Are Changes Coming to Florida's Roofing Codes?

Roof damage is frequent in Florida, especially with summer storms, hurricanes, and tropical storms. Presently, if 25% or more of a roof is damaged within a 12 month period, insurance companies are required to replace the entire roof.

The Florida Existing Building Code enacted this requirement as a result of the devastating hurricanes and storms that frequent Florida. With Floridian homeowners' roofs taking a beating from hurricane force winds, the roof's risk of failure increases with each repair. The Code took this risk into account and found the best way to maintain the integrity of homeowners' roofs was to guarantee replacement after this 25% has been reached.

Insurance companies have been fighting this replacement requirement, citing rampant roof replacements as a large reason for their losses. There has been a recent push to revise the Florida Existing Building Code to eliminate the replacement requirement for roofs that are less than 9 years old, and eliminate replacement for roofs with two layers of shingles and only require replacement of the layer that was damaged.

Insurance companies are excited for the change, as it would result in them paying less for significant damages to roofing systems. However, homeowners should be weary, as the loss of replacement could result in a loss of integrity to their roofs. Whether the Code will be revised is yet to be seen.

If your insurance company is denying your roofing claim and refusing full replacement after significant damages, a property damage attorney may be able to help. Contact the Law Offices of Rina Feld today.

This article is not intended to be legal advice nor create an attorney-client relationship.