The decision’s made: your roof needs replacing. Maybe the home inspector flagged it, maybe your insurance company asked about its age, or maybe the stain on the ceiling made the call for you. Now you’re lining up a shingle roof installation in Orlando, and the worry has shifted. Who’s going to be on your roof, how long will it take, and how will you know the parts you can’t see were done right?
Those questions matter, because most of what makes a roof last is buried under the shingles by the end of the day. Here’s what a proper install looks like, so you know what to expect and what to ask any roofer.
APC Roofing is GAF Certified, licensed in Florida (CCC1337030) and insured. Your inspection and estimate are free. Call 407-270-1129 to get started.
Before installation day
It starts with an inspection of the whole roof, not just the spot that’s leaking. You’ll get a written estimate that spells out the shingle line, the color and the scope of work, so there’s nothing to guess about later.
You’ll also pick your shingle. Most homeowners reroofing in Orlando choose architectural shingles, which are heavier and usually carry higher wind ratings. 3-tab shingles still have a place on simpler buildings, and our 3-tab shingle roofing page explains where. Lighter colors stay a little cooler under the Florida sun, and some lines resist the algae streaks common here.
In Florida, a reroof generally needs a building permit and a final inspection. Your estimate should make clear how that’s handled. If you’d like to spread out the cost, financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Tear-off and the roof deck
On install day the old shingles come off down to the wood deck. That’s the only time anyone gets a clear look at the plywood or OSB under your roof. Soft, rotted or delaminated sections get cut out and replaced, because nails can’t hold in weak wood, and a soft spot left under new shingles becomes a dip and then a leak.
Florida’s building code limits when new shingles can go over an old layer. Even where an overlay is allowed, it hides the deck, so tearing off is usually the better choice. It’s worth asking any roofer how they plan to handle it.
The layers nobody sees later
These steps decide how your roof handles its first hurricane season, and you won’t see any of them once the job is done:
- Underlayment. A water-resistant layer rolled over the whole deck, lapped so water runs over the seams instead of into them. It’s the backup if wind ever drives rain under a shingle.
- Drip edge. Metal trim along the eaves and the sloped gable edges that sends water off the roof and away from the fascia boards.
- Starter strip. A row along the edges with sealant placed right where the first course needs it. The edges take the most wind uplift, so this row matters.
- Flashing. Bent metal where the roof meets a wall or a chimney, woven in with the shingles. A small kickout piece at the bottom of a wall keeps water out of the siding.
- Pipe boots. The rubber collars around plumbing pipes wear out before the shingles do. They should be replaced with the roof, not reused.
Shingles, nails and the ridge
Each shingle gets the number of nails the manufacturer calls for, in the strip they mark for it. In high-wind areas like Central Florida, that usually means the manufacturer’s high-wind nailing pattern. A nail set too high or driven crooked won’t hold the shingle the way the wind rating assumes, so this is careful work.
Hip and ridge cap shingles finish the top edges. On architectural roofs, these are a matching accessory product, made to bend over the peak without cracking.
Installing in an Orlando summer
Afternoon thunderstorms are part of life here from late spring into fall. A careful crew watches the radar and doesn’t open up more roof than it can cover with underlayment before the weather turns. The heat does help in one way: the sealant strips on new shingles bond quickly in strong sun.
Many residential installs are finished in a single day. Bigger or more complex roofs take longer, and you’ll get a realistic timeline with your estimate.
Cleanup and final inspection
When the shingles are on, the crew cleans up the old roofing, packaging and stray nails from your yard and driveway. After that comes the final inspection on the permit. Then the job is done, and you have a new roof that was built right from the deck up.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 407-270-1129 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. If a repair will do, you’ll hear that instead. Our Orlando shingle roof repair work covers smaller problems.
- Your roof gets done and the site gets cleaned up. Many homes are finished in a single day.
Putting off a worn-out roof tends to cost more later. Water that gets past old shingles can soak the deck, and replacing rotted wood adds to the job.
Shingle roof installation in Orlando: common questions
How long does a shingle roof installation take?
Many residential roofs in Orlando are done in a single day. Larger roofs, steep roofs and jobs with a lot of deck repair can take longer.
Can new shingles go over my old ones?
Sometimes, depending on the code and the condition of the roof. A tear-off is usually the better choice because it lets the deck be checked and repaired.
What happens if it rains during the job?
Underlayment is the roof’s backup water barrier, so once it’s down the house is protected while the shingles go on. That’s why a crew shouldn’t strip more roof than it can cover before a storm.
Which shingle should I choose?
For most Orlando homes, architectural shingles are the better fit for wind. You can compare options on our shingle roofing in Orlando page.
A new roof you don’t have to wonder about
The goal is a roof that’s sealed tight from the deck up, a clean yard and the confidence that the hidden steps were done right. Call APC Roofing at 407-270-1129 to book your free inspection.
