I’m a Florida rooferd. Asphalt shingles is not an issue

Spending plenty of time in Florida’s roofing industry will teach you a few things. It’s about not only installing the roof system, but also installing what the customer needs. I have been a roofing contractor who has worked in the Tampa Bay Area for decades, but the advances in roofing technology, building standards have become more stringent, and Florida storms and hurricanes have tested all roofing materials to their limits.

One thing remains constant. All property owners need a safe, affordable and durable option.

That’s why I’m worried about recent proposals from the Florida Legislature and the Insurance Regulation Authority, which believes they prefer certain roofing materials that are thought to be more resilient. These suggestions could limit the use of asphalt shingles, the most common roofing material in Florida homes. These measures have been framed as efforts to promote resilience and reduce insurance costs, but are not necessary. In reality, they risk increased costs, limiting homeowner choices, and putting an even greater burden on families who are already struggling to achieve their goals.

Some critics cite insurance data when claiming that shingles on asphalt is liable, pointing to how it manifests itself in most insurance reports. However, it continues logically that it appears with more claims, as the majority of homes have a steel roof. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re suffering more severe damage than other roofs.

While all roof types have their advantages and disadvantages, no one is good at limiting the availability of proven options like asphalt shingles. Laws or regulations based on incomplete facts or misconceptions limit the availability of trained rooferse pools, roofing materials, slower storm recovery and higher cost of home ownership. Even intentional policies can cause harm to those who can’t take into account the entire situation, and more than anything, they can cause harm to those who they clash with.

Development and refinement over decades of storm history, Florida’s building codes and their roof requirements are the most robust in the country. Asphalt shingles fill these cords when they are properly installed. You need to focus on that. To achieve better roofing results, the solution is training more contractors, better enforcement, better storm investigation, and continuous improvement of the code.

Today’s asphalt shingles is significantly better than most options available in generations or two generations ago. The industry is currently shifting towards laminated shingles, offering exceptional wind, water and fire resistance.

This is more than just a document. Florida’s roofing industry creates thousands of high-paying jobs, from family contractor operations to local supply warehouses and steelmaking plants. These are important jobs for our economy, and policies that restrict products can put individuals who have spent their lives working on this particular type of roofing work can at risk.

We also need to think about sustainability. It is no use to need a good roof with years of useful life to meet unnecessary and intrusive regulations and requirements. If the materials, energy and labor that led to the creation of a long-term viable roof system are shorted by policies that are completely useless to turn a good roof, we need to be applauded.

Florida homeowners should have fewer options. The correct answer is to procure standards for all roofing products and make sure they are installed correctly. That’s how we build true resilience and ensure that homes and businesses across the state are protected from unnecessary water invasion and the chaos it creates.

We own the employees, experience and the right materials to do that. All you need to do now is to understand the right policies that will help you make it happen.

Mike Silvers is the director of technical services for the Association of Roof and Sheet Metal Contractors in Florida.