Roof inspections in Eatonville, FL

The 4-point form's roof section records the covering material, roof age, remaining useful life, date of the last roofing permit, and whether the roof was fully or partly replaced. It also asks for overall condition and photos of each slope.

• Cracking, curling or cupping of shingles
• Granule loss that exposes the asphalt or felt beneath
• Missing, loose or cracked tabs or tiles
• Soft spots in the decking
• Look for leaks you can see, whether in the attic or on the ceilings inside your home.

If you want wind credits, the separate wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, asks about roof-deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and a sealed roof deck. Those items sit in the attic and are hard for an owner to check alone. A completed form stays good for up to five years unless the structure changes.

Only 34 percent of occupied homes here are owner-occupied. Many roofs belong to landlords, and tenants often learn of problems first. If you manage a rental, an inspection before a lease turnover, a sale or an insurer renewal gives you the roof's condition on paper.

After a storm, look from the ground first. Hurricane Ian's one indirect death in Orange County was a man who fell from a ladder clearing debris from his roof. Hurricane Irma brought a peak gust of 69 knots at Orlando International. Let an inspector do the climbing.

Eatonville's Historic Preservation Board design-reviews proposed improvements to private property. Ask the Planning, Zoning, and Building Department before you plan any work that follows an inspection. Orange County's own permits go through its online Fast Track portal.

Under Fla. Stat. 489.147, a roofer may not offer a gift or a waived deductible in exchange for an inspection or claim. If a roofer offers one, treat it as a warning sign, and ask your insurer or agent what your policy requires before you sign.