That’s pretty much what I’ve heard about Empire—sometimes they’re reasonable, sometimes it’s a headache. I’m actually in the middle of getting quotes for a re-roof (asphalt shingles, 18 years old, starting to curl), and Empire was one of the companies that came out. Their estimate was right in the middle, but the warranty language was kind of dense. I noticed a lot of “exclusions” around wind damage and “acts of God,” which seems like a big deal in Florida.
“If you go with Empire, just read the fine print and keep every scrap of paperwork.”
That’s what worries me. I’m not super organized, so I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to get everything digital from them up front. Did you have any issues getting documentation after the job? Also, on the ventilation—did you notice any difference in humidity or just temperature? My attic gets crazy hot, but I’m more worried about moisture since we get those afternoon storms all summer.
I’m leaning toward doing some of the upgrades myself too, but not sure how much that would mess with the warranty if something goes wrong later.
Honestly, I’d be careful about doing any upgrades yourself if you’re worried about the warranty. Most of these companies will use any excuse to deny a claim, especially if you touch the ventilation or flashing. I’ve managed a few properties with Empire roofs and getting digital copies of paperwork was like pulling teeth—lots of “we’ll email it” and then nothing unless you chase them. As for the ventilation, I noticed a drop in attic temp but humidity was still an issue during the rainy months. If moisture’s your main concern, you might want to look at a ridge vent or even a solar fan, but definitely get it in writing that it won’t void your warranty. These exclusions for wind and “acts of God” are pretty standard in Florida, but it’s still frustrating. Sometimes I wonder if the warranty’s even worth the paper it’s printed on...
- Paperwork from roofing companies is like Bigfoot—everyone talks about it, nobody’s ever actually seen it.
- Warranties are wild. I’ve seen more loopholes than a magician’s hat, especially when you start poking around with fans or extra vents.
- Humidity in Florida attics is a beast. Even with good airflow, sometimes it just lingers... anyone else have luck with dehumidifiers up there, or is that just overkill?
- Curious—did Empire actually send anyone out to check the moisture, or was it all just “we’ll get back to you” emails?
I’ve actually seen Empire’s paperwork—took them three weeks and a couple of “we’re working on it” calls, but it did show up. As for humidity, I tried a dehumidifier in my attic last summer. It helped a bit, but the electric bill was no joke. Anyone else notice the warranty fine print gets even trickier if you mention adding solar fans?
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.
