Roof Replacement: what to expect
A full replacement means stripping the old covering down to the deck, replacing any rotten or delaminated sheathing, re-nailing the deck to current code where required, installing new underlayment, then installing the new roof covering along with flashing, drip edge, valley metal and ridge ventilation.
In Northeast Florida the two decisions that matter most are the underlayment and the fastening schedule. Daily summer downpours and wind-driven rain find their way under a covering far more often here than in a dry climate, so the secondary water barrier is doing real work. The nailing pattern and the deck attachment are what a wind mitigation inspector will look at afterwards, and they are also what determines whether the roof stays on.
Replacement is also the answer when an insurance carrier declines or non-renews a policy because of roof age or condition. Ask any contractor you talk to for the manufacturer and product line, the underlayment type, whether the deck will be re-nailed, and what documentation you will receive at the end: you will want that paperwork for your insurer.
Typically included
- Tear-off, deck inspection and replacement of damaged sheathing
- New underlayment and flashing, not just a new top layer
- Documentation you can hand to your insurance carrier
- Permit pulled and inspected through your local building department
Before you sign
Verify the contractor's licence at myfloridalicense.com, ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly by their insurer, get the full scope of work in writing, confirm that a permit will be pulled, and never pay a large cash deposit. If the work is connected to an insurance claim, read anything that assigns your benefits to a contractor very carefully, and speak to your carrier, not to us, about your policy.