Shingle, tile or metal for Florida hurricane wind

Florida homeowners replacing a roof often compare shingle, tile and metal with wind in mind. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so material choices can be part of a careful plan for a dry, sound home.[1]

Ask about the roof deck, underlayment, fasteners, attachment method, slope and details where roofing meets walls, vents and edges.

Asphalt shingles and wind details

Ask how the proposed shingle suits wind conditions at your home.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management says to choose shingles rated at or above your area’s design wind speed.[2] Ask the roofing company to explain the proposed shingle’s wind rating and how it relates to your home.

Roof slope also belongs in the conversation. NRCA does not recommend asphalt shingles on slopes under 18 degrees.[3] If part of your roof has a low slope, ask whether the proposed system is intended for that area.

FEMA says to use nails, not staples, in high-wind areas.[4] For homes within 3,000 feet of saltwater, FEMA says to use stainless steel nails.[4]

Useful questions for a shingle proposal include:

• What wind rating does this shingle have for my area?
• Will you use nails rather than staples?
• What nail type is proposed for my home’s location?
• Is every roof slope suited to the shingle system?
• What underlayment and edge details are included?

Tile and attachment choices

Tile has distinct wind considerations. FEMA says tile roofs are very vulnerable to windborne debris, and mortar-set tile is much more damage-prone than other attachment methods.[5]

Ask how the company plans to attach the tile and how the design addresses areas where debris may strike the roof.

A change to tile can bring another issue. The Florida Division of Emergency Management says switching from shingles to tile may need a structural check for the added weight.[2] Ask whether your home needs that check before you choose a tile system.

Questions for a tile discussion include:

• What attachment method is proposed for the tile?
• How does the proposal address windborne debris?
• Is mortar part of the proposed attachment method?
• Does changing from shingles to tile call for a structural check?
• What work is planned beneath the tile?

Metal and the roof below it

Metal roofs require attention to the layers beneath the visible surface. The Florida Division of Emergency Management says most home metal roofs sit on a plywood or OSB deck.[6]

FDEM suggests an improved underlayment beneath metal roofs.[6] Ask what underlayment is proposed and how it works with the rest of the system.

Ask the company what it will review before installation and how its proposal handles the connection between the metal roof, underlayment and deck.

Consider asking:

• What type of deck is under my current roof?
• What underlayment do you propose beneath the metal?
• How will the metal be attached?
• What details are proposed around roof edges and openings?

Useful service is not a material verdict

NRCA says most new roofs are designed for about 20 years of useful service.[3] Slate, clay tile and certain metals can last longer.[3]

That statement does not settle which material belongs on your home or provide a lifespan figure for each material. Per-material lifespan figures are not given here because no reliable source was found.

A material name alone does not explain the slope, deck, underlayment, fasteners or attachment method in a proposal.

Questions to ask about the proposed system

Bring the same questions to each roofing company you consider.

• What wind rating is proposed for this roof system?
• What fasteners will be used, and where?
• What underlayment is proposed beneath the material?
• How will the material attach to the roof?
• What is planned for roof edges, openings and transitions?
• Does my roof slope affect the proposed material?
• If I am changing materials, does the home need a structural check?
• What work is proposed for the deck beneath the roof?

Write down the answers alongside each proposal.

How Howe.to can help

You answer a few questions and see the named roofing companies available for your area. You choose which companies may contact you about roofing. Howe.to is not a contractor.