Roof repair in Miramar, FL

Only two Florida counties fall inside the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, and Broward is one of them. In that zone, a permit is required for all work on any roofing component, including repair and maintenance. The application must be completed by a licensed contractor, with the owner's roofing notification attached. Repairs must use components that carry a product approval.

Under the state code, a building official may sign off on ordinary minor repairs without requiring a permit. In Miramar, ask the City's Building, Planning & Zoning office before you assume a small patch is exempt.

Repairs under the code can touch no more than 25 percent of a roof or roof section within any 12-month period. Past that, the whole roof or section must be brought to current code. The exception applies if the roof itself was built, repaired or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later. Once that condition is met, current code applies only to the portion that was repaired.

Repair gives way to tear-off in some cases. A roof with two or more layers of covering, or one that is water soaked, cannot simply be covered over. About 62.3 percent of Miramar homes are single-family detached, and most of those have one roof to judge, so the 25 percent count is easy to track.

• Stay off the roof. Look from the ground for missing shingles, lifted ridge vents and loose flashing.
• Check the attic and ceilings for stains, soft spots and visible leaks.
• Take photos of the damage first, and only then put any temporary cover in place.
• Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, so repair damage before the peak around September 10.

For insurance, a new claim must reach your insurer within 1 year of the loss. Questions about what your policy covers go to your insurer or agent, not to a roofer.