Commercial roofing in Temple Terrace, FL

Temple Terrace issues its own building permits through its Building and Permitting office, so the city, not Tampa or the county, is the office to call for a roof permit. Check the city's current permit forms before work starts.

Florida law limits who may market roofing work. A general contractor who is not certified as a roofing contractor cannot advertise as one. Ask any bidder to show the state roofing registration on the bid.

Permits expire if work does not begin within 6 months after issuance. A filed application lapses after 180 days unless the applicant keeps pursuing it. Ask the bidder how the schedule fits those limits.

Ask each bidder to state the slope of the finished low-slope roof. The Florida code sets a minimum of one-fourth unit in 12, which equals 2 percent, for built-up, modified bitumen, single-ply and liquid-applied systems. A bid that does not mention slope and drainage is incomplete.

Check the drains and the emergency overflow. Where a parapet can trap water, the code requires secondary drains or scuppers. Local rain is heavy: Tampa International Airport averages 49.48 inches a year, with about 61 percent of it falling from June through September.

Ask whether the 25 percent rule applies. If more than a quarter of the roof area is replaced within 12 months, the entire roof system must meet current code unless the existing roof was built to the 2007 code or later. Compare bids on the same scope.