Frequently asked questions

An independent roofing contractor that serves your area, or a referral service that connects you with one. This site does not employ roofers. The contractor gives you its own price and is responsible for its work.

No. You can ask questions, have the roof looked at and decide in your own time. Getting more than one price for a full replacement is common.

Florida roofing contractors are licensed by the state. Search the name or license number at myfloridalicense.com and make sure it is active and matches the company on your contract.

This service is for homeowners planning a roof replacement or a new roof. If you are not sure whether your roof can still be repaired, read repair or replace? and ask the contractor for both options.

Calls are answered Mon–Fri 8:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–4pm, Eastern time.

The work on the roof often takes a few days for a typical single-story home, longer for tile or a complex roof. Permitting, material delivery and inspections add time before and after. Ask the contractor for the full schedule, not just the days on the roof.

Sometimes, but Florida's building code limits overlays, and most Pinellas replacements are full tear-offs. Removing the old roof lets the contractor inspect and re-nail the deck, which a recover skips.

Not usually, but someone should be reachable. Move cars out of the driveway, take fragile items off walls (hammering shakes them) and make sure the crew can reach the electrical panel and water outside.

The addition is usually permitted as one project that includes the roof. Check with the building department for your address: the City of Clearwater, Dunedin or Largo, or Pinellas County for Safety Harbor and unincorporated areas.

Often it can come close. Shingle colors fade and styles are discontinued, so an exact match is not always possible. Some homeowners replace the whole roof at the same time so it all matches.

Either can work. What matters is that the roofing work is done by a licensed roofing contractor or under a contractor whose license covers it, and that one person is responsible for the tie-in.

Look for curled or cracked edges, bare spots where granules have washed off, granules piling up in gutters, missing tabs after storms, and stains on ceilings. Age matters too, because insurers look at it. A contractor can tell you whether repairs still make sense.

In Florida most homeowners choose architectural shingles because of their higher wind ratings and longer warranties. Three-tab shingles are less common on replacements today.

Usually algae, which thrives in humid weather. It is mainly cosmetic, but it can hold moisture. Algae-resistant shingles help on a new roof; on an existing one, ask about gentle cleaning rather than pressure washing, which strips granules.

The tiles themselves can last for decades. The underlayment beneath them usually does not, and its condition decides when the roof needs work. Have the underlayment checked if the roof is getting old or showing leaks.

Often, yes. A tile reroof lifts the tiles, replaces the underlayment and puts sound tiles back. Expect some breakage, and ask how replacement tiles will be matched.

Yes, and many owners do when the tile is at the end of its life. Check HOA rules first, because some communities require tile.

A properly installed metal roof with approved panels and fastening can perform well in high winds, as can other roof types. Installation quality and attachment to the deck matter as much as the material.

Usually neither. Light-colored metal reflects sun, and with a solid deck underneath, rain noise is similar to other roofs.

Some metal systems can be installed over one layer of shingles where code allows, but most Pinellas contractors tear off to inspect the deck. Ask what is proposed and why.

Water that stands for days after rain, blisters, splits, soft spots underfoot and repeated leaks at the same place all point to a membrane at the end of its life. A contractor can check whether the deck underneath is wet.

Coatings can extend the life of a membrane that is still sound. They do not fix a wet deck, failed seams or bad drainage. Ask the contractor to check the roof first.

Modified bitumen is asphalt-based and installed in layers, often torch-applied or self-adhered. TPO is a single-ply thermoplastic sheet with heat-welded seams. Both are common in Florida; the right one depends on the roof and the contractor's experience.

A layer installed over the roof deck, such as self-adhered membrane over the seams or the whole deck, that limits water getting into the house if wind tears off the roof covering. Florida requires it on roof replacements for site-built single-family homes.

Florida requires insurers to offer premium credits for wind-resistant features, documented on a wind mitigation inspection form. How much it saves depends on your insurer and policy. Ask your agent before and after the work.

Sometimes, from the attic, depending on access and the house. It is much easier with the roof off. Ask the contractor what is possible on your home.

A roof inspection looks at condition and remaining life. A wind mitigation inspection documents wind-resistant features, such as roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections and the secondary water barrier, on the state form insurers use for premium credits.

The forms list who may sign them, including certain licensed contractors, home inspectors, engineers and architects. Ask whether the person you are speaking with is qualified for the form your insurer wants.

It should tell you the roof's condition, what is wrong and roughly how long it has. If replacement is due, ask for the reasons in writing along with the scope.

It depends on the roof's condition, not only its age. A sound roof with one damaged area may be worth repairing. A roof showing wear all over usually is not, and in Florida its age can also affect your insurance. Ask for an honest estimate of remaining life.

Often, yes, as long as the patch is a real repair and not hiding a wider problem. It is reasonable to ask for a repair price and a replacement price at the same visit.

Not necessarily. Under s. 553.844(5), if the roof was built, repaired or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, only the portion being worked on has to meet the current code even when that is 25% or more. Older roofs can be treated differently, so ask the contractor how the rule applies to yours.