Shingle, Tile, Metal or Flat: What Actually Suits a South Florida Roof

Every roofing material has someone willing to tell you it is the best one. In practice each has a genuine case and a genuine weakness, and which suits your house depends on the roof you have, the budget you have and how long you plan to stay.

Asphalt shingle

The most common roof in Broward, and the most commonly installed badly. Done to manufacturer specification, with the right nailing pattern, starter course, underlayment and ventilation, it performs well and is the most affordable option. Done carelessly, it fails early and the warranty will not help you, because the warranty depends on the specification being followed.

Concrete and clay tile

Suits South Florida architecture and lasts a very long time. The catch is that the underlayment beneath the tile does not last as long as the tile itself. Plenty of tile roofs here need the underlayment replaced while the tile is still perfectly serviceable, which is a different and less expensive job than a full replacement, but only if it is caught in time.

Metal

Long service life and strong wind performance, which matters here. Metal is unforgiving of poor detailing: panel fixing, allowance for expansion and the treatment of penetrations are where metal roofs succeed or fail. Higher up-front cost, lower cost over the life of the roof.

Flat and low slope

Flat does not mean level. A flat roof that holds water will fail early regardless of which membrane is on it, so falls and drainage matter more than the product name. Single-ply membranes such as TPO reflect heat well and have heat-welded seams, which makes a correctly installed one very watertight. Again, the weak point is the detailing at upstands and penetrations.

The part nobody sells you

Ventilation and underlayment do more for how long a roof lasts in this climate than the choice between two surface materials. A well-specified shingle roof outlives a badly detailed metal one. If a quote does not mention what is going on underneath, ask.