Roofing in Miami, FL

The median home in the city of Miami was built in 1979, about the same as the U.S. median of 1980 and older than the Florida median of 1988.¹ About 51% of Miami's housing units were built before 1980, close to the national share, and 19% since 2010.¹ Newer roofs are often still inside a manufacturer warranty, so the first question on a repair is whether the original installer's workmanship warranty or the shingle warranty applies. Annual precipitation is about 67 inches, with 21 days a year of an inch or more.^2,3 Where heavy-rain days are common, the quote should name the underlayment and the valley and flashing details, which is where most leaks start.

Summers are hot: about 91 days a year reach 90°F and 0 reach 100°F.^2,3 Long hot seasons shorten the life of dark asphalt shingles; a quote should state the shingle's rated wind and heat performance and whether a lighter color or a metal system is sensible. Miami is about 2 miles from the ocean or Gulf coast in a straight line.^4,5 Near the coast, fastener grade and wind rating matter: ask for stainless or hot-dipped galvanized fasteners and for the installed wind rating of the shingle system.

Owner-occupied homes in Miami are older than rentals: a median build year of 1970 against 1981.¹ Where owner-occupied homes skew older, a repair-versus-replace conversation is the usual starting point rather than a like-for-like swap. Building permits in Miami are normally issued by the city building department.^6,7 Re-roofing permits, where required, are filed by the contractor with the city before work starts.