Of all your roofing options in Florida, none is more popular than asphalt shingles. What’s not to love? They’re durable, affordable, and available in every color you could imagine. But as Florida’s hurricane seasons become increasingly active, many homeowners are questioning whether asphalt roofing shingles are still the right choice for them.
We’re PITCH Roofing, and as your local roofing partner, we’re here to answer all of your questions about roofing options. Today, that means giving you the good, the bad, and the ugly about asphalt shingles in Florida. Let’s discuss if this classic roofing material has a future in the Sunshine State!
Asphalt Shingles 101
We’re starting off with a basic introduction to what asphalt shingles are and how they work. In the manufacturing process, they start with a fiberglass baseboard. This is then dipped in hot asphalt to entirely coat the baseboard and give shingles water resistance and enough weight to stay put. Manufacturers then cover the shingle in a layer of stone granules to improve resistance to impact damage and UV rays.
This is how old-school shingles were made. Modern architectural shingles are a little different, though. These new and improved shingles get an extra layer of asphalt coating. While this may not sound like a big difference, it makes the shingle much more water-resistant and able to withstand higher-force winds. It also improves how much shingles help insulate your home.
As you can see, shingles are simple and easy to manufacture. But simple doesn’t always mean bad. To see if asphalt shingles are still a good idea for roof replacements in 2025, let’s look at the good and the bad of this classic roofing material!
Pros and Cons of Asphalt Shingles
No roofing material is entirely good or bad; they usually have good and bad qualities. That said, today we’re looking to see if asphalt shingles are still a competitive option for modern roof replacements. That means we’ll be looking at important factors like longevity, hurricane resistance, and cost!
Pro: Low Roof Replacement Cost
Remember how we said that shingles are quick and easy to make? Well in roofing, quick and easy usually means “affordable.” When you couple their low manufacturing costs with their straightforward installation method of hammering them into place, it’s a recipe for an affordable roof replacement.
Asphalt shingles are, bar none, the most affordable roofing material on the market. High-quality asphalt shingles cost between $5 and $9 per square foot. If your roof is near the average size of 1,700 square feet, that means you’ll likely pay $8,500 to $15,300 for a new asphalt shingle roof in Florida.
Con: Relatively Short Lifespans
Old-school 3-tab asphalt shingles would be lucky to last 15 years. Thankfully, new advancements in roofing technology have made it so that asphalt shingles last 20-25 years in Florida. This is a solid lifespan, but it just can’t compete with other options on the market.
Metal and tile roofs both last longer than asphalt shingles. Even exposed fastener metal roofs, which are the most affordable metal roofing option, last for closer to 30 years before they need replacing. So while asphalt shingles are the lowest-cost roofing material, they’re also the material with the shortest life expectancy.
Pro: Can Withstand Hurricanes
Modern asphalt shingle roofs are more than capable of standing up to hurricanes. Thanks to their thick double coating of asphalt, shingles are highly resistant to soaking through even during major storms. And the extra heft enables them to resist winds up to 120 mph.
This means that even during a major hurricane, your roof will stay in place. While nobody can guarantee that a shingle roof will survive direct contact with a Category 5 hurricane, you will be protected against most hurricanes and tropical storms.
Con: Expect Regular Maintenance
It is very rare for an entire asphalt shingle roof to be destroyed in a hurricane. What is significantly less rare, though, is for asphalt shingles to come flying off during a major storm. As the owner of a shingle roof, you should expect to run into minor roof repairs like this throughout the life of your roof, especially after the first 5 years.
The silver lining is that asphalt shingle roof repairs are usually quick and inexpensive. Replacing a few missing or damaged shingles, for instance, takes only a bit of labor and a handful of new shingles and nails, so it’s a very low-cost repair. However, you’ll need to act quickly when issues arise to prevent them from worsening or spreading. Waiting for roof repairs is a surefire way to end up spending more in the long run!
Pro: Classic Curb Appeal
As a homeowner, you want the value of your home to keep increasing. And an asphalt shingle roof replacement is a great way to achieve just that. Since shingles come in any color you can imagine, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect shingles to compliment your home’s aesthetic.
Architectural shingles offer even more benefits to your curb appeal. That’s because their multi-layered design allows for unique patterning. These patterns create visual depth on your roof, which is why they’re sometimes called dimensional shingles. By adding visual interest to your roof, these shingles go a long way in increasing curb appeal!
Get a Free Asphalt Shingle Roof Replacement Estimate
At the end of the day, you’re the only person qualified to determine if asphalt shingles are right for your home. But whether you decide that shingles are right for you or you want to pursue other roofing materials, PITCH has your back and is ready to provide a free, no-obligation roofing quote.
For your free roofing estimate, call us at 727-677-4824 or schedule your estimate online. We’ll inspect your roof, answer your questions, and provide a detailed, thorough roof replacement estimate. Or if you’d rather skip straight to the quote, you can sign up for an online-only roofing estimate!
At PITCH, we believe that roofing should be personalized. We’re committed to helping you get the perfect new roof for your home, and we’re ready to help you at every step of the roofing process. Reach out to our friendly staff today and let us show you why there’s no substitute for experienced local roofing professionals!
Heather Ware is an In-House Roofing Specialist at PITCH Roofing. Working daily alongside our internal roofing teams, she translates complex Florida building codes and roofing techniques into clear, actionable advice for homeowners. With 4 years of experience in the Florida roofing industry, her goal is to ensure property owners have the exact facts they need to protect their investments.
