Mike Silvers, CPRC, Owner, Silvers Systems Inc., and FRSA's Director of Technical Services
Is it our lucky day or what? A guy just knocked on our door and said he could get us a free roof!
This is a discussion that is taking place in Florida’s subdivisions more often every day. We used to call them storm chasers, but recently this has become standard year-round business practice for some. In far too many cases, the roof may be in a serviceable condition and not require replacement at all. But armed with one of several documents, they convince the owner and then the insurer that the roof must be replaced. So, everybody wins right? Unfortunately, this is not a win-win. Someone must pay for replacing roofs that don’t need replacing and unless you’re someone who profits from this, it’s everyone who pays through their homeowner’s policy. Don’t misunderstand me, if you have a legitimate damage claim that can’t be properly repaired, then by all means your insurer should cover that cost. But far too often that isn’t the case. Homeowners who agree to this too good to be true offer may find that the quality of their free roof is not as good as the trouble-free roof it replaced. If the new roof is done improperly, it may require replacement long before their old roof would have. They may very well have to pay for the next roof. So, it may not be a win for some unsuspecting homeowners.
For some of us, this kind of needless waste rubs us the wrong way. FRSA’s moto for decades has been “price it right, then do it right.” Most of our members take this to heart and feel that it is ridiculous to replace complete roofs that were done right because that roof suffered very minor damage. It runs counter to buying a good roof from a good roofer and then maintaining that roof to get maximum life from it.
Florida’s roofing industry is being asked to install more storm-resistant roofs with each edition of the building code. To what end if after being exposed to 74mph winds the manufactures warranty is void and an undamaged roof that actually withstood the storm gets replaced anyway. All in order to supposedly make the homeowner whole. So, an entire roof gets torn off and replaced in order to replace a piece of paper that may be of questionable value anyway. That is simply wasteful. Thankfully several manufacturers are stepping up and increasing the wind speed limitations in their warranties. As an industry we can’t continue to on one hand sell storm resistance, and with the other hand snatch warranty coverage away after minimal storms. We can do better.
A similar situation involves matching materials when making repairs. A letter from a roofing material manufacturer’s group (see box next page) that simply explains that some tile are no longer being produced and that new tile may not properly interlock with
older ones, is twisted by some to say that if you have a few broken tile, then your entire roof should be replaced. FRSA proposed a code modification to clarify that matching tile can be used for repairs. The change is shown below.
706.5 Reinstallation/Reuse of materials.
Existing or salvaged slate, clay or cement concrete tile shall be permitted for reinstallation or reuse, to repair an existing slate or tile roof, except that salvaged slate or tile shall be of like kind in both material and profile. Damaged, cracked or broken slate
or tile shall not be reinstalled. The building official may permit salvaged slate, clay and concrete tile to be installed on additions and new construction, when the tile is tested in compliance with the provisions of Section 1507 or 1523 (HVHZ shall comply with
Section 1523) and installed in accordance with Section 1507 or 1518 (HVHZ shall comply with Section 1518).
This change will allow for reuse of tile on repairs of less than 25 percent of the roof area. Many companies are specializing in salvaging tile, which makes obtaining small quantities of “obsolete” tile easier. This also makes the true recycling of removed roof
tile possible. Another recent ploy uses a section of the state statutes that deal with insurance claims. It is shown below.
626.9744 Claim settlement practices
relating to property insurance. — Unless otherwise provided by the policy, when a homeowner’s insurance policy provides for the adjustment and settlement of first-party losses based on repair or replacement cost, the following requirements apply:
(2) When a loss requires replacement of items and the replaced items do not match in quality, color, or size, the insurer shall make reasonable repairs or replacement of items in adjoining areas. In determining the extent of the repairs or replacement of items in adjoining areas, the insurer may consider the cost of repairing or replacing the undamaged portions of the property, the degree of uniformity that can be achieved without such cost, the remaining useful life of the undamaged portion, and other relevant factors.
Some salesmen are pointing to the section that reads: “and the replaced items do not match in quality, color, or size, the insurer shall make reasonable repairs or replacement of items in adjoining areas” to convince homeowners and their insurers that a little
age and color variance is cause not repair, but to again offer a free roof instead, they seem to ignore the section that reads: “In determining the extent of the repairs or replacement of items in adjoining areas, the insurer may consider the cost of repairing or replacing the undamaged portions of the property, the degree of uniformity that can be achieved without such cost, the remaining useful life of the undamaged portion, and other relevant factors.” It surprises me how many insurers seem to go along.
Our industry hears an awful lot these days about sustainability and the need to be green. Can someone please tell me how a roof that was perfectly functional going in a landfill can be sustainable? Or when considering how the new roof requires raw materials, transportation, handling and installation, it can be green? That doesn’t seem to be a win either.
So, what about the roofing industry how isn’t this a win for us? Many roofing contractors take great pride in how long their roofs last. For that matter so do many manufacturers. When someone sees a roof being replaced prematurely in their neighborhood. It not only reflects poorly on the contractor but also on that type of roofing product. Most won’t know why it’s being replaced; they only see a newer roof that didn’t perform well. This causes people to reach false conclusions and that reflects poorly on the entire industry.
Also consider that when a competitor (using the word lightly) convinces the majority of people in a neighborhood that they can get them a free roof, it interrupts the normal replacement cycle that provides work for contractors who would replace them over the years, when they actually need replacement. Many of these folks are much better at selling than roofing.
When one considers the shared burden of the constantly increasing cost for homeowner’s insurance (up 47 percent or more in the last 10 years) for all Floridians (yes, renters also must cover those cost), this hardly seems like a win.
So, in concluding, the status que is not sustainable. We should frown on such practices and speak against them at every opportunity. As an industry and an association, we are better than this!
To conduct my business in an ethical manner, so that it will reflect credit and confidence by the public in our industry as well as in my own business.
To consider my vocation worthy and dignified and thus affording a distinct opportunity to serve society.
To hold that the exchange of my goods and my service for a fair profit is legitimate and ethical, provided all parties in the exchange are benefited.
To elevate the standards of my vocation by exercising a high degree of care in the execution of all work, and correct any defective work as a direct challenge to my ability and integrity.
To protect and defend the public from fraudulent and unethical practices affecting our industry.
To cooperate with the association in its effort to provide better conditions in the industry, so that the public, management, capital and labor will all mutually benefit.
To operate my business in accordance with the rules and regulations of constituted authority at all levels and in a manner, which will leave no doubt as to my loyalty to my country and its ideals and fundamental principles.
Mike Silvers, CPRC is owner of Silver Systems Inc., and is consulting with FRSA as Director of Technical Services. Mike is an FRSA Past President, Life Member, and Campanella Award recipient and brings over 40 years of industry knowledge and experience to FRSA’s team.
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