Roof inspections in Coral Terrace, FL

Under Fla. Stat. 627.7011(5), an insurer may not refuse a homeowner's policy solely because the roof is under 15 years old. Once a roof reaches 15 years, the insurer must let you have an authorized inspector check it at your expense. A result of 5 or more years of useful life limits the insurer's ability to cite age alone. With 84.3 percent of Coral Terrace homes built before 1980, many owners may reach this point.

Florida names who can serve as an authorized inspector: a licensed home inspector, a building code inspector, a licensed roofing or general contractor, an engineer or an architect. The insurer must accept the person, so ask your insurer or agent for its list before you book anyone. Nothing here tells you what your policy covers.

Citizens requires a 4-point inspection for properties over 20 years old, and the median Coral Terrace home dates to 1957. Its roof section records the covering, age, remaining useful life, last permit date, whether replacement was full or partial, and a damage list that includes curling, granule loss, soft decking and visible leaks.

An inspector looks at the covering, its age, remaining life, permit history and any leaks. For a wind mitigation form, the inspector also records attic items you cannot see from the ground: roof-deck nailing, roof-to-wall connections and any sealed roof deck, with photos. Miami-Dade is one of the two counties in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so the form uses the HVHZ category.

• A purchase or sale, so the roof's condition is on record.
• A letter from your insurer that mentions roof age.
• Storm damage you can see or suspect.
• A planned repair, since the 25 percent rule can turn a partial job into a full replacement.

The wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, is valid for up to five years if the structure has not materially changed. Roof permits in Coral Terrace come from the Miami-Dade County Regulatory and Economic Resources building office, since this is an unincorporated area. Confirm permit history with that office.