How To Look At A House
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Can I replace my own roof in Florida?
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Homeowner may pull a permit to act as their own contractor to replace their home roof under an exemption in Florida Statute 489.103(7)(a). There is a not limitation on the types of roofing that can be installed, although the most popular homeowner reroof material is asphalt shingles. There are multiple stipulations to this exemption, such as:
1) Homeowner must provide direct onsite supervision of all work not performed by a licensed contractor.
2) Property must be for the occupancy and use of the homeowner, and the work must not be for the purpose of sale or lease within one year after completion of work.
3) Prior to qualifying for the exemption, the owner must receive approval from the local permitting agency.
4) The owner must personally appear and sign for the building permit and must satisfy local permitting agency requirements, and must sign a disclosure statement form that states that the homeowner understands all obligations under the law, including that the homeowner is not allowed to hire an unlicensed person to act as contractor and supervise persons working on the roof. There are multiple other requirements and warnings on the form. Click on the link below to read the full text of the law, including the Disclosure Statement.
While it is possible to pull your own permit to replace the roof on your home, we do not recommend it unless you have roofing experience, and specifically recent experience in complying with the many code requirements in that are based on making the roof covering highly wind resistant.
Also see our blog post Do you need a permit to repair a roof in Florida?
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To learn more about roofs and attics, see these other blog posts:
• Why is my roof sheathing sagging between the trusses?
• Why is granule loss a problem for an asphalt shingle roof?
• What are the mistakes to avoid when doing attic improvements?
• What causes roof shingles to curl up at corners?
• What causes shingles to buckle along a line on the roof?
• What causes leaks at a fake roof dormer?
• What causes a sagging roof ridge line?
• What causes bubble-like blisters in a built-up and gravel roof?
• Why does it cost so much more to replace a steep roof than a low slope roof?
• What is "ponding" on a flat roof?
• Is an attic required to have a light by the building code?
• How can I inspect my roof for hurricane damage?
• Why is premature curl of roof shingles a problem?
• How can I tell if a roof has more than one layer of shingles?
• What are the common problems with attic insulation?
• What is the life expectancy of an asbestos cement shingle roof?
• What's the average lifespan of a roof?
• Why is it a mistake to replace a roof and not replace its flashings?
• Why is there no attic access hatch in the house?
• What is the building code requirement for an attic access hatch, scuttle, or door?
• Does a roof with multiple layers of shingles last longer?
• What can I do to prevent roof leaks?
• Are roof trusses better than roof rafters (stick framing)?
• Why is a popped nail in a shingle roof a problem? How do I fix it?
• What are the most common problems with wood roof trusses?
• What causes a lump or dip in the roof?
• If my roof is not leaking, why does it need to be replaced?
• How can I be sure my roofing contractor got a permit?
• How many layers of roofing are allowed on a home?
• What are the dark lines running parallel to shingles on my roof?
• Can metal roofing be used on a low slope/pitch roof?
• How can I make my roof last longer?
• What are the warning signs of a dangerous attic pull-down ladder?
• How can I find out the age of a roof?
• Should I buy a house that needs a new roof?
• Should I buy a house with an old roof?
• What are those metal boxes on the roof?
• What does "lack of tab adhesion" in an asphalt shingle roof mean?
• Why do roof edges start leaking?
• Why do my dormer windows leak?
• Do home inspectors go on the roof? Do they get in the attic?
• Should I put gutters on the house?
• How much of a roof truss can I cut out to make a storage platform in the attic?
• What's the difference between an "architectural" and a regular shingle roof?
• What does a home inspector look for when examining a roof?
• Do stains on the ceiling mean the roof is leaking?
• How can I tell if the house needs a new roof?
• Why does my homeowner's insurance want a roof inspection?
• What are the hazards to avoid when going into an attic?
Visit our ROOF AND ATTIC page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
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