A roof is an
assembly, not
a shingle.

Shingle type

Architectural or three-tab

Used on these roofs. Architectural (dimensional) shingles appear across the documented roofs. They are heavier, read with more depth and shadow, and are generally the product available in higher wind ratings.

Other options. Three-tab is thinner, flatter and cheaper, and is now uncommon on replacements here because of wind-rating requirements. Tile and standing-seam metal are the other two systems we install.

Underlayment

The layer that actually keeps water out

Used on these roofs. Full-coverage underlayment fastened to the deck before the covering, visible in the documented sequence.

Other options. Self-adhered membranes cost more and perform better at the eave, in valleys and on low slopes. In the HVHZ a secondary water barrier is a code requirement, not an upgrade.

Fastening

The part the code cares about most

Used on these roofs. Nail type, length, count and placement are specified by the approved assembly, and the high-wind nailing pattern uses more fasteners in a defined position.

Other options. A shingle nailed high or with too few fasteners looks identical from the ground and fails at a fraction of the rated pressure. This is where inspection matters.

Flashing

Where roofs leak

Used on these roofs. Wall and step flashing, valley treatment and penetration boots appear throughout the documented work. These are the locations where nearly every real leak starts.

Other options. Reusing old flashing to save cost is a false economy: it is buried under the new covering and cannot be replaced later without disturbing it.

Ventilation

What extends the life of everything else

Used on these roofs. Ridge and roof vents are set into the documented assemblies. Ventilation moves heat and moisture out of the roof space.

Other options. Intake and exhaust have to balance. Adding exhaust vents without adequate soffit intake can make attic conditions worse rather than better.

A permit is always required

Roof replacement is a permitted activity everywhere in South Florida. Work done without one can affect insurance and will surface at sale.

High-Velocity Hurricane Zone

Miami-Dade and Broward sit inside the HVHZ, which has its own roofing provisions, its own required affidavits and stricter product approval. Palm Beach follows the standard code but remains a high-wind region.

Product approval

Shingles, underlayment and accessories must carry current approval — a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance or Florida Product Approval — for the assembly and the pressures at your address.

Deck attachment

On a replacement, the roof deck generally has to be refastened to current standards and inspected before dry-in. This is often the single largest unexpected item on an older house.

Secondary water barrier

Required in the HVHZ. It is the layer that limits water entry if the covering is lost during a storm, and it is inspected before it is covered.

Inspection sequence

Typically deck and renail, then dry-in, then final. Each must pass before the next stage covers it — which is the reason roofing cannot be compressed into one visit.

Twenty-five percent rule

Where more than a quarter of a roof section is repaired or replaced within a twelve-month period, the code can require the whole section to be brought to current standards. It is worth knowing before choosing a partial repair.

Wind mitigation and insurance

A completed permitted roof supports a wind mitigation inspection, which is what insurers use. We do not promise a premium outcome — that is between you, the inspector and your carrier.

Closeout documentation

You should end up holding the closed permit, the product approvals, the manufacturer warranty registration and the workmanship warranty.

The nail line

Every shingle has a defined nailing zone. Nails placed above it hold on one layer instead of two and pull through at a fraction of the rated pressure. From the ground the roof looks identical either way.

Sequence at the eave

Drip edge, underlayment and starter course have a required order. Getting the order wrong lets water run behind the metal instead of over it, and it cannot be seen once the field is on.

Valleys and penetrations

These are where leaks actually start. A field of shingles rarely fails on its own; the junctions do, which is why flashing is replaced rather than reused.

Balanced ventilation

Exhaust at the ridge needs matching intake at the soffit. Exhaust alone pulls conditioned air out of the house instead of moving air through the roof space.

Licensed general contractor

CBC1265280 — certified building contractor, bonded and insured, permitted and inspected on every roof.

Tear-off as standard

We remove the existing covering rather than laying over it, because the deck is the part that decides how long the new roof lasts.

Approved assemblies

Shingle, underlayment and fasteners installed as a matched approved system with current documentation for your jurisdiction.

Deck work included honestly

Refastening and sheathing repair are priced openly and photographed as found, rather than discovered as an argument later.

Local to the region

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach — including the HVHZ requirements that apply to two of those three counties.

Documentation handed over

Closed permit, product approvals and warranty registration handed over as a set, which is what a future buyer or insurer asks for.