Roof inspections in Palmetto Estates, FL

Fla. Stat. 627.7011(5) bars an insurer from refusing a homeowner's policy solely because the roof is under 15 years old. When your roof turns 15 years old, you may bring in an authorized inspector, paying for the visit yourself. A report showing 5 or more years of useful life stops the insurer from dropping you over age alone.

The roof section of the 4-point form lists the covering material, roof age, remaining useful life, last roofing permit date, and percentage replaced. Citizens requires that inspection for properties more than 20 years old, and most Palmetto Estates homes fit that. To learn what your policy requires, ask your own insurer or agent.

An inspector looks at the damage items insurers list: cracking, curling, granule loss, exposed felt, loose or missing tabs or tiles, soft decking, and leaks on attic undersides and ceilings. Attic details you cannot see from below, like deck nailing and roof-to-wall connectors, get added to the report in a wind mitigation inspection. Miami-Dade is in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so those details carry weight here.

• Before buying or selling a home, so the roof condition is known before closing.
• Use this section once an insurer letter about roof age lands in your mailbox.
• After a storm, to document damage before the 1-year notice window closes.
• When the 4-point form or wind mitigation form is due for renewal.

Because Palmetto Estates sits in unincorporated territory, roof permits come from Miami-Dade County Regulatory and Economic Resources. Confirm permit questions with that office. Under Fla. Stat. 489.147, a roofer may not advise you on coverage, so take policy questions to your insurer.