Don’t Fiddle on Your Roof When it Comes to Repairs

Roof repair is part of routine home maintenance, but you don’t have to wish you were a rich man to make improvements that could extend the life of your roof. And the timing couldn’t be better – now that we’ve escaped the ever-present dew and rain of Florida’s summer season, the weather is ideal to upgrade your roof. The materials are cooler to handle while still being warm enough to seal correctly – helping avoid trapped moisture that can lead to blistering and other problems. Beyond keeping you safe in the event of a storm, a roof that’s retrofitted to meet hurricane standards can help pay for itself in the way of wind mitigation credits and discounts from your homeowners insurance company.
Here are areas to consider when making your roof hurricane and mitigation inspection ready:

Roof Covering

Your roof covering can be the deciding factor as to whether your house qualifies for wind mitigation discounts. If you plan to recover your roof, slate, tile and asphalt shingles are the most common materials used in Florida however, metal panels and wood shingles and shakes are also options for your consideration. Consult with a roofer to determine which material is best for your home.
Tip: To protect roof coverings from both wind and hail damage, look for roof coverings that are both wind and impact rated.

Secondary Water Resistance (SWR)

This coating seals to the roof deck and protects the building if the roof covering fails during intense winds and keeps rain from leaking into the house. SWR provides a layer of waterproofing by sealing the seams in the roof deck.
Tip: Some insurance companies will consider a concrete roof deck a secondary barrier but most only apply the credit for self-adhering modified bitumen (peel and stick roofing), so check with your carrier.

Roof-to-Wall Connection

Your roof is connected to the walls of your home, which are secured to the strongest anchor on your property – your home’s foundation. The roof-to-wall connection (also known as continuous load path) keeps the roof on your home by transferring uplift loads on the roof into the supporting walls. The weaker the connection, the higher probability the roof will be pulled off during high winds.

Tip: The four most common connection types (listed from strongest to weakest) are double wraps, single wraps, clips, and toe nails.

Roof Deck Attachment

Poorly attached roof decking is the leading cause of home damage from hurricanes. The roof deck holds the whole house together, providing structural integrity. Most roofs in Florida consist of shingles nailed to plywood sheets. If the plywood sheets are not securely nailed to your roof trusses, additional nails, and/or longer nails, along with a foam adhesive should be added to ensure the plywood is not blown off in a hurricane.

Tip: In order to qualify for mitigation credits, roof decking/sheathing must consist of 1/2" (min) plywood or OSB that is fastened to the trusses/rafters with 8d (min) nails having nail spacing not exceeding 12" on the field trusses/rafters and 6" on the seam trusses/rafters.

Roof Shape

Most homes in Florida feature flat, hip, or gable shaped roofs. Compared to other types of roofs, hip roofs generally perform better in extreme winds because they have fewer sharp corners and their construction makes them inherently more structurally stable. Hip roofs are sloped downward on all sides like a pyramid and offer the greatest insurance discounts.
Tip: Steeply pitched roofs (roofs angled to the horizontal at 30 degrees or more) usually perform better in hurricanes than flat roofs because uplift on the windward roof slopes is either reduced or eliminated.

Gable End Bracing

Gable end walls, if not properly braced and anchored, can take a tremendous beating during a hurricane. When the connection between your home’s wall framing and roof framing at the gable ends is weak, the gable end walls can get sucked out by the wind, exposing your home to rain and damaging your insulation, drywall and contents.
Tip: Any gable end that is more than 48 inches should be braced to the 2001 Florida Building Code standard to qualify for an insurance discount.
Roof failures account for the largest amount of loss during a hurricane. Now’s the time to raise your roof (strength) in preparation for the next storm and make improvements that could reduce your insurance premiums. Do you have any helpful hints to share about roof upgrades?

Contact us for all your Insurance needs! (321)725-1620

Bob Lancaster Insurance

Serving Florida since 1964

Eight Home Maintenance Myths - Knowing fact from fiction when it comes to home maintenance can save you time and money

Home maintenance tips and suggestions abound on the Internet – a search about home upkeep pointers will likely yield results about everything, including the kitchen sink. But how much of the information is accurate? Avoid the pain of pouring money down the drain: take a moment to learn the truth about a few common home maintenance myths.

Myth: You can tell if your home’s smoke alarm is working by pressing the test button.
Truth: When you press the test button on your smoke detector, you’re only testing whether its sound is functioning properly. This is not an accurate way to determine if your device will detect smoke. Instead, place a burned out match under the smoke alarm. Smoke alarms are installed in more than half of homes that suffer a fatal fire, but are only working correctly in a third of those homes.


Myth: Mold grows only on organic materials like paper and wood.
Truth: Mold is the “cockroach” of the fungi family and can grow anywhere, even on steel! If moisture and mold spores are present, then mold can thrive – no matter the surface. Be proactive and regularly check pipes for moisture. When in doubt about whether you have a mold issue, call a professional for an inspection.

Myth: Grass that turns brown is dead.
Truth: Brown grass is still alive; it is just dormant. It will come back if you don’t destroy it. Cool season grasses lie in a dormant state to protect themselves during long, hot periods when they do not have enough water to remain in an active growth phase.

Myth: The lower you set your thermostat, the faster your house will cool.
Truth: Your thermostat has no sense of urgency. It functions normally until it reaches the desired temperature. It does not operate faster or more slowly based on the temperature you select.

Myth: Fluorescent light bulbs are just as bad for the environment as traditional ones because they contain mercury.
Truth: Fluorescent light bulbs do contain a small amount of mercury that can seep out if they break. However, traditional bulbs emit more mercury than fluorescent bulbs in everyday use. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a typical incandescent bulb emits about three times as much mercury as a fluorescent light bulb. If a fluorescent bulb breaks inside your home, have all people and pets leave the room. Air out the room for 5-10 minutes, then collect the broken pieces using stiff cardboard, sticky tape, and damp paper towels. It is important that you never vacuum up the broken light bulb to prevent a spread of mercury.

Myth: It doesn’t matter what time of day you add chemicals to your pool.
Truth: There is an optimal time of day to add chemicals to your pool, and that is after the sun goes down. If you add chemicals when the sun is in strong, the UV rays from the sun can reduce the effectiveness of some chemicals, specifically chlorine.

Myth: Solar panels are unreliable because they don’t work at night.
Truth: Solar panels can’t generate power in total darkness. But home solar systems frequently generate more energy during daylight hours than a home even needs. This excess energy can be sent back to the grid for later use.

Myth: You Can’t Walk on a Metal Roof.
Truth: A properly sheathed metal roof is very sturdy. You can safely walk on a metal roof during cleaning and maintenance without fear of damaging it. Consult the manufacturer of your specific roof to determine the best methods of navigating your roof.

If you have a home maintenance tip we missed please share with us in comments.

Contact us for all your Insurance needs! (321)725-1620

Bob Lancaster Insurance

Serving Florida since 1964