New Construction Roofing by Project Type
A new roof skips the tear-off, the surprise decking and the re-nailing rules that drive reroof prices. Its own risk is different: choices made at the framing stage can't easily be undone later.
Production Subdivision Homes
On a builder's plan, the roof may already be specified when you sign. What a buyer can still do is collect the paperwork the roof will need later. A wind mitigation inspector gives covering credit for an original roof on a house built in 2004 or later. Florida's roof-age rule (Fla. Stat. 627.7011) counts from the date the whole roof was built. A new house isn't eligible for My Safe Florida Home grants, which are limited to homes built before 2008. Ask the builder for the roofing permit, the product approval number and the underlayment method at closing.
Custom Homes
A custom plan is the one point where roof shape is a real choice. The wind mitigation form treats a roof as hip only when other shapes make up 10% or less of its perimeter. Every gable, dormer and valley adds flashing, and HomeGuide's repair guide puts valley repairs at $300 to $1,500. Shingles need a slope of at least 2:12. Flatter sections over porches or courtyards take a membrane (see flat roof repair for the low-slope rules). Tile needs solid sheathing and framing sized for its weight, so decide on it before the trusses are ordered.
Additions Tied Into an Existing Roof
An addition's roof is new work built to the current code, but it meets an older roof at the tie-in. At that joint, the new shingles have to be woven or flashed into the old courses. Find out whether the old shingles can still be matched, or whether it's time to reroof both sections. Florida's 25% rule decides when work on the old roof triggers a full code upgrade, and roof repair explains it.
Dry-In and the Inspection Sequence
The City's building inspection codes run from 100 (footing) and 105 (slab) through 106 (exterior sheathing) and 107 (framing) to 900 (building final). Leon County's list adds a separate 104 (roof) and 917 (roof final). Ask the builder which inspection covers the roof deck nailing on your permit, and don't let the covering go on before it passes. Inspections are booked through the City's IVR at 850-891-1800 or the County at 850-606-1306. An owner-builder in unincorporated Leon County becomes the responsible party and can't hire unlicensed workers.
Choosing Material for a New Build
For a 2,000-square-foot roof, HomeAdvisor's Florida figures run $7,250 to $15,925 for asphalt shingles and $20,000 to $30,000 for concrete tile. Those are replacement prices, which include a tear-off a new house doesn't need. Whichever material you pick, it needs a Florida Product Approval number. Shingles also need the wind class for your design speed, which the architectural shingle roofing page lists. Lifespans by material are on the roof replacement page.
Why Tallahassee homeowners call Tallahassee Expert Roofing
- Your request reaches one roofer, never a call list
- Homeowners pay nothing to use this line
- Ask for the shingle wind class and Product Approval number in writing
- The roofer's estimate is free and you're not obliged to hire
What to Settle Before Roofing Starts on a New House
Most problems on new-construction roofs come down to who did what and what wasn't written down. Before the roofer arrives, agree on:
Who holds the roofing license
Florida law makes a contractor subcontract roofing unless it holds a roofing license. The exception: a general, building or residential contractor may install asphalt shingles on a new building of its own construction (Fla. Stat. 489.113). Tile has no such exception. Check any license number on DBPR's lookup.Sheathing and nailing
Panels at least 7/16 inch thick over trusses 24 inches apart, at Tallahassee's design wind speeds (Table R803.2.2). Ring-shank nails go at the spacing in Table R803.2.3.1 for the truss lumber and exposure. That spacing is what a future wind mitigation inspector records as deck attachment.Underlayment method
Florida's residential code allows three methods under shingles: a full-deck self-adhered membrane, taped deck seams under felt or synthetic, or two half-lapped layers (R905.1.1.1). Each also counts as a sealed roof deck on the insurance form, so put the method in the contract.Edition of the code
Everything above rests on the 2023 8th edition. The 9th edition takes over for permits applied for from December 31, 2026, and roof replacement covers the switch.Paperwork for the owner
The roof permit, product approval number, wind class and underlayment method, kept together for the insurer.