Metal vs Shingle vs Tile Roof in Florida: Choosing for a New Home

Metal vs Shingle vs Tile

The roof is the part of a Florida house that takes the most punishment, and it’s the part hurricane studies keep pointing to. On a new build you get to pick the roofing material before the trusses are designed. That’s the cheapest moment to choose, because tile needs a structure built for its weight, metal near the coast needs the right metals, and every option needs the right wind rating. This guide compares asphalt shingles, metal, and tile on hurricane performance, insurance, heat, and HOA rules. It’s part six of our series on building a house in Florida.

Short version: All three can meet Florida’s code when they’re rated for your wind speed and installed to their Florida product approval. In a large study of roofs after Hurricane Ian, the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety found damage on about half of shingle roofs, about 40% of tile roofs, and around 12% of metal roofs. Shingles cost the least up front and are the easiest to repair, but they need the right wind class and careful installation at edges, hips, and ridges. Metal performed best in recent storms and suits solar well, but near saltwater the metal and fasteners have to be chosen for corrosion. Tile is long-lasting and common in Florida, but it’s heavy, so the framing must be designed for it. Whatever you choose, the sealed roof deck underneath does much of the work keeping water out. Florida law also treats code-compliant roof systems as hurricane protection, so an HOA can set color and style but can’t deny a roof that meets its specifications.

How each roof type held up in recent hurricanes

Hurricane Ian (2022): IBHS surveyed 3,646 single-family homes in Southwest Florida. About half of shingle roofs had issues, which IBHS said showed “little improvement over 18 years” since Hurricane Charley. Tile improved strongly compared with 2004, with about 40% showing some damage, and significant damage was rare except on tile roofs over 20 years old. Metal did best, at around 12%, with many of those problems caused by nearby structures failing rather than the roofs themselves.
Hurricane Michael (2018): FEMA’s assessment team found shingle performance poor, linked to shingles that hadn’t fully sealed and to fasteners in the wrong spots. It also found that “metal roof coverings appeared to perform better than other roof coverings on buildings built to the FBC,” though some metal roofs were still damaged.
Roof age matters: in Ian, IBHS found shingle roofs 10 or more years old especially vulnerable. FEMA’s Ian team found roof coverings were the most widely damaged part of modern homes, especially at hips and ridges. See hurricane-resistant construction for the full findings.

These numbers describe the roofs that were on the ground when the storms hit, many of them older. A new roof of any type, built to today’s code, starts in a much better position.

Side-by-side comparison

	Asphalt shingles	Metal	Concrete or clay tile
Recent hurricane record	Most often damaged in Ian and Michael	Best performer in Ian and Michael	Much improved since 2004; older tile roofs fared worst
Weight and structure	Light; standard framing	Lightest; standard framing	Heavy; trusses must be designed for the load
Upfront cost	Lowest	Higher	Higher
Citizens age limit for coverage	Over 25 years needs proof of 5+ years of life left	Over 50 years needs proof of 5+ years of life left	Over 50 years needs proof of 5+ years of life left
Coastal salt air	No corrosion concern for the shingles themselves	Choose metals and fasteners rated for salt exposure	Tile resists salt; check fasteners and flashing
Repairs	Easy to patch; materials widely stocked	Panels can be harder to match	Tiles break if walked on; matching older tile can be hard
Solar panels	Common; mounts go through the roof	Standing seam allows clamp-on mounts	Possible, but mounting is more involved

Hurricane records from IBHS (Ian) and FEMA (Michael). Citizens limits are from Citizens Property Insurance; private insurers set their own rules. Costs are relative and vary by product, roof shape, and contractor.

Asphalt shingles

Shingles are the most common roof in Florida because they cost the least and go on fastest. The weak points are wind getting under the edges and shingles that never fully seal down. To get a good shingle roof on a new house:

Match the wind class: shingle packaging should show compliance with ASTM D7158 and a wind class matched to your home’s design wind speed. FEMA’s Michael advisory, adapted from the Florida Building Code, lists the classes in the table below.
Watch the nailing: FEMA notes that “although the number of fasteners is important, the location of the fasteners is also important.” Nails driven too high or crooked miss the strip that holds the shingle down.
Edges, hips, and ridges: these are where shingle roofs fail first. Ask about starter strips at eaves and rakes and about wind-rated hip and ridge caps.
Color: lighter or “cool” granules reflect more sun, which helps attic heat.

Design wind speed	ASTM D7158 shingle class allowed
Up to 116 mph	D, G, or H
Over 116 mph up to 155 mph	G or H
Over 155 mph up to 190 mph	H only

From FEMA Recovery Advisory FL-RA2 (2019), adapted from the Florida Building Code, Residential. Assumes exposure categories B and C and roofs 60 feet or lower. Most Central Florida homes fall in the middle band, but confirm your design wind speed on your plans. See Florida wind zones.

Metal roofs

Metal has the best record in recent Florida storms, it’s light, and a light-colored finish reflects heat well. Things to get right:

Tested for your wind pressures: FEMA recommends verifying that the metal panel system “was tested to meet appropriate wind pressures,” and its Florida product approval should cover your design pressure.
Panel types: standing seam panels use concealed clips and fasteners, while exposed-fastener panels are screwed through the face. Exposed screws and their washers need checking over time. Ask which system the product approval covers and how it’s attached.
Near the coast: FEMA’s coastal guidance says metal corrosion is most pronounced within about 3,000 feet of the ocean. Choose a roofing metal and coating the manufacturer rates for salt exposure at your distance, use matching corrosion-resistant fasteners, and avoid mixing metals such as copper and steel.
Finish: the U.S. Department of Energy notes that unpainted metal is a poor cool-roof choice. A factory-coated light or “cool” color reflects more sun.
Look and HOA rules: some communities have rules on metal roofs. See the HOA section below for what Florida law now says.

Concrete and clay tile

Tile is a classic Florida look and lasts a long time, and Citizens treats it like metal for age limits. Its challenges are weight, installation, and debris:

Weight: tile is far heavier than shingles or metal, so the trusses and connections have to be designed for it. Decide on tile before the truss design, because switching later means re-engineering.
Installation manual: in Florida, tile is installed according to the FRSA/TRI Florida High Wind Concrete and Clay Roof Tile Installation Manual, using mechanical fasteners, approved foam adhesive, or both, per the product approval.
The layer underneath: tile sheds most water, but the underlayment beneath it does the final waterproofing. Ask what underlayment is used and how it’s rated.
Debris and repairs: loose tiles can become flying debris in a storm, and tiles crack when walked on. Keep extra tiles from the original batch for future repairs.
Color: both concrete and clay tile come in light colors, glazes, and cool coatings that reflect more sun.

What every new Florida roof needs

Florida product approval: roofing products must be approved under Florida Statute 553.842 and installed exactly as the approval says. You can look up approvals on the state’s Florida Building Code Online site.
Sealed roof deck and ring-shank nails: required since the 2020 code statewide outside Miami-Dade and Broward, whichever covering you choose. If the covering blows off, the sealed deck helps keep rain out.
Strong roof-to-wall connections: the best roof covering won’t help if the roof structure lifts. See load paths and connectors.
Permit and inspections: the roof is inspected as part of the building permit, including in-progress checks before the covering hides the deck. Keep the final inspection records, because roof age for insurance is based on when the roof was built to code.

How your roof choice affects insurance

Roof age rules: under Florida Statute 627.7011(5), an insurer can’t refuse to write or renew a homeowners policy solely because a roof is under 15 years old. For older roofs, an inspection showing 5 or more years of useful life left blocks a refusal based on age alone. A new home’s roof starts that clock at zero.
Citizens limits: Citizens Property Insurance requires proof of at least 5 years of remaining life for shingle roofs over 25 years old and tile or metal roofs over 50 years old. Private insurers often set their own, stricter limits.
Wind mitigation credits: the state’s wind mitigation form rates roof covering, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall attachment, roof shape, and secondary water resistance. A new code-built roof should score well on all of them. See 4-point and wind mitigation inspections.
Get quotes before you decide: ask an insurance agent to quote the same house with each roof type. Premium differences over the years can change which roof is really cheapest. See Florida homeowners insurance.

HOA rules on roofing

Florida Statute 720.3035(6) defines hurricane protection to include “roof systems recognized by the Florida Building Code which meet ASCE 7-22 standards.” HOAs must adopt hurricane protection specifications, which may include color and style, and can’t deny an application that meets those specifications. An HOA can still require you to follow an existing unified building scheme, so ask for the current roofing specifications before you choose. Production builders in HOA communities usually offer only roofs already approved for the neighborhood. See Florida HOA rules.

Heat, energy, and solar

Cool roofs: the Department of Energy says cool roofs “achieve the greatest cooling savings in hot climates.” Light-colored or cool-pigmented shingles, coated tile, and factory-coated metal all qualify as options. The Cool Roof Rating Council lists tested products.
Planning for solar: if you might add panels, a new roof that will outlast them saves removing and reinstalling the system later. Standing seam metal allows clamp-on mounts without roof penetrations. Ask your designer to keep a south- or west-facing roof section free of vents. For the solar side, see E-Z Solar and is solar worth it in Central Florida.

How to choose

Tightest budget: a high-wind-class shingle roof, installed carefully at edges, hips, and ridges, on a hip roof shape.
Best storm record and solar plans: standing seam metal, with corrosion-rated materials if you’re near saltwater.
Classic look and long life: tile, with framing designed for it from the start and installation to the Florida high-wind manual.
In every case: check the HOA specifications, get insurance quotes for each option, and confirm the product approval covers your wind pressures.

Questions to ask your builder

What is the design wind speed, and what wind class or design pressure is the roofing rated for?
What is the Florida product approval number for the roof covering and underlayment?
Which sealed roof deck option will you use?
How are hips, ridges, and edges installed?
For tile, are the trusses designed for tile weight, and which attachment method is used?
For metal, is it standing seam or exposed fastener, and is it rated for salt exposure at my distance from the coast?
What warranties come with the roof, and who registers them?

For how roofs age and when they need replacing, see Florida roof lifespan and replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Metal had the best record in recent storms. After Hurricane Ian, IBHS found damage on around 12% of metal roofs, about 40% of tile roofs, and about half of shingle roofs. Any of the three can meet code when it’s rated for your wind speed and installed to its Florida product approval.

They can be if the wrong materials are used. FEMA’s coastal guidance says metal corrosion is most pronounced within about 3,000 feet of the ocean. Choose a metal, coating, and fasteners the manufacturer rates for salt exposure at your location.

Not without checking the structure. Tile is much heavier than shingles or metal, so the trusses and connections must be designed for it. On a new build, decide on tile before the trusses are designed.

It depends on your design wind speed. Under the Florida Building Code table summarized by FEMA, ASTM D7158 Class G or H shingles are needed above 116 mph, and only Class H above 155 mph. Your plans show your design wind speed.

Florida law counts roof systems recognized by the Florida Building Code that meet ASCE 7-22 standards as hurricane protection. An HOA can set color and style specifications and require you to follow an existing unified building scheme, but it can’t deny an application that meets its specifications.

It can. Citizens allows tile and metal roofs to be older than shingle roofs before requiring proof of remaining life, and wind mitigation credits depend on roof features. Ask an agent to quote each option before you choose.

Sources

This article is for general informational purposes only and isn’t financial, legal, insurance, or tax advice – for guidance specific to your situation, talk to a licensed professional.

Choosing a Roof for a New Florida Home