Roof inspections in Royal Palm Beach, FL

Fla. Stat. 627.7011(5) bars an insurer from refusing or non-renewing your policy solely over roof age when the roof is under 15 years. At 15 years or more, you may hire an authorized inspector at your own cost. A finding of 5 or more years of useful life stops the insurer from dropping you for age alone.

Your insurer has to accept the inspector. The list includes a roofing contractor, a home inspector, a building code inspector, an engineer or an architect. Since most Royal Palm Beach homes date from 1990 onward, many owners are reaching this 15-year line without ever having had a roof report.

The roof part of the 4-point form lists the material, age, remaining life, last permit date, how much was replaced, overall condition and any damage. For any home older than 20 years, Citizens asks for a 4-point inspection. Ask your insurer or agent what your own policy needs.

The inspector looks for cracking, curling, heavy granule loss, exposed asphalt or felt, loose or missing tabs or tiles, soft decking and visible leaks in the attic and on ceilings. Wind mitigation work adds attic items you cannot see from the ground: deck nailing, roof-to-wall connectors and the sealed roof deck.

• Buying or selling a home with a roof near or past 15 years.
• Receiving an insurer letter about roof age.
• After a storm, to document damage and age before any repair.
• Before a repair, since the 25 percent rule can require a full replacement.

Citizens asks for proof of five years of remaining life on roofs older than 25 years for shingle, or 50 years for tile and metal. Confirm permit requirements for any repair with the Village of Royal Palm Beach Building office.