Florida roof FAQ
Short, plain answers to the roof questions Florida homeowners ask us most: roof age, how long roofs last, insurance, FEMA flood zones, wind zones and cost. For your own home’s numbers, get your free Sonny’s Roof Report.
Get your free Sonny’s Roof ReportHow old is my roof?
If your roof has never been replaced, it is as old as your home, and your home’s year built is listed in your county property appraiser’s records. If it has been replaced, the reroof permit on file with your city or county building department shows when. Our free Sonny’s Roof Report looks up your home’s year built in county records and turns it into an approximate roof age and an A–F condition grade. We confirm the exact age at a free roof assessment.
How long do shingle, tile and metal roofs last in Florida?
An asphalt shingle roof typically lasts about 15 to 20 years in Florida, and tile and metal roofs often last 30 to 50 years or more. Sun, heat, humidity, storms, and how well the roof was installed and maintained can shorten or lengthen that. Our free Sonny’s Roof Report compares your roof’s approximate age to a typical 15-year lifespan so you can plan ahead.
Does roof age affect homeowners insurance in Florida?
It can: many Florida insurers look more closely at roofs around 15 years old or older, and some ask for a roof inspection before they write or renew a policy. Under Florida law (section 627.7011, Florida Statutes), an insurer can’t refuse to write or renew a policy only because the roof is less than 15 years old, and for an older roof it must accept an inspection showing at least 5 years of useful life left. Your insurance agent can tell you how your insurer handles roof age. Our free Sonny’s Roof Report shows your roof’s approximate age before your carrier asks.
How do I check my FEMA flood zone?
Enter your address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov to see the official flood map for your property. Your lender or insurance agent can also tell you your zone. Our free Sonny’s Roof Report includes your FEMA flood zone in plain English, taken from FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer, but it is not an official flood determination.
What do flood zones AE, VE and X mean?
Zones that start with A (such as AE) are high-risk flood areas, and zones that start with V (such as VE) are high-risk coastal areas that also face storm waves. Lenders usually require flood insurance for homes in A and V zones. Zone X is a moderate- to minimal-risk area, where flood insurance is optional but still available. Our free Sonny’s Roof Report tells you which zone your address is in.
What is design wind speed?
Design wind speed is the wind speed that new homes and roofs at a given address must be built to withstand under the Florida Building Code. The current code (8th Edition, 2023) uses the ASCE 7-22 wind maps, and older roofs were built to older wind rules. Our free Sonny’s Roof Report shows the design wind speed for your address from those maps, and your local building department confirms the official requirement.
What is a wind-borne debris region?
It is an area where the Florida Building Code requires impact protection, such as impact-rated windows and doors or storm shutters, because hurricanes can throw debris. It covers areas with a design wind speed of 140 mph or more, and areas of 130 mph or more within 1 mile of the coast. Our free Sonny’s Roof Report tells you whether your address is likely in one, and your local building department makes the official call.
What’s in the free Sonny’s Roof Report?
The report shows your roof’s approximate age and an A–F condition grade, its material (read from aerial imagery), a replacement price range, your FEMA flood zone, and your Florida Building Code wind zone. You enter your Florida address on sonnysroofreport.com and the report is emailed to you right away. Instant price ranges are for asphalt shingle roofs; tile, metal and flat roofs get a custom quote from our team. The report is free, with no obligation.
How much does a new roof cost?
The cost depends mostly on your roof’s size, its material and pitch, and what the crew finds once the old roof comes off. Roofs are measured in squares, and one square is 100 square feet. Our free Sonny’s Roof Report gives a price range for an asphalt shingle roof based on your roof’s measured size; tile, metal and flat roofs get a custom quote. The range can only go up if our in-person inspection finds additional damage, never down.
Is Sonny’s Roof Report the same as a roof inspection?
No. The report is built from county records, satellite imagery, and FEMA and Florida Building Code maps, so it can’t see damage on your roof. A free roof assessment from our team checks the roof’s actual condition and confirms its age.
Do you serve Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties?
Yes. Sonny’s Construction & Roofing is based in Port Richey and serves homeowners in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties. The free Sonny’s Roof Report works for any Florida address, and it is most complete in these four counties, where we use county property records for roof age.
How do I get a free roof assessment?
Book a free roof assessment online at cal.com/sonnysroofreport/free-roof-assessment, or call our Roofing Division at (727) 800-3373. Your free Sonny’s Roof Report also includes a booking link. There’s no obligation.
Is Sonny’s Construction & Roofing licensed?
Yes. Sonny’s holds Florida contractor licenses CCC1336364 (Certified Roofing Contractor) and CRC1335155 (Certified Residential Contractor). You can look up any Florida contractor license on the Department of Business and Professional Regulation website at myfloridalicense.com.
Is Sonny’s Roof Report really free?
Yes. The report is free and there is no obligation to buy anything. When you request it, you agree to receive email and text messages about your report and service, and you can opt out at any time by replying STOP.