Harbor Bluffs is a neighborhood of several hundred homes tucked between West Bay Drive and Oakwood Drive, west of Indian Rocks Road, running down to the Intracoastal. It has a Largo mailing address, but it sits in unincorporated Pinellas County, and that shapes how a roof replacement gets permitted.
The streets here mix two very different kinds of houses. Many are the one-story concrete block ranches the subdivision was built with in the 1950s and ’60s. Others are larger new homes that replaced them, some on waterfront lots along the dredged canals. Mitchell Roofing Company works on both, and the right roof for each is not the same.
From Bayly’s Bluff to a 1950s Subdivision
Long before it was a neighborhood, this high ground over the water was a citrus homestead known as Bayly’s Bluff. The Harbor Bluffs Development Corporation began building homes in 1953, and in the late 1950s and ’60s dredging created the waterfront “fingers” that gave more lots a place on the water.
That history still shows on the roofs. The original houses are block ranches with fairly simple rooflines. Starting in the 1990s, owners began tearing down some of the smaller homes and building much larger ones, so an older ranch and a new two-story house can share a property line. The census counts Harbor Bluffs, FL as its own place, with about 2,600 residents in 2020.
Reroofing an Original Block Ranch
A block ranch from this era usually has a low-to-moderate pitch, a wood deck over rafters and an attic that was never ventilated for Florida summers the way new homes are. After several reroofs, decking often has old nail holes, soft spots near the eaves and patched sections from past leaks.
We strip the roof to the deck, replace any damaged boards and re-nail the rest to current code before underlayment goes on. Many owners of these homes choose architectural shingles, and we install both Owens Corning and GAF lines. We also look at ventilation while the roof is open, since adding ridge vent and clearing blocked soffits is easiest during a tear-off.
Waterfront Lots on the Dredged Canals
Homes on the canals and along the Intracoastal get the full force of wind off the water and a constant coat of salt. Metal parts corrode first, so we use corrosion-resistant fasteners, drip edge and flashing on these roofs and seal every penetration with care.
Waterfront lots also tend to sit in mapped flood zones. If your home is in one and you’re planning a larger renovation along with the roof, the county will look at the total cost of the work against the value of the building, and a big enough project can trigger flood-zone rebuilding rules. It’s worth knowing where you stand before you plan the scope. Many waterfront owners prefer concrete tile for its weight and life span, and we cover the tradeoffs in our post on tile roofs for waterfront homes.
Live Oaks, Leaves and Full Gutters
Harbor Bluffs is known for its big live oaks, and they’re part of why the streets feel shaded and settled. They also drop leaves, twigs and acorns on roofs and into gutters all year, and heavy limbs over a roof are a real risk in a storm.
Leaf litter that sits in valleys holds moisture against the shingles and wears them out early. Clogged gutters overflow onto fascia and soffit and can rot the wood behind them. We install seamless gutters with guards and replace damaged fascia and soffit, and during any reroof we’ll point out branches that should be trimmed back before the new roof goes on.
Permits Through the County, Not Largo
Because Harbor Bluffs is unincorporated, roofing permits come from Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services, not the City of Largo, even though your address says Largo. Mitchell Roofing Company pulls the permit and schedules the inspections.
The neighborhood is also deed-restricted. Before you settle on a new material or color, take a look at your deed restrictions and check with the neighborhood association if you’re unsure. It’s much easier to confirm that before the order is placed.
Building New Where an Old House Stood
If you’re replacing an older home with a new one, the roof is part of the design from the start. We work with builders and owners on new construction roofing in shingle, metal and Eagle concrete tile, installed to current Florida Building Code.
New homes near the water are often taller and more exposed than the ranches they replace. We plan fastening, underlayment and flashing for that exposure, and we coordinate with your builder so the roof is dried in on schedule.
Rain That Comes In Sideways
Plenty of leaks near the water show up after storms that never tore off a single shingle. Wind off the harbor drives rain up under flashing, around vent pipes and through gaps at the roof edge, which is why wind-driven rain is such a common source of trouble near the water.
When a storm does open up your roof, our emergency roof repair crews can dry it in the same day to keep water out of the house. We serve the whole stretch along the water, including Belleair Bluffs to the north and Indian Rocks Beach out on the barrier island.
Schedule a Roof Visit in Harbor Bluffs
Whether you own an original ranch, a new home on the canal or something in between, we’ll inspect the roof, show you photos of what we find and give you a written estimate. Call Mitchell Roofing Company at (727) 288-4650 to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
My address says Largo. Do I need a Largo roofing permit?
No. Harbor Bluffs is in unincorporated Pinellas County, so the county issues roofing permits here. We apply for the permit and handle the inspections as part of the job.
Do deed restrictions in Harbor Bluffs limit my roof choices?
They can. Check your deed restrictions, or ask the neighborhood association, before choosing a new material or color, and we can give you samples to take with you.
Is it worth switching my 1950s ranch from shingle to tile?
Sometimes, but tile is much heavier, so the framing has to be checked before anyone recommends it. Architectural shingles or metal are often a better fit for an original ranch, and we’ll explain why after we see your attic.
How do I keep oak leaves from ruining my new roof?
Trim limbs back from the roof, keep valleys clear and add gutter guards so debris can’t pile up. Those steps keep water moving off the roof instead of soaking the shingles.
What changes on a roof for a home right on the canal?
We use corrosion-resistant fasteners and flashing, pay extra attention to the edges and penetrations where wind-driven rain gets in, and talk with you about flood-zone rules if the roof is part of a bigger renovation.