Roof repair in Hudson, FL

The code treats a patch job and a new roof differently, and the dividing line is 25 percent of the roof or roof section within any 12 months. Past that point, you will need new covering across the whole roof or the affected section. A roof already redone to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later gets a break: only the new work must meet current code.

Hudson's median home was built in 1984, with a margin of error of 2 years. That suggests many roofs here have been replaced at least once, but the code edition used for any replacement is a question for your permit records at Pasco County Building Construction Services, since Hudson is unincorporated.

About 27 percent of Hudson's housing units are mobile homes, against 17 percent countywide. Those homes follow the HUD code, so confirm roof requirements with the county building office before assuming the Florida Building Code applies.

Stay off the roof. From the ground, look for missing or curled tabs, exposed felt, bare asphalt and granules in the gutters. Then look in the attic for damp insulation and daylight. Insurers' inspectors look for these same items, and Idalia's 45 mph gust near Hudson was enough to loosen shingles.

Photograph everything and tarp only what you can reach safely from the ground or a ladder. The deadline for reporting a new property claim to an insurer is 1 year from the date of loss. What your policy pays is between you and your insurer or agent, not a roofer.

Small repairs may or may not need a permit, and the county building official makes that decision. With 46 percent of Hudson residents 65 or older, many owners hire out the work. Check the contractor's license and read the notices Florida requires in every residential roof contract.