Roof repair in Lake Wales, FL

Florida's building code caps patch work at 25 percent of a roof or roof section in any 12-month period. When repairs go past that cap, you have to replace or recover the whole roof section. The main legal dividing line between repair and replacement is this limit.

There is an exception. When the roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or a later edition, current code applies only to the portion being repaired. Local governments cannot change that exception through their own amendments. Median home build year does not tell you a roof's age, so check your own roof's history.

Many Lake Wales homes are mobile or manufactured, 5.5 percent of 8,223 housing units. Those homes follow the HUD code, so ask the building office which rules apply to your roof.

The City of Lake Wales Building Division issues permits and runs inspections. The code lets the building official approve ordinary minor repairs without a permit, so ask the division whether your repair qualifies. The city also has a Historic District Regulatory Board and four National Register historic districts, so confirm any extra review before work on an older downtown property.

After a storm, stay off the roof. Photograph damage from the ground, cover openings, and keep water out of the attic. Roofing contractors in Florida are prohibited by law from soliciting claims or giving advice on coverage. Ask your insurer or agent what your policy covers and the filing deadlines.