RRSA Vero Beach wants to make sure our blog readers in South Florida stay educated on all things involving your roofs. In that vein, today we would like to discuss Florida's 25 % rule when it comes to roof damage. For South Florida homeowners, the threat of roof damage is a persistent concern. Since we live in a tropical climate, there is always the possibility of downed trees, tropical storms, and hurricanes.

As a South Florida resident with insurance coverage on your home, RRSA Vero Beach wants you to make sure you are aware of a unique aspect of Florida’s Building Code. Section 611.1.1 of the Building Code states: “Not more than 25 percent of the total roof area or roof section of any existing building or structure shall be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period unless the entire roofing system or roof section conforms to requirements of this code.”

To clear things up if there is any confusion, here is what Florida’s 25 percent rule means for your South Florida roof damage insurance claim:

1. If more than 25 percent of your roof was damaged, you may be entitled to a full replacement.

Florida’s Building Code states that if more than 25 percent of a roof is damaged, then the entire roof must be brought up to code. Roofing standards change regularly; so, for homeowners with older roofs, this often means a full roof replacement. However, in some cases, the Building Code will divide a roof into multiple “roof sections.” If your roof has multiple sections and only one suffers greater than 25 percent damage in a storm, then only the affected “roof section” needs to meet the current building standards.

2. If less than 25 percent of your roof was damaged, the rest of your roof is unaffected.

What if less than 25 percent of your roof is damaged? If this is the case (for example, if a tree fell on one corner of your house), then Building Code Section 611.1.1 does not apply. Only the damaged portion must be restored in accordance with current Building Code standards.

3. Insurance companies will try to minimize roof damage in order to avoid costly replacements.

Under Florida’s 25 percent rule, homeowner’s insurance companies are incentivized to minimize policyholders’ roof damage claims as much as possible. If an insurer can claim that less than 25 percent of a roof was damaged or claim that only one “roof section” suffered damage, then it will not have to pay out as much as if a full roof replacement were required under Building Code Section 611.1.1. This is an issue that homeowners need to watch for during the insurance claim process. If your insurance company attempts to provide you with only a partial roof replacement, it may be handling your claim in bad faith.

RRSA Vero Beach hopes this helps illuminate all the facts concerning the Florida 25% rule when it comes to your South Florida roof. If you have any questions or you would like one of our professional team members to visit your home and give you a free roof inspection, don't hesitate to call us! We love hearing from our blog readers, even if it's just to get to know us.

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