Roof Inspections & Roof Certifications in Sarasota, FL
The roof is the first thing a Florida insurer asks about and the first part of a house a storm tests. Good News Home Inspections offers two kinds of roof work for Sarasota and Manatee County homes: a roof certification for your insurance company, and a roof inspection as part of a full home inspection when you are buying. Here is how they differ and which one fits your situation.
Roof certification or full roof inspection?
Roof Certificate Inspection
A focused visit for insurance and other specific needs. We evaluate the roof covering and its material, look for leaks, estimate the remaining life, note any repairs it needs and give you a certification letter you can send to your insurer or agent.
Roof as part of a home inspection
When you are buying, the roof is evaluated together with the attic, ventilation, insulation and the ceilings below it. Thermal imaging, included free on every full home inspection, helps us spot moisture that a roof leak leaves behind.
Owners renewing a policy usually need the certification. Buyers usually need the full inspection, and their insurer may ask for a certification or a 4-point and wind mitigation report on top of it before closing.
Tile, shingle and metal: what we check on Sarasota roofs
Sarasota and Manatee homes carry every common Florida roof type, and each one wears in its own way under strong sun, salt air and summer storms.
- Asphalt shingle: granule loss, curling or lifted tabs, nail pops and shingles loosened by wind, often worst on the south and west slopes.
- Concrete and clay tile: cracked, slipped or broken tiles and the ridge and hip details. The underlayment under the tile is what keeps water out, and it can age even when the tiles look fine.
- Metal: fasteners and exposed screws, corrosion near the coast, sealant at seams and penetrations.
- Low-slope sections over lanais, porches and additions: ponding water and open seams.
- On every roof: flashing at walls and chimneys, plumbing vent boots, skylights, gutters, soffits and fascia.
What insurers want to know about your roof
Florida insurers look closely at roofs before they write or renew a policy. They usually want the type of roof covering, its approximate age, its remaining useful life and whether there are leaks or visible damage. Older roofs get more scrutiny, so it helps to have the permit record for the last roof replacement on hand; the county building department keeps them.
The roof also appears on the other Florida insurance forms. It is one of the four systems on a 4-point inspection, and the roof covering, deck attachment and roof shape are questions on the wind mitigation form. If you are getting a new roof, ask your agent whether a new wind mitigation report could change your premium.
Before and after storm season
Gulf Coast roofs face hurricanes and tropical storms most years. Before the season starts, a roof check can catch loose shingles or cracked tiles that wind will lift. After a storm, an inspection with photos gives you a clear record of what changed. Our pre-hurricane checklist for Sarasota homes covers the rest of the house too.
We inspect roofs in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Osprey, Nokomis, Venice, North Port, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton, along with the rest of our Gulf Coast and Central Florida service area.
FAQs
Roof inspection questions
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