Roof inspections in Olympia Heights, FL

The roof section of the 4-point form records covering material, roof age, remaining useful life, the date of the last roofing permit, and whether a replacement was full or partial. Citizens requires the 4-point inspection for properties more than 20 years old, which describes most homes in Olympia Heights. Permit history is on file with Miami-Dade County Regulatory and Economic Resources, which issues permits here.

The inspector also looks for damage: cracking, curling, heavy granule loss, exposed felt, loose or missing tabs or tiles, soft decking, and leaks in the attic or on ceilings. Attach a separate set of photos to the report for every roof slope. For a wind mitigation form, the inspector also checks attic items you cannot see, such as roof-deck attachment and roof-to-wall connectors.

Miami-Dade sits in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so the strong wind provisions adopted after Hurricane Andrew apply to roofs here. Your wind mitigation form is valid for up to five years if nothing material changes, so a single inspection can serve more than one renewal.

Order one before you buy or sell, when an insurer's letter questions your roof's age, or after a storm. Hurricane Irma in 2017 left about 1,000 Miami-Dade homes with major damage, so older roofs here have been through real wind. In Olympia Heights, 84.8 percent of homes are owner-occupied, and an owner has most to gain from knowing the roof's condition before a sale or renewal.

Be careful with door-to-door offers. Under Florida Statute 489.147, a roofing contractor may not offer anything of value for a roof inspection and may not advise you on what your policy covers. Check coverage questions with your insurer or agent, not the person on the roof.