Has anyone used Empire Roofing in Orlando, Fl? What was your experience?

That paperwork delay sounds about right - Empire’s not the fastest with admin stuff in my experience either, but at least they eventually deliver. On the humidity front, I’ve tried both a dehumidifier and solar attic fans. The dehumidifier did help, but my summer bill spiked, too. The solar fans were a mixed bag: they dropped temps a bit, but when I mentioned them to the warranty folks, suddenly I was reading a whole new set of exclusions. It’s wild how adding anything “non-standard” seems to give them an out. I’d double-check before installing anything, especially if your roof’s still under warranty.

That’s been my experience too - Empire’s admin side isn’t exactly a model of efficiency, but they do eventually get things sorted. I had a similar run-in with the warranty folks when I looked into adding a ridge vent after the fact. Suddenly, I was knee-deep in fine print and “modification” clauses. It’s almost like they’re waiting for any excuse to void coverage.

On the humidity issue, I went with a mid-range dehumidifier for the attic last summer. It worked, but my electric bill definitely noticed. I considered solar fans, but after reading the warranty exclusions (and a few horror stories about leaks around the install points), I decided to hold off until my warranty’s up. It’s frustrating - seems like you’re stuck between high humidity and risking your coverage.

If anyone’s thinking about upgrades, I’d say read every line of the warranty. Some of those exclusions are buried pretty deep. And yeah, Empire’s not quick, but at least they don’t disappear on you... small victories, I guess.

Had a pretty similar run-in with Empire when I tried to get a roof vent installed on one of the properties I manage. Their admin side definitely moves at its own pace - lots of paperwork, and I had to follow up more than once before anything really happened. But in the end, they did come through and honored the warranty, even though it felt like they were looking for reasons not to.

The humidity issue is a real pain in Central Florida. I’ve tried both powered attic fans and dehumidifiers over the years. The fans made a difference, but like you mentioned, Empire’s warranty has all sorts of exclusions about “penetrations” or “modifications.” One time, after installing a solar fan, they tried to say a small leak was my responsibility because of that install… even though it was nowhere near the fan. Took weeks to sort out.

I’ve found it’s safer (and less stressful) to just stick with what’s covered until the warranty runs out. Not ideal, but at least you’re not risking coverage. Reading every line of those contracts is honestly the best advice - some of that fine print is wild.

That fine print is no joke - sometimes I swear these warranty contracts are written by folks who’ve never actually seen a roof in Florida. I’ve seen homeowners get dinged for the wildest things, like a single nail in the wrong spot voiding half the coverage. I get why you’d want to avoid any “modifications,” but man, it’s tough when you’re sweating through your shirt in August and just want some airflow up there.

I’ve inspected a few Empire jobs where the paperwork took longer than the actual repairs. At least they eventually honor the warranty, but it’s like running a marathon in flip-flops. Out of curiosity, has anyone had luck getting them to approve upgrades, like ridge vents or better underlayment, without jumping through a million hoops? I’ve seen mixed results - sometimes they’ll play ball, sometimes it’s a hard no. Just wondering if it’s worth even trying, or if it’s better to wait out the warranty and then go wild with improvements.

Yeah, that fine print can be wild. I’ve seen Empire’s contracts trip people up over stuff you’d never expect - like, one time a homeowner got flagged for installing a satellite dish bracket and suddenly their wind warranty was “under review.” It’s like, who doesn’t have something bolted to their roof in Florida? Between the sun and the storms, everyone’s trying to get creative just to keep the house cool or get decent TV reception.

About upgrades, I’ve had mixed luck. Ridge vents are a tough sell unless you’re doing a full re-roof. Empire seems pretty strict about sticking to whatever’s in the original scope, especially if you’re still under warranty. I tried pushing for a better underlayment (the synthetic stuff instead of felt) on a job last year and got hit with a bunch of “that’s not standard” responses. They wanted to charge extra and said it might mess with the warranty, which honestly felt like a stretch. But I’ve heard of a neighbor getting upgraded vents approved after some back-and-forth - maybe depends on who you get on the phone or how much you push.

The paperwork is always a marathon, like you said. Sometimes I wonder if they make it complicated on purpose just so folks give up and stick with the basics. I get why they want to protect themselves, but it can feel like you’re jumping through hoops just to make your house livable. Especially in August when the attic feels like a sauna and you’re just desperate for some airflow.

Personally, if you’re not in a rush and your roof isn’t leaking, it might be less stressful to wait out the warranty and then do whatever upgrades you want. But if you’re dealing with real heat or moisture issues, it might be worth at least asking - just be ready for some pushback and maybe extra costs. Florida roofs are their own beast, and sometimes you gotta pick your battles.

Waiting out the warranty can work, but sometimes that just drags the problem on longer than it needs to. I get wanting to avoid the paperwork headache, but in my experience, if you document everything and get Empire’s approval in writing before you make any changes, you’re usually safe. I’ve seen folks get upgrades pushed through by being persistent and making a case for why the change is necessary (like showing humidity readings from the attic). It’s a hassle, but sometimes you can get what you need without voiding the warranty - just takes a bit of legwork. Florida roofs don’t really give you much of a break, so sometimes it’s worth pushing back even if it feels like an uphill battle.

That’s spot on about Florida roofs not giving you a break - between the sun, storms, and humidity, it’s like they’re in a constant battle. I’ve seen a lot of folks get stuck in warranty limbo, just waiting for something to happen, but honestly, sometimes you’ve gotta nudge things along. I’ve had clients who kept detailed logs - photos, moisture readings, even a video of water dripping during a storm - and Empire actually responded pretty well once they saw the evidence.

The paperwork is a pain, no doubt, but if you’re persistent and keep everything in writing, you can usually get them to approve repairs or upgrades without risking the warranty. I’ve noticed they’re more flexible if you can show it’s a legit issue, not just cosmetic.

One thing I’d add: don’t be afraid to push back a little if you know something’s not right. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, especially when it comes to roof warranties in this climate. Just be ready for a bit of back-and-forth. It’s not fun, but it beats waiting for a leak to turn into a waterfall.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease, especially when it comes to roof warranties in this climate.

Ain’t that the truth? I swear, my last roof saga with Empire felt like a full-time job - between the humidity and those random sideways rainstorms, I was half-expecting mushrooms to start growing in my attic. I kept a “roof diary” (yeah, that’s a thing now) with photos and even a humidity sensor. They finally sent someone out after I emailed them a video of my ceiling doing its best impression of Niagara Falls. Anyone else try switching to lighter-colored shingles for the heat, or am I just chasing my own tail with that?

Man, your “roof diary” idea is genius. I wish I’d thought of that when I was dealing with my own leak drama last summer - mine wasn’t quite Niagara Falls, but it was enough to ruin a couple ceiling tiles and make me paranoid every time a cloud rolled in. I totally get the full-time job feeling... half my camera roll is just pictures of water stains.

About the lighter shingles - I actually did some digging on that before replacing mine (went with a pale gray instead of dark brown). The theory is they reflect more sunlight, so less heat gets trapped in your attic. It seemed to help a bit on my AC bill, but honestly, the humidity here is so relentless that there’s only so much you can do. Still, I’d say it wasn’t a waste. At the very least, my attic doesn’t feel quite as much like a sauna.

You’re not chasing your tail - every little bit helps in this climate. And documenting everything? That’s just smart.

That roof diary idea is honestly underrated. I started something similar after we had a “mystery drip” in the guest room, and it saved my hide more than once - especially when I had to convince the insurance adjuster the leak wasn’t “new.” I’ve got folders of stain pics too, and a few blurry shots where I was trying to catch a drip mid-fall. Never thought I’d become an amateur roof photographer, but here we are.

On the lighter shingles, I went with a weathered wood color a couple years back, figuring it’d help with the heat. I can’t say it made a dramatic difference, but the attic’s definitely less stuffy, and the AC doesn’t seem to kick on quite as quickly in the afternoons. Like you said though, Florida humidity is relentless - sometimes it feels like the air is sweating right along with you. Still, every little tweak helps, especially when the electric bill rolls in.

Documenting everything is just good sense. Contractors, insurance, even just keeping your own sanity in check... it all adds up.

Documenting everything is just good sense. Contractors, insurance, even just keeping your own sanity in check... it all adds up.

Couldn’t agree more - photos and notes have bailed me out with adjusters more than once. About the lighter shingles, I’ve seen mixed results too. The reflectivity helps a bit, but unless you’re pairing it with proper attic ventilation and insulation, the gains are pretty modest in Florida’s climate. Humidity just finds a way in regardless. Still, every small improvement counts when you’re fighting those utility bills.

Totally get what you mean about humidity - Florida just laughs at our best efforts sometimes. I’ve managed a few properties with lighter shingles and honestly, unless you’ve got solid insulation and the attic’s breathing right, it’s more of a drop in the bucket than a game-changer. Still, every little bit helps when those AC bills roll in. I’ve also learned the hard way that documenting *everything* is non-negotiable, especially when insurance gets involved. Miss one photo and suddenly it’s like the damage never happened...

Light shingles are a mixed bag here, for sure. If the attic’s not vented right, you’re just moving the problem around. I’ve seen folks spend extra on “cool roof” shingles and still get hit with mold or high temps inside. Documentation - couldn’t agree more. I’ve had adjusters question even the smallest patch job because I missed a shot of the underlayment. Out of curiosity, did Empire handle your insurance process at all, or did you have to chase paperwork yourself? Sometimes a contractor who knows how to work with adjusters is worth their weight in gold...

I get what you’re saying about attic ventilation, but I’d argue the shingle color still plays a bigger role than most folks think - especially in Florida’s sun. Lighter shingles can help, but only if the whole system’s right: insulation, venting, and even the roof deck material. I’ve seen “cool roof” installs work well, but only when the contractor actually understands building science, not just the sales pitch. As for Empire, I’ve heard mixed things about their paperwork game - some friends had to chase them for docs, others said it was smooth. Maybe it comes down to who you get on the crew that week.

Not sure I totally agree about shingle color being the main thing, at least in my case. We went with a medium gray, figuring it’d be a good compromise, but honestly, once we beefed up the attic insulation, the difference in inside temps was way more noticeable than when we just had lighter shingles. Maybe it’s the combo that matters most? Also, did anyone have luck getting Empire to explain their warranty stuff clearly? Ours felt a bit rushed and I had to call them back for clarification... just curious if that’s common.

I’m with you - shingle color isn’t the whole story, especially in Florida. I’ve seen way more impact from adding insulation and making sure there’s proper attic ventilation than just swapping out for lighter shingles. The combo definitely matters, but insulation seems to give the biggest bang for your buck. As for Empire, I had a similar experience with their warranty explanation - felt like they glossed over the details until I pressed for specifics. Maybe it’s just how they do things, but it left me double-checking everything in writing.

- Totally agree, insulation made a bigger difference for us than just changing shingle color. Our attic used to get crazy hot, but after adding more blown-in, the whole house felt cooler.
- Ventilation’s underrated too - had a ridge vent put in and noticed less humidity inside.
- Empire’s warranty talk was vague for me as well. I had to ask for the paperwork twice before they sent the actual terms. Not sure if that’s just their process or what.
- One thing I’d add: their crew worked fast, but cleanup wasn’t perfect. Found a few nails in the yard after. Not a dealbreaker, just something to watch for.

That’s pretty spot-on about insulation and ventilation making the biggest difference. I see a lot of folks focus on shingle color or type, but if your attic’s a sauna, nothing else really matters. Ridge vents are a game changer in our climate - less humidity, less chance for that musty smell to creep in.

The warranty stuff can get confusing. Some companies are just slow with paperwork, but it shouldn’t be a guessing game. I always tell people, don’t be shy about pushing for the details. It’s your roof, after all.

Cleanup is one of those things… crews are in a rush to beat weather or finish up, but missing a few nails happens more than it should. Magnet sweepers help, but they’re not perfect. I’ve seen worse, honestly.

All in all, sounds like your experience was pretty typical for bigger outfits - fast work, but you gotta keep an eye on the details. At least you caught the nails before the mower did, right?

- Totally agree about attic ventilation - made a bigger difference for us than the shingle upgrade ever did.
- Had the same issue with leftover nails. Found a couple in the grass weeks later... not fun with kids running around.
- Warranty paperwork took forever here too. Had to call twice before I got the final docs.
- Cleanup was decent, but I still did my own sweep just to be safe.
- If I did it again, I'd double-check the ridge vent install - ours was a bit crooked at first.

Totally agree about attic ventilation - made a bigger difference for us than the shingle upgrade ever did.

Couldn’t agree more on the ventilation. We did a solar-powered attic fan when we replaced the roof last year (not with Empire, but similar setup), and honestly, it dropped the upstairs temp by at least 5 degrees in summer. Way more noticeable than the shingle color or brand. I think a lot of folks underestimate how much that affects your AC bill.

The leftover nails thing is a pet peeve for me too. I get that it’s tough to catch every single one, but when you’ve got pets or kids, it’s nerve-wracking. I actually went out with a magnet roller after the crew left and still found a handful.

One thing I’d add: if you’re looking at any kind of roof replacement in Florida, consider asking about recycled-content shingles or even cool roof options. Not every company offers them, but it’s worth pushing for something with a lower environmental footprint. And yeah, double-check the ridge vent install - ours was off-center at first and they had to redo it. Small stuff, but it matters.