It's not always a new kitchen. Why South Florida homeowners crave a new roof
As a crucial defense against damage from storms, a strong roof has always had elevated importance in Miami and Broward. But with busy hurricane seasons and spiraling insurance premiums, more homeowners are replacing what sits overhead.
Insurers are tightening requirements and pushing homeowners to replace and upgrade roofs to avoid rising fees or losing their coverage — turning what's often a long-term maintenance project into an urgent financial concern for many South Florida homeowners.
'Within the last 10-15 years, insurance companies have really started pressuring people to replace their roofs or upgrade them to get certain discounts or keep premiums low,' said Andrew Palmer, owner of A. Palmer Roofing in South Miami-Dade. 'Between insurance requirements and the fear of the hurricanes, people in Miami have invested big in securing their roofs.'
Palmer said his business has seen demand for roof replacements almost double since 2020.
Demand for roof replacements has surged by 43% nationwide, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2025 Remodeling Impact Report. The report also showed that roofing has become a more emotionally satisfying investment for homeowners, delivering a sense of security that caused roof improvements to tie with kitchen remodels and bedroom additions in terms of homeowner satisfaction in the latest survey.
Experts say the trend is even more pronounced in South Florida, as homeowners face pressure from insurers and storm season deadlines, leading to a significant increase in new roofs.
'Roofing is probably the most important but least exciting home remodel; its rising popularity is being driven purely by performance,' said Mitch Heitsch, Florida operations manager for national renovation company Westlake Royal Roofing Solution.
'For a kitchen or bathroom remodel, you can walk in and see what's changed,' he said. 'With roofing, it's easy to forget about it after it's done, but you sleep better at night knowing you're protected if the rainstorms or hurricanes come through.'
Heitsch said businesses like his have benefited from a steady rise in South Florida for roofing work over the last few years.
'Especially following storms and with all the other struggles we face as Floridians, we've seen a huge increase in demand for higher-performing, quality roofs,' Heitsch said. 'Roofing is at the forefront; it's had a big spotlight turned on it.'
That spotlight has been lit, in large part, by Florida insurance companies. Heitsch said that a rise in the intensity and frequency of storms in South Florida has led insurance companies in recent years to grow increasingly concerned with roof quality.
'In years past, a major storm would come through and homeowners would file claims and get their roofs replaced afterward,' Heitsch said. 'But the number of claims in the last decade has made insurance companies start demanding more from roofing products in recent years.'
Compounding concerns for homeowners, Florida now allows insurers to let policies lapse over the age of a roof. Insurers are imposing additional requirements — such as impact-rated roof materials or additional water-resistant underlayers — when accepting older roofs.
'I think asphalt shingles ... maybe it's time to start writing them out of the plot in Florida,' Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky said in December at the Florida Insurance Summit. 'They don't last 30 years in Florida. They just don't.'
Yaworsky's comments were a boon for businesses like Heitsch's, which specializes in metal roofing.
'There was a lot of noise around those comments,' Heitsch said. 'He was talking about the average life expectancy of shingles and what that means for insurance companies — who are really driving the conversation around roofing in Florida.'
Heitsch said that frequent re-roofing is the main problem with materials like asphalt shingles in a storm-prone area.
'It's less money out of the homeowners pocket upfront, but it's not the investment homeowners are looking for over a longer term, say 20 to 30 years,' Heitsch said. 'You need something that can hold up during storms.'
But the roof rush isn't just about weatherproofing — it's tied to an affordability squeeze that's reshaping Florida's housing market. Homeownership economics are driving people toward staying put and investing in long-term improvements to their properties.
The price of new home construction in Miami averages over $1 million and, according to a recent study published by home improvement company Inspired Closets, the estimated cost of monthly mortgage payments for new construction in the city of Miami is roughly 165% higher than the average monthly mortgage paid by current homeowners. While new construction tends to be more expensive, the cost gap in Miami was significantly above the national average, making it one of the five most expensive cities in the United States for homeowners to upgrade to a newly constructed home, according to the report.
The median price for a newly constructed home is only about 11% higher than existing ones nationwide, so given the steep gap in monthly costs an existing homeowner would face, the dynamic is leading to investments in upgrades like roofing instead of making an expensive move.
Palmer said his roofing company has increasingly been contracted to remodel homes that were pulled off the market after failing to find a buyer.
'We see people list a home that needs a new roof thinking they'll be able to sell it as is, but then the buyer comes in and realizes they can't get a mortgage or windstorm coverage on the home, so the deal falls through.' Palmer said. 'Around here it's an investment that pays off in the end.'
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