer accepts them. Citizens, for its part, asks for documented useful life on shingle roofs older than 25 years and on tile or metal roofs older than 50.

The roof section of the 4-point form records the covering, its age, remaining life, the last permit, any partial replacement and the damage found. Citizens asks for a 4-point inspection on properties more than 20 years old. With the 1958 median year built here, many Lazy Lake houses fall in that group. For what your own policy covers, ask your insurer or agent.

• Buying a house: have the roof checked before closing, since the 4-point form and an insurer will both ask about it.
• Selling a house: a written inspection answers the buyer's insurer questions up front.
• Insurer letter about roof age: order the inspection the law allows you to have done at your expense.
• After a storm: Broward saw a 97-knot gust at Deerfield Beach in Hurricane Irma, so check for lifted or missing pieces after any strong wind.

An inspector looks for cracking, curling, granule loss, exposed felt, loose or missing tabs and tiles, soft decking and leaks in the attic or on ceilings. For wind forms they also photograph attic items you cannot see from the ground, such as deck nailing and roof-to-wall connectors.

Roof permit questions go to the Village of Lazy Lake permitting page, which links Broward County code documents. Confirm any permit requirement with the building office before work starts. Florida law also bars roofers from offering anything of value for an inspection or a claim.