Why the attic is cooking the roof

July is when Wesley Chapel attics hit the numbers that kill shingles from underneath. Code, ventilation, and the GAF exclusion nobody reads until year eight.

Q: What R-value does Florida want over my head?
A: Climate Zone 2A. Florida Energy Conservation Code Table R402.1.2 is ceiling R-38. ENERGY STAR’s empty-attic retrofit table goes to R-49. Most 1990s–2000s Tampa Bay attics we open have 6–8 inches. That is short.

Q: Is ventilation as important as insulation?
A: Yes. Insulation without a soffit-to-ridge path just holds heat against the deck. IRC/FBC wants 1 sq ft of net-free area per 150 sq ft of attic (or 1/300 when 40–50% is high). GAF Golden Pledge excludes inadequate ventilation from coverage.

Q: Will a power fan fix a hot attic?
A: Usually not. If the soffits are blocked, a fan pulls conditioned air from the house and can pull rain in at the ridge. Baffles at the eaves and a ridge vent first. Power fans are a last resort.

Q: Can you do insulation the same day as a roof?
A: Yes. We open the attic once: baffles, blow R-38, ridge exhaust. Most attics are 2–4 hours. You can stay in the house.