Roofing Questions From Tampa Bay Homeowners
Short answers first. Where a question needs more than a paragraph, the link goes to the page that covers it properly, with sources.
Calling about your roof
What should I say when I call?
Start with the street address or ZIP, then what you’re seeing and whether water is coming in right now. If you know the roof’s age or type, or you’ve already opened an insurance claim, say so. Those few facts decide whether it needs a tarp first, a repair visit or a replacement conversation.
Can I get a price over the phone?
Not a real one. A roofer needs to see the roof, measure it and usually look in the attic before putting a number in writing. Anything quoted sight unseen is a guess, and the decking alone can move a re-roof price a lot once the old shingles come off.
Is my ZIP code covered?
Coverage runs by ZIP code across most of Hillsborough County plus 33811 in south Lakeland and 33860 in Mulberry. The mailing city alone doesn’t settle it, so check the list.
Leaks and damage
Water is dripping from the ceiling. What do I do first?
Protect what’s under it, take photos before anything gets moved or covered, and call. Stay off the roof, wet or dry.
There’s a ceiling stain but the attic looks dry. Is it the roof?
Often not. In Tampa homes with ducts and the air handler in the attic, condensation and a backed-up drain pan cause plenty of stains. Rule those out first.
How do I know if the storm damaged my roof?
Look from the yard for missing or lifted shingles, slipped tiles and debris, then photograph what you see. A roofer’s written report with photos and measurements is what an adjuster will want.
Are the black streaks on my roof a problem?
Usually they’re algae, which stains but doesn’t eat the roof. It cleans off with a low-pressure wash. A pressure washer strips granules and does more harm than the streaks.
Insurance and roof age
Can my insurer drop me because the roof is old?
Not for roof age alone if the roof is under 15 years old. Past that, an inspection showing at least five years of useful life left also keeps age alone from being the reason.
How long do I have to file a roof claim in Florida?
One year from the date of loss for a new or reopened claim, and 18 months for a supplemental claim, under Florida law.
Why was my first claim check so much less than the roof costs?
Policies that pay replacement cost often pay the depreciated amount first and release the rest after the work is done. Your deductible also comes off the top.
Permits, licenses and contracts
Who issues the permit for my roof?
It depends on the street address. Many “Tampa” addresses are in unincorporated Hillsborough County, where the County issues it, and Plant City, Lakeland and Mulberry run their own offices inside city limits.
How do I check that a roofer is licensed?
Search the company or the qualifier’s name on the Florida DBPR license lookup before you sign, and make sure the name on the contract matches.
How big a deposit should a roofer ask for?
Florida doesn’t cap deposits, but a contractor who takes more than 10% has to apply for the permit within 30 days and start within 90 days of getting it.
The words on a roofing quote
What is a “square” on a roofing quote?
A square is 100 square feet of roof surface. Roofers measure and price roofs in squares, so a 25-square roof has about 2,500 square feet of roof, which is more than the floor area of a one-story house because of the pitch and overhangs.
What do tear-off, decking and underlayment mean?
Tear-off is removing the old roof down to the wood. Decking is that wood, the plywood or boards the roof is nailed to. Underlayment is the layer between the decking and the shingles or tile that keeps water out if the covering lets some through.
What are flashing and drip edge?
Flashing is the metal (or membrane) that seals the roof where it meets walls, chimneys, skylights and valleys, which is where a lot of leaks start. Drip edge is the metal strip along the roof’s edges that directs water into the gutter and protects the edge of the decking.