FL Roofing Contractor cheat sheet

Gross margin = (revenue − job cost) ÷ revenue; markup = (revenue − job cost) ÷ job cost. A 25% markup produces only a 20% gross margin.

Break-even revenue = total fixed overhead ÷ gross margin percentage.

Florida private-project retainage may not exceed 10% of each progress payment; public-project retainage is 5% and may be reduced after 50% completion.

A subcontractor or supplier must serve a Notice to Owner within 45 days of first furnishing; a contractor in direct contract with the owner need not serve one.

A claim of lien must be recorded within 90 days after final furnishing and foreclosed within 1 year of recording.

The Notice of Commencement must be recorded and posted before work begins; if it is not, the 45-day Notice to Owner period starts when it is recorded.

The license is held by the qualifying agent, an individual who must be a primary owner or officer of the business; the license cannot be transferred to another person.

Construction employers with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation coverage; certificates of insurance are standard contract documents.

Change orders must be written and signed before the extra work is performed; unpriced or oral changes usually become uncollectible disputes.

Private-project prompt payment: owner pays the contractor within 30 days of a proper invoice; the contractor pays subcontractors within 10 days of receiving payment.

The critical path is the longest dependent chain in the schedule; delaying any activity on it delays substantial completion.

Substantial completion starts warranties, triggers retainage release procedures, and is the reference point for many contract time limits.

A conditional lien waiver takes effect only when the identified payment clears; an unconditional waiver is effective on signing.

Before final payment the contractor must furnish a final payment affidavit listing unpaid subs and suppliers; a false affidavit defeats lien rights.

Contract types: lump sum (fixed price for defined scope), unit price (cost per measured quantity), time and materials, and cost plus a fee.

Contract notice clauses govern: written notice of delay, extra work, or claim must be given within the stated number of days to preserve the right.

Asphalt shingles require a minimum slope of 2:12; slopes from 2:12 to 4:12 need double underlayment, and 4:12 and steeper need a single layer.

Slopes below 2:12 require a low-slope system: built-up, modified bitumen, or single-ply membrane.

Fasteners in wood decks must penetrate at least 3/4 inch into the framing or pass through the deck and must be driven perpendicular, not at an angle.

Nail quantity and placement must match the product approval; 6 nails per shingle is typical in the wind-borne debris region, and overdriving cuts the shingle mat.

Florida's wind-borne debris region requires a secondary water barrier over the roof deck beneath the primary covering.

Roofing products need a Florida Product Approval number or Miami-Dade NOA, and installation must match the approved evaluation report.

Low-slope modified bitumen laps are typically 3 inches on side laps and 6 inches on end laps unless the manufacturer requires more.

Tile roofs are attached with screws or ring-shank nails plus tile adhesive or foam; the fastening pattern is set by the product approval for wind uplift.

OSHA requires fall protection at 6 feet or more above a lower level; options include guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.

Extension ladders: 4:1 setup (1 foot out per 4 feet of height), 3 feet above the landing, and secured against movement.

Guardrails: top rail 42 inches (±3) above the surface with a midrail at approximately half that height.

On a roof plan, slope arrows point downhill toward eaves, valleys, or drains, and the pitch label gives rise per 12 inches of run (e.g., 4:12).

Scale check: at 1/4 inch = 1 foot, 1/4 inch on the print equals 12 inches in the field; confirm the scale on a dimensioned feature.

Low-slope roofing may use a warning line at least 6 feet from the edge as part of a fall protection plan, combined with other required safeguards.

Title block, north arrow, revision block, and detail bubbles identify the drawing, its orientation, its changes, and enlarged construction details.

A roofing permit and a recorded Notice of Commencement are required before work starts, and the permit must be available on the job site.