Roof repair in Ruskin, FL

The Florida Building Code caps patching at 25 percent of a roof section within any 12 months. Once the damage passes that threshold, the whole section must be redone. That cap is the legal line between repair and replacement for a Ruskin homeowner.

An exception exists for roofs that themselves were built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 code or a later edition. Those need only the new work to meet current code, and no local government can change that. Just 30.2 percent of Ruskin homes were built before 2000, but a home's build year does not give the roof's age, so ask the county for the roof's own permit record.

Age also matters to an insurer. Once a roof reaches 15 years, you may hire an authorized inspector at your own expense before any replacement is demanded. If that inspection finds 5 or more years of useful life, the insurer cannot drop you over age alone.

• Stay off the roof. Look from the ground for missing shingles, lifted ridge cap or a sagging soffit.
• Check the attic for daylight, wet insulation or stains on the underside of the decking.
• Photograph the damage and take only temporary steps to keep water out.

Because Ruskin sits in unincorporated territory, roof permits come from Hillsborough County's building office. The code requires a permit to repair a building but lets the building official approve ordinary minor repairs without one. Ask the county which one your job is before work begins.