At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, many from the northern states sought to find or build a home in Florida, as doing so presented several advantages. However, they later realized they overlooked the fact that the region is also notorious for its hurricane season and humid climate.

The Truth Behind the Attractions of Buying a Coastal Home in Florida

One of the most compelling attractions to living in any of the counties in the Tampa Bay Area is that here, even a small home can have a style that resonates a casual yet elegant style of living. Most coastal homes come in designs akin to Mediterranean home features that capitalize on stunning views.

Yet many discovered that living in Florida is not as idyllic as they imagined it to be, since the threats of Florida’s hurricanes, tropical storms and hot humid seasons have been worsening with each passing year. So have the damages being inflicted by the weather elements on coastal houses.

Soaring Insurance Costs or Policy Cancellations

The most disheartening discovery, particularly in the coastal areas, is that private insurance companies have either raised insurance premiums, or have cancelled home insurance policies as remedies for their dwindling surplus funds.

While the greatest advantage posed by living in Florida is the non-payment of state income tax, migrants have come to realize that the trade off is having to pay higher car and home insurance costs.

Actually, some buyers were convinced that they could use an existing roof damage as a bargaining tool in negotiating for a lower purchase price. Little did they know that when buying a home in Florida, a damaged roof, especially in older homes, could have serious implications.

Providers of Roofing Services in Tampa Give Advice on How to Deal with Post-Hurricane Roof Damages

The general consensus in the Tampa Bay Area is that the hurricanes and tropical storms occurring in the Gulf Coast region have been causing greater damages to Florida homes. Flooding is a major concern not only because they have become more frequent. Floodwater levels have become higher and the constant inundation have caused weakening in concrete foundations and drywalls. Such conditions could worsen if the roofing system as well, is not properly maintained.

Generally, house roofs must be inspected every six months, but not all homeowners have been following this recommendation. Since high winds and rains have become stronger and more intense, many providers of roofing services have been offering free roof inspection services. That way, roofing repair costs will be kept at a minimum, as opposed to exposing the roofing system to further damages, which at worst, will call for a roof replacement.

However, a new law now forbids roofing services contractors to offer free inspection report, which insurance companies blame as the reason why fraudulent insurance claims have proliferated.

Replacing Missing or Damaged Shingles

If a post-hurricane inspection reveals that the only defects that require addressing are missing or damaged shingles, the repair costs would not be minimal. Not unless the defect was allowed to remain in an unrepaired state during past hurricane seasons.

Damages that Have Progressed into Roof Leaks

Roof leaks denote that water infiltration has transpired as a result of unrepaired shingle damages sustained from previous storms or hurricanes. Repair work will include areas in the roofing systems where water has accumulated. If water damage has already affected the integrity of the roofing system, a roof replacement becomes necessary.

Roof Leaks Caused by Damaged Gutters and Sidings

Roof leaks can also be caused by gutters and/or sidings that have been torn apart by storms, hurricanes or tornadoes, which make low slope/flat roofs highly vulnerable to water infiltration. Damaged gutters and sidings must be immediately repaired to prevent water infiltration from creating moist conditions. Moisture as we all know, could cause wood materials to rot, metal components to erode as well as form mildew inside the home.