7 Common Types of Roofs in Florida | Detailed Comparison

May 25, 2025

The best roof for Florida? Metal roofing stands above the rest. With unmatched hurricane resistance, heat reflection, and long-term savings, it’s the smartest choice for Florida’s climate, especially when storms don’t play fair.

See, Florida’s not like other places.

It throws everything at your roof, scorching sun, sideways rain, salt-laden humidity, and winds that’ll rip the wrong materials clean off. Your roof isn’t just a cosmetic choice here; it’s your home’s shield.

Choose wrong, and you could be looking at leaks, mold, warped wood, blown-off shingles, or worse, an insurance claim denied just when you need it most.

That’s why this guide exists, to help you understand which types of roofs in Florida actually work in our wild weather.

We’re going to break down the 7 most common roofing options compare them based on real-world Florida conditions:

How they handle hurricane winds
How long they last under UV and moisture
What they cost up front vs. over time
Whether they’ll raise or lower your insurance premiums

Let’s get started with the facts and look at a side-by-side comparison of Florida’s top 7 roof types.

Quick Comparison Chart: 7 Most Common Types of Roofs in Florida

Before we dive into the pros, cons, and nuances of each roof type, here’s a Florida-focused snapshot of how the most popular options stack up.

Roof Type	Avg. Cost/sq.ft.	Lifespan	Storm Resistance	Heat Resistance	Insurance Friendly?	Maintenance
Asphalt Shingle	$4–$6	15–20 years	Moderate	Low	Moderate (only newer installs)	Medium
Metal Roofing	$8–$14	40–70 years	Excellent	Excellent	Very High (often preferred)	Low
Clay Tile	$10–$16	50–100 years	High	Very High	High (especially post-storm)	Medium
Concrete Tile	$8–$12	40–50 years	High	High	High	Medium
Slate Tile	$15–$25	75–100+ years	High	Excellent	Low (due to cost/rarity)	Low
Wood Shake	$6–$9	20–30 years	Poor	Low	Low (frequently penalized)	High
Flat/Silicone	$6–$10	15–25 years	Varies (depends on install)	Moderate	Moderate (if <20% total coverage)	Medium

This table breaks it all down, cost, lifespan, weather resistance, insurance impact, and maintenance, so you can start narrowing your choices based on what matters most to your home.

Now let’s dive in and analyze each option in detail so you can determine what’s best for your home.

The 7 Most Common Types of Roofs in Florida (Pros, Cons & Real-World Tips)

Choosing the right roof in Florida is like choosing your hurricane survival kit, it needs to be strong, resilient, and built to last through chaos.

Now that you’ve seen how the options compare at a glance, let’s walk through each one and break down the real pros, cons so you can choose the right roof installation.

1. Asphalt Shingles: The Affordable, But Vulnerable Option

Asphalt shingles are by far the most common roofing material in Florida, mainly because they’re cheap, easy to install, and don’t scare off first-time homebuyers.

You’ll find them on everything from starter homes to older coastal bungalows.

Average Installation Cost: $8,000 – $13,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. roof

Pros of Asphalt Shingles:

Affordable upfront cost
Easy to find and replace
Moderate impact resistance (hail or small debris)

Cons of Asphalt Shingles:

Absorb heat quickly and degrade under UV rays
Highly susceptible to algae and mildew in Florida humidity
Can peel or blow off in high winds

If you’re near the coast or under tree canopy, expect faster wear, granule loss, black streaks, and curling edges are all common. And only newer shingles may help lower your insurance premium; old ones might actually hurt it.

Best For: Budget-limited homeowners or folks planning to move in the next 5–10 years. It’s a “good enough for now” solution, not a forever roof.

Helpful Resource → Roof Replacement Grants In Florida | Complete 2025 Guide

2. Metal Roofing: The Best Roof for Florida’s Chaos?

This is the roof we’ve recommended, and installed, more than any other. Why?

Because it flat-out works in Florida. When storms hit, it holds. When the sun scorches, it reflects. And when it rains sideways, it sheds water like a champ.

Average Installation Cost: $16,000 – $35,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. roof (up to $50,000+ for large or complex roofs)

Pros of Metal Roofing:

Withstands hurricane-force winds
Reflects UV heat, keeping homes cooler
Doesn’t rot, mold, or attract pests
Low maintenance, high ROI
40–70 year lifespan with proper install

Cons of Metal Roofing:

Higher upfront cost
Some HOAs don’t allow visible panel styles

Best For: Homeowners who want durability, value, and less stress every storm season. You’ll pay more up front, but chances are… you’ll never replace it again.

3. Clay Tile: Old-World Elegance with Serious Durability

Photo Source -> ABC Supply

There’s a reason you see so many tile roofs in upscale Florida neighborhoods, they last forever and look incredible doing it. Clay tiles are a staple in Mediterranean and Spanish-style architecture, and they’re a natural fit for Florida’s heat and humidity.

Average Installation Cost: $22,000 – $35,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. roof

Pros of Clay Tile:

Resistant to mold, mildew, and salt air
Fantastic insulator against heat
Lasts 50–100 years with proper installation

Cons of Clay Tile:

Extremely heavy, may require structural reinforcement
Vulnerable to cracking from falling tree limbs or foot traffic
High upfront cost

The weight of these tiles actually helps with storm resistance, but only if they’re professionally installed with reinforced trusses and synthetic liners.

Best For: Homeowners focused on elegance, long-term durability, and homes built to handle the weight.

4. Concrete Tile: Budget-Friendly Durability

Concrete tiles offer much of the charm and strength of clay, at a lower price point.

They’re common in Florida because they balance durability with affordability, especially in planned communities where architectural guidelines favor the tile look.

Average Installation Cost: $18,000 – $30,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. roof

Pros of Concrete Tile:

Solid performance in hurricanes
Resistant to algae, mildew, and salt spray
Lower cost than clay or slate

Cons of Concrete Tile:

Still heavy, requires strong support
Less insulating than clay
Can crack from debris impact

Tip: Concrete tile may look indestructible, but it’s brittle. We always recommend checking tree coverage and reinforcing underlayment during install.

Best For: Homeowners who want tile aesthetics and strong protection without the sky-high clay price tag.

5. Slate: Stunning and Everlasting, But Rare in Florida

Photo Source -> The Durable Slate Company

Slate is the Rolls Royce of roofing. It’s made from stone. It lasts a century. It handles wind, fire, and rain like a fortress. But it also comes with a price tag (and structural load) that makes it rare in Florida.

Average Installation Cost: $35,000 – $60,000+ for a 2,000 sq. ft. roof

Pros of Slate Roofing:

Unmatched longevity: 75–100+ years
Excellent hurricane, fire, and moisture resistance
Low maintenance once installed

Cons of Slate Roofing:

Extremely heavy
Requires specialized support
Expensive

Most Florida homes aren’t designed to carry slate’s weight. For new builds, it can work, but retrofits often aren’t realistic.

Best For: Luxury homeowners, custom builds, or historic property renovations.

6. Wood Shake: Not Built for Florida (But Still Seen)

Photo Source -> Cedar Shakes From Custom Shingles

Wood shake roofs are attractive in rustic or historic homes, but they struggle in Florida’s wet, humid environment.

Average Installation Cost: $14,000 – $22,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. roof

Pros of Wood Shake Roofing:

Unique, natural appearance
Good for historic restoration

Cons of Wood Shake Roofing:

Prone to rot, warping, and mold
High maintenance
Often ineligible for insurance or higher premiums
Poor wind resistance

Unless you’re restoring a historic home and using pressure-treated wood with routine maintenance, there are stronger, smarter options.

Best For: Niche cases, historic properties or areas where wood aesthetics are required.

7. Flat Roofs & Silicone Coatings: Mostly for Commercial or Modern Builds

Flat and low-pitch roofs are popular on commercial buildings and modern homes, but they require special attention to drainage and membrane sealing.

Average Installation Cost: $12,000 – $20,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. roof with silicone coating

Pros of Flat/Silicone Roofs:

Streamlined, modern look
Silicone coatings extend roof life and waterproofing
Easier and safer to walk on

Cons of Flat/Silicone Roofs:

Prone to pooling and leaks without slope correction
Higher uplift pressures at roof edges
Insurance companies often limit flat roof coverage to 20% of total surface

Flat roofs can work in Florida, but only if installed and maintained with expert-level precision.

Best For: Commercial properties, room additions, or ultra-modern homes with proper drainage plans.

So these are the most common roofing options in Florida. Now let’s see how can you choose something that’s best for your home.

Here’s a quick result of different roof options analyzed on different conditions specific to Florida weather!

Choosing the Best Roof for Florida Weather: What Really Matters?

There’s no such thing as a “universal best roof”, not even here in Florida. What does exist is the best roof for your home, your location, your priorities, and your budget.

To figure that out, this section breaks down four critical Florida-specific performance factors: wind, heat, moisture, and long-term value.

If your roof can’t stand up to these, it won’t stand up to much else.

Wind Resistance & Hurricane Durability

Florida is no stranger to hurricane warnings, or actual landfalls. Your roof is the first and last line of defense. The shape of your roof plays a major role here. Here are some insights for that.

Hip Roofs vs. Gable Roofs: Hip roofs—sloped on all sides—resist wind uplift better than gables, which can act like sails if not reinforced.

Material Performance: Metal panels (especially standing seam) and heavy tiles hold up best when installed with proper fasteners, spacing, and bracing.

Installation Quality Is Everything: In hurricane zones, roofing isn’t just about shingles or panels. Your roof needs:

Proper straps and anchors securing it to the structure
Synthetic underlayment that resists wind-driven rain
Fastener systems designed to stay put under pressure

Heat and UV Protection

Florida sun doesn’t just warm your home. It cooks it. That extreme heat, combined with UV radiation, is one of the fastest ways to break down roofing materials.

Winners in Heat Reflection: Metal roofing leads the pack here. It reflects sunlight instead of absorbing it, especially if installed with a cool coating or in light colors. Tile roofs also perform well thanks to their air gaps and thermal mass.

The Weak Links: Asphalt shingles and wood shake suffer the most in this category. UV radiation makes shingles brittle, and the repeated heat cycles cause expansion and contraction that leads to cracking and granule loss.

Moisture, Mold, and Algae Resistance

Florida is a humidity powerhouse. That means your roof will deal with more moisture, mildew, and airborne algae than most places in the country.

Top Performers:

Clay and concrete tiles naturally resist mold and mildew
Metal roofs are impervious to rot, and galvalume-coated panels resist corrosion
All three require minimal treatments or washing

Problem Materials: Asphalt shingles and wood shake trap moisture in tiny crevices, making them a breeding ground for algae, especially under trees or on north-facing slopes. This doesn’t just look bad, it can shorten the roof’s life.

Cost vs. Value Over Time

Let’s talk numbers. Because while a $12,000 roof might look better in the short term than a $25,000 one, Florida doesn’t always give you that kind of grace period.

Upfront vs. Long-Term:

Asphalt shingles are the cheapest to install but may need replacing every 15–20 years
Metal roofing, though more expensive initially, can last 40–70 years and pay you back in reduced energy bills, insurance discounts, and zero re-roofing costs
Clay and slate tiles are in a similar long-term value category, though they come with structural challenges

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that metal roof quotes can range from $50,000–$60,000 for complex or large homes.

It’s a jaw-dropping number, but that’s for a roof that may never need replacing in your lifetime. And when the next major storm hits, that peace of mind is hard to put a price tag on.

Final Verdict: So, Which Roof Type is Best for Florida?

After everything we’ve walked through, the storm resilience, UV protection, algae resistance, and long-term value, it really comes down to this:

If you want cheap and simple, go with asphalt shingles. Just know that in 15 to 20 years (or one strong hurricane), you may be replacing it again.
If you want style and status, clay tile or slate will deliver timeless beauty and serious durability, if your structure and budget can handle it.
If you want practical, powerful protection, choose metal roofing. It balances strength, energy efficiency, and longevity better than any other option. You’ll pay more upfront, but you’ll likely never need another roof again, and your home will be ready for whatever Florida throws at it.

At Florida Roofing & Gutters, we’ve spent over 30 years helping homeowners across the state make the smartest choice for their homes and their future.

Whether you’re leaning toward metal, considering tile, or still weighing your options, we’ll walk you through it, no pressure, no gimmicks, just straight talk.

Let’s make sure your next roof is your last one. 👉Get a Roof That Lasts, Contact Us Today »