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sound”, or “The trusses are fine just put a new roof
on.” They can assess damage only to the extent that
it does not, or may not; impact the structural
adequacy of a building. If there is any question of
structural damage, hire a licensed professional
engineer, or insist upon a written analysis and
report from an engineer hired by the Insurance
Company. (Note, if the insurance company hires an
engineer at your request you should not have to pay
for those services.)
Insist that all work has a
proper permit approved by the municipality
responsible for issuing permits, and that the
contractor is properly licensed. If repairs, such as
a new roof, are installed without proper permits by
a licensed contractor, and it does not meet the
current Florida Building Code, it mat gave to be
removed and re-installed. If this is the case, your
insurance company will not pay twice.
According to 3401.8.3.1 of the
Florida Building Code “When repairs and alterations
amounting to more than 50 percent of the value of
the existing building are made during any 12 month
period, the building or structure shall be made to
conform to the requirements for a new building or
structure or be entirely demolished.” Exceptions:
Provided there is no change in occupancy,
foundation, slabs, tie beams, tie columns,
reinforced masonry and masonry walls erected in
compliance with the code under which the building
was constructed. What this means is that…if you have
cost of repairs more than 50 percent of the value of
the existing building (that is 50% of the value of
the STRUCTURE as set by the Tax Department, not 50%
of your insured value) and there is any changes
(repairs) made to a masonry wall, as an example,
then the entire building and all systems must meet
the current Florida Building Code. Insurance
Companies may attempt to avoid triggering this 50%
rule since it may require greater costs.
According to 3401.7.2.2 of the
FBC “Structural repairs and alterations, the cost of
which does not exceed 25 percent of the value of the
existing building or structure, shall comply with
the requirements for a new building or structure
except that minor structural alterations, with the
approval of the building official, may be made of
the same material and degree of fire-resistivity of
which the building or structure is constructed.”
According to 3401.7.2.4 “The
replacement of garage door, exterior doors,
skylights, operative and inoperative windows shall
be designed and constructed to comply with Chapter
16 of this code. Opening Protective Exceptions: For
one-and two-family dwellings constructed under codes
other than the Florida Building Code and located in
wind-borne debris regions, the replacement of garage
doors and exterior doors with glazing, sliding glass
doors, glass patio doors, skylights and operable and
inoperable windows within any 12 month period shall
not be required to have opening protection, but
shall be designed for wind pressures for enclosed
buildings provided the aggregate area of glazing in
the replaced components does not exceed 25 percent
of the aggregate area of glazed openings in the
dwelling or dwelling unit.
The bottom line is:
Ask the Building Official to
review all work before and after repairs are made!
Insurance Adjusters are NOT
engineers.
The Florida Building Code may
require much more work and additional costs than the
Insurance Companies desire to pay for, but for which
they are obligated to cover.
Your insurance policy may have
additional coverage to provide for upgrades to the
current code. Ask your agent and/or adjuster.
Insurance Companies will only
pay ONCE, make sure all work complies with the
Building Code!
Do not accept the word of an
adjuster or contractor when it comes to engineering
issues or Building Code issues. 
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