Charlotte County discusses roofing solutions for residents

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Charlotte County last week, with powerful 150-mile-per-hour winds and a storm surge that caused damage to homes and left entire mobile home communities in pieces.  

Because of the combination of winds, rain and storm surge, many homes sustained damage to their roofs, leaving homes exposed to other natural elements that may cause further damage post-storm.  

“At the beginning of our block, two houses are already with tarps,” said Daniel Merejildo, a Charlotte County resident. “And then you go around, and there’s a lot more houses all over the place.” 

Many residents that need roof repairs were not properly prepared for the damage their homes suffered, causing a need for temporary solutions.  

“Some people were not prepared with tarps,” Merejildo said. “And now they’re actually struggling to find it, but there’s been a few entities that have been providing them.” 

Charlotte County’s director of emergency management, Patrick Fuller, announced Tuesday afternoon that Operation Blue Roof, a free service coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is available to assist residents by providing temporary repairs for damaged roofs. 

Use of the service will provide homeowners with a temporary blue cover with fiber-reinforced sheeting, which will be installed to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. 

“Residents have to sign up and grant a right of entry to their home and allow for surveyors to come out check the roofs and determine the best way to accomplish roofing via tarps,” Fuller said.  

Fuller addressed the importance of a temporary solution, until roof damage can get permanently fixed.  

“Right now, whoever has roof damage needs to focus on that temporary solution because we have clear weather right now,” he said. “But we live in Florida, we’ll certainly see rain and getting those temporary solutions in place, the tarping, that’s vital to ensure that no further damage is done to your home.” 

For longer-term, more permanent solutions, the county’s department of business and professional regulation has provided an allowance to allow certified and registered general, building and residential contractors to perform roof repairs, whereas roofing contractors would normally be used. 

Under the Department of Business Professional Regulation Emergency Declaration 2022-2023, structures with roof damage are not required to have a permit for tarping a roof and securing a structure. The same is true for roof damage that is less than 100 square feet.  

Roofs that have damage to the rafters, trusses or structural elements will need a renovation permit obtained by a general, building, or residential contractor. 

Certain guidelines depending on when homeowners’ roofs were built also need to be followed.  

If the existing roof covering was installed before March 1, 2009, and more than 25% of the roof covering is damaged, the whole roof covering will need to be replaced. If the existing roof covering was installed after March 1, 2009, the owner can choose to repair only the damaged area of the roof. 

“There’s going to be more available resources,” Fuller said. “But right now, we’re certainly in the temporary solution.” 

For more news on the Southwest Florida business community’s recovery from Hurricane Ian visit gulfshorebusiness.com