I hear you on the lack of options—felt like I was picking between “asphalt” and... well, “asphalt” when I did mine last year. But honestly, my wallet nearly fainted when I priced out solar shingles and metal. Asphalt might be boring, but it’s cheap and does the job, at least for now. Would I love something cooler (literally and figuratively)? Sure, but until the prices drop, I’ll just keep cranking the AC and hope my next roof isn’t another snooze-fest.
I totally get where you’re coming from—when I started looking into roof replacements, I was shocked at how few choices actually fit my budget. Asphalt felt like the only realistic option for me too, especially after seeing the price tag on metal and solar. I wanted something that would help with the Florida heat, but even the “cool roof” asphalt shingles were a stretch, price-wise.
My place is just outside Orlando, and with the storms we get, I was mostly worried about leaks and wind. I went with asphalt and, honestly, it’s been fine so far. Not exciting, but it hasn’t let me down. My neighbor did metal last year and it looks awesome, but she said the noise during rain is no joke. Plus, her insurance went up a bit, which I didn’t expect.
On the Empire Roofing front, I actually got a quote from them last fall. They were super responsive, which was a nice change after getting ghosted by a couple other companies. Their price was pretty much in line with the other big names, but I ended up going with a smaller local guy because he was recommended by a friend. Still, Empire’s rep was upfront about the whole process and didn’t push upgrades. If you’re leaning toward asphalt, they seemed to know their stuff.
The only thing I wish I’d done differently is maybe push harder for a lighter shingle color. Mine’s dark gray and it just soaks up the heat. If you’re still deciding, it might be worth asking about that. Otherwise, I agree—it’s not glamorous, but at least my roof isn’t leaking (yet). And yeah, my AC is working overtime, but that’s just Florida, I guess.
Lighter shingles definitely help with the heat, especially in Florida. I’ve seen a lot of folks go with darker colors and regret it after their first summer. On Empire, I’ve worked a few jobs where they were the competition. Their crews seemed organized and their cleanup was solid—no stray nails left behind, which is rare. Price-wise, they’re not lowballing, but you’re paying for a smoother process. Small local guys can be hit or miss, but sometimes you get more personalized attention. Insurance hikes with metal roofs aren’t uncommon here, either... always surprises people.
- Inspected a handful of Empire jobs in the Orlando area—usually pretty tidy sites, which isn’t always the case with bigger crews.
- Cleanup’s solid, but I’ve still found the odd nail or two in the grass. Not a dealbreaker, just something to watch for if you’ve got pets or kids running around.
- Their paperwork’s always in order. Permits, warranties, all that. Makes my job easier, honestly.
- Noticed they tend to push lighter shingles, which is smart for Florida, but I’ve seen a couple installs where the attic ventilation wasn’t quite up to snuff. That can undo the benefit of lighter colors if you’re not careful.
- Price is middle of the road. You’re not getting a bargain, but you’re not getting gouged either.
- I’ve seen smaller outfits do just as good a job, but it’s more of a gamble. Had one local guy leave a roof half-done for a week because he overbooked himself.
- Metal roofs—yeah, insurance can jump. Folks are always shocked by that.
- If you go with Empire, just double-check the venting and make sure you’re clear on the warranty details. Otherwise, they’re pretty reliable from what I’ve seen.
Noticed they tend to push lighter shingles, which is smart for Florida, but I’ve seen a couple installs where the attic ventilation wasn’t quite up to snuff. That can undo the benefit of lighter colors if you’re not careful.
That’s actually what I’m worried about—my house gets brutal afternoon sun and I’m thinking lighter shingles might help, but only if the venting’s right. Did Empire actually fix the venting issues when you pointed them out, or was it more of a “that’s how it is” situation? Also, anyone know if their warranty covers heat damage or just leaks? That’s a big one for me.
