Building Permits for Roofing Projects
DIY Disasters: Not pulling the permit
People are always looking for the easy way out or trying to save a buck by cutting corners. However, it doesn’t work well in the home improvement arena. Your home is most likely the biggest investment of your life. The roof of your home is one of the most expensive and important features of your home. Your roof protects the rest of your home from damage and moisture, so you’ll want to make sure you buy quality materials and avoid shoddy workmanship.
Hiring an experienced roofing contractor like TruBlue Roofing and Remodeling can give you peace of mind, knowing that everything is done right, including permits. Some people think they can get away with not pulling permits when doing a home renovation job, but many of these people are making a costly mistake.
A permit places a date for the renovation which you can show when you’re trying to resell your home and it also shows the age of the roof.
What kind of permit is needed for roof replacement?
You’ll need the same building permit for roof replacement as you would for any major work on your home whether it’s a renovation job, structural repairs, or constructing an addition.
However, some exceptions exist. For instance, if it’s a minor repair job under $10,000, you may not need a permit. The best thing to do if you’re not sure about getting a permit is to call your city or county office. Remember, every state (or county) will vary when it comes to building permit requirements. Generally, if the work is structural, you’ll need a building permit. Structural affects the framing or skeleton of the home and it’s what holds everything together, so of course it’s important that anything structural is done by the code and done properly. A good example of this is if you had to replace the joists of your roof. That’s structural, and you’ll need a building permit. Replacing a shingle or two is not structural, but replacing all of them falls under the category of needing a permit. Anything to do with the decking of the roof or vents will need a permit, and of course roof replacement requires a permit.
Who gets a permit?
The homeowner who is planning to do all of the work themselves needs to apply for a building permit. If you’re going to pay someone else to work for you (like a contractor), the contractor will need to apply for the permit. Remember, only a licensed roofing contractor can apply for a building permit, so make sure you ask the roofing company if they are licensed. If a subcontractor is doing the work, they’ll need a general contractor to apply for the permit, covering them. The main takeaway from this is: If you hire an unlicensed contractor, you cannot apply for a building permit. Therefore, make sure your roofing contractor is licensed.
What if I don’t get a permit?
Let’s say a building inspector stops by to check if you have a building permit. If you don’t have a permit, the inspector can order that all work stop until you obtain the appropriate building permit. This can put you in a precarious situation if your roof is already torn off and open to the elements. Also, you could be fined for not acquiring a permit before performing work on your roof. The worst thing that can happen here is that the inspector may order you to remove work that was done without a permit. A general rule of thumb is that if your contractor is doing more than $2,500 worth of work, you may need to get a permit. Any contractor doing that much work also needs a license. Please check with your local municipality about building permit requirements. As with licensing, don’t forget to ask the contractor if they are insured. This protects you from a civil lawsuit for personal injury.
TruBlue Roofing and Remodeling is fully insured, licensed, and bonded. We go the extra mile on all of our roofing projects to secure the right building permits and do an excellent job replacing or repairing your roof. Please give us a call today at (919) 589-7290 for a free roof inspection and no-obligation quote.
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