WINTER PARK, Fla., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Calling it too expensive and unenforceable the Florida roofing industry's trade association is requesting the postponement of a law that would require many Florida homeowners to spend thousands of additional dollars when they replace their roofs. The My Safe Florida Home Hurricane Mitigation Damage Program law is currently set to take effect October 1. Among other things it will require that many homes built prior to 2002, valued at $300,000 or more and located in the higher wind areas of the state, must have mandatory roof-to-wall connection upgrades made when the roof is replaced. "This will add tremendous cost to the replacement of the roof," said Steve Munnell, Executive Director of the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA). "On a $12,000 roof replacement it could easily add other $6,000." The association is urging Governor Charlie Crist and Florida House and Senate leaders to take action when the legislature meets in special session next month to postpone the law for one year. This will allow time for the construction industry, building official, the insurance industry and legislators to work on a new mitigation plan that will work. Rules currently being developed by the Florida Building Commission to implement the law require that portions of the roof deck around the perimeter be removed so that roof-to-wall attachments can be made. Munnell explained that this presents a number of problems. "Roofing contractors are not licensed to do this kind of work. It is structural and must be done by a contractor licensed to do structural work," explained Munnell. "This would be a general, residential or building contractor. This means there would have to be a separate contract and another building permit. It will get expensive in a hurry." The law does allow the homeowner to cap their additional cost for the structural improvements at 15 percent of the contract price. On a $12,000 reroof this means they would be required to spend not more that another $1,800 and the contractor would only be able to provide partial structural improvements. Munnell said this is a very bad provision. "You are telling the homeowner that they are required to spend another 15 percent which means they end up with roof-to-wall improvements to maybe 20 percent of the roofing assembly," explained Munnell. "They think they have made their homes more wind resistant, but have they really? In our opinion they have not." FRSA also believes the law will lead to an increase in unlicensed and illegal contracting activity as homeowners seek to avoid the extra cost of a new roof. The result will be roofs that are not installed and inspected as the building code requires. If they fail the homeowner will have little recourse. FRSA is not the only group urging that the law be postponed. During their meeting in Tampa last week members of the Florida Building Commission voted unanimously to support a move seeking a delay in the law until October 1, 2008. The Building Officials Association of Florida (BOAF), Florida Homebuilders Association (FHBA) and insurance industry representatives all urged commissioners to support the delay as they also believed the new law will be impossible to enforce.
