New construction roofing in Palm Harbor, FL

Sheathing nails on a new home are ring shank by code. The standard choice is 2 1/2 inch by 0.131 inch. Thinner sheathing, 15/32 inch or less, may use two other ring shank sizes. With 38.2 percent of Palm Harbor's area covered by water, wind-driven rain makes a tight deck worth the care.

Shingle and metal roofs may be dried in three ways. One is self-adhering membrane over the entire deck. Another is a membrane or tape strip at least 3 3/4 inches wide over each deck joint, then underlayment on top. The third is two layers of felt-type underlayment held with cap nails.

Drip edge sits over the underlayment at eaves and gables. Fasteners may be 12 inches apart, but the code tightens that to 4 inches where design wind speed is 110 mph or more or the roof is over 33 feet high. Tile goes only over solid sheathing and follows the FRSA/TRI high wind manual.

Gutters are required where eaves project less than 6 inches, except at gable rakes. Each downspout must empty at least 1 foot from the sidewall.

Inspections run in a set sequence: foundation, framing, sheathing, exterior wall coverings, roofing, then final. Sheathing is checked as a dry-in or on its own. The roofing stop covers insulation, flashing and the covering itself. Pinellas inspectors will not expect shingles on a deck that has not passed sheathing.

Who installs matters. A general contractor may put on asphalt or fiberglass shingles only on a new building of its own construction. Tile, metal and membrane jobs belong to a roofer holding a state certificate or registration. An owner, or the owner's contractor with written authorization, may also hire a private provider for plans review or inspections.

Your permit card carries a warning about the Notice of Commencement: if it is not recorded and posted before the first inspection, you may pay twice for the work. The permit itself lapses if work does not start within 6 months. Hermine dropped 22.36 inches of rain near Tarpon Springs in 2016, so do not leave a deck open.