Owners of roofs with asphalt shingles in Sarasota and Bradenton are justifiably nervous right now. That’s because some people are saying this roofing material is apparently not as sturdy as manufacturers claimed.
It’s been hot news in the roofing industry in the last couple of weeks: An extensive study about wind-mitigation construction techniques, compiled from many different studies that were studied by an international engineering research organization, found that asphalt shingles become much more vulnerable to hurricane-force winds within 10 years in the Florida sun. That means this roofing material apparently lasts nowhere close to the 30-year lifespan claimed by the manufacturers.
In response to that, Florida’s insurance commissioner suggested maybe we stop using them altogether. So that’s pretty stressful for local homeowners, especially in the wake of the hurricane season Sarasota and Bradenton just went through.
We have some thoughts.
For starters, if you want a breakdown of your roofing material options in Sarasota/Bradenton, check out our recent blog on the topic, which includes pros and cons of today’s most common Florida roofing materials.
Are asphalt shingle roofs really so bad in Florida?
In our experience, yes and no.
As we noted in our roofing material article, as an experienced Bradenton roofing company we stated that we expect asphalt shingles to last at least 15 years in this environment. And we’ve certainly seen local roofs make these shingles last up to the 30 years promised by manufacturers.
There are many factors that can affect the life of asphalt shingles. The two most important things you need are highly rated shingles installed by excellent professionals.
You want your roofing company to be using high-quality materials. But in Sarasota and Bradenton, roof installation has to be top-notch, too. You can’t afford shortcuts or poor-quality work, even if you think it saves you money in the short-term.
Between the poor quality of some asphalt shingles and the shoddy work of scam storm-chaser roofing companies, it’s not surprising that some newer asphalt roofs fail in hurricane-force winds. It’s likely that the low quality of the shingles used in so many Florida installations in recent years, rather than the overall durability of all asphalt shingles, is what influenced this study.
That being said, we stand behind the quality of our materials as well as our work. When installed properly today’s highly rated asphalt shingles will withstand Sarasota’s sun as well as its storms for much longer than 10 years.
What other factors should Sarasota/Bradenton homeowners be aware of?
There are some nuances to consider.
Historical Precedent and Climate Change
One thing to keep in mind is that this warning about asphalt shingles concerns “hurricane-force winds.” That means winds of 74 mph or higher.
While hurricane conditions are nothing new to us here in Florida, we’ve often been lucky to avoid them here on the Suncoast.
Unfortunately, that was not true last year, and it looks like we could expect more frequent hurricane landfalls right here in Sarasota/Bradenton in the future. For everyone in our immediate area who’s gotten used to their roofs lasting a long time, there might be adjustments to make when it comes to the “new normal” for weather.
It’s true, as homeowners, we might have to start changing our mindset when it comes to what we can expect from our roofs.
Insurance Demands
Home insurance alone is a stressful topic for Floridians these days, and the comments from the insurance commissioner have added uncertainty.
We’re in a time of flux, so it can be hard to know what to do. Here are some places to start.
- If you’re uncertain of the readiness of your roof for this upcoming hurricane season, we urge you to have it inspected.
- If you don’t know what to expect from the insurance market, ask your insurer.
- If you know you will need a new roof soon, or you just want to prepare for the future, talk to your friendly Bradenton roofing company. We offer roof inspections, maintenance, repairs, and installations.
Florida homeowners have options when it comes to their roofs. Talk to LD Total Roofing to learn more about yours.
Deckard & Company