October 26, 2026 · 8 min read · Costs
The short answer
Asphalt shingle is the lowest-cost of the main roof types in Palm Beach County, and it generally lasts 13 to 18 years here. What you pay to replace it is set by the size and shape of the roof, the shingle line you pick, how much deck repair is found once the old roof is off, and the code-required underlayment, nailing and flashing for your wind band. A quote that is far below the others usually leaves one of those out.
Shingle lines compared
| Shingle line | Cost compared with others | Notes for Palm Beach County |
|---|---|---|
| Three-tab | Lowest | Rarely installed on re-roofs now; lighter and flatter |
| Architectural (dimensional) | Middle | The standard on the homes we roof |
| Class 4 impact-resistant | Higher | Tougher, more flexible shingle; see our Class 4 shingle guide |
| Designer (slate or shake look) | Highest | Heavier profiles for a high-end look |
How long does a shingle roof last in Florida?
In Palm Beach County, generally 13 to 18 years. Sun, heat and humidity age shingles faster here than in cooler states, and attic heat works on them from below. Good ventilation, lighter colors and a correctly built underlayment all help a roof reach the upper end of that range. Signs it is time: curling or lifted shingles, bare spots where granules are gone, and leak stains in the attic or on ceilings.
Why roof size is measured in squares
Roofers price by the "square": 100 square feet of roof surface. Roof area is larger than floor area once you count the overhangs, the pitch and any porch or garage roofs, so ask any contractor how they measured.
What goes into the price of a shingle roof
Asphalt shingle has the shortest install time of the three main systems in Palm Beach County, and its cost depends on the roof. But a shingle roof here is not just shingles. The price is built from the tear-off, the deck, the secondary water barrier, the nailing pattern for your wind band, the ventilation and the metal at every edge and wall. Those are the parts that decide how the roof holds up through hurricane season, June through November.
Molsbee Roofing has roofed Palm Beach County homes since 1975. This guide explains each cost driver and how it shows up on the written scope we hand you.
Which shingle are you pricing?
Architectural (dimensional) shingles are the standard on the homes we roof. They are thicker than the old flat three-tab style, carry stronger wind ratings from the manufacturer and look better from the street.
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles carry the highest impact rating in the UL 2218 test. They cost more than standard architectural shingles. The rating is about impact, not wind; wind performance comes from the nailing and the code-built system under any shingle. Some owners ask their agent whether a Class 4 roof changes anything on their policy, so check before you count on it.
Designer lines mimic slate or shake and sit at the upper range of shingle pricing.
We install shingle from Owens Corning; our guide to Owens Corning shingle colors covers picking a shade for a Palm Beach County house. The products carry their manufacturers' product warranties.
What does tear-off include?
On a tear-off, the deck is where the scope is decided. If your house has more than one layer of old shingles, removal takes longer and disposal costs more. With the deck exposed, the roof we specify puts a secondary water barrier on it before the new roof goes on; the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition allows more than one compliant way to build that layer. That barrier is one of the most important lines on the scope, because it is what keeps water out if shingles are torn off in a storm.
Why is deck repair a separate line?
Nobody can see the whole deck until the shingles are off. Soft plywood around old leaks, delaminated sheets and rotted edges at the eave are common on older roofs. We price deck repair as a unit rate on the scope, photograph every sheet we replace, and only charge for what we find and show you.
How much does fastening matter?
A great deal. Design wind speeds in the county run from 150 mph inland to 170 mph on the barrier islands, and the county sits in the wind-borne debris region. Shingles are nailed to the manufacturer's high-wind pattern, with extra attention at edges, corners and ridges where uplift is strongest. The pattern takes more nails and more time, and it is inspected.
What about ventilation, flashing and edge metal?
Attic heat ages shingles and underlayment from below. Balanced intake and exhaust ventilation is part of every shingle scope we write. New drip edge, wall and step flashing, and pipe boots are replaced rather than reused. Salt air near the coast is harder on metal, so on the east side we look closely at fastener and flashing compatibility.
Does the house itself change the price?
Pitch, number of planes, valleys, skylights and chimneys all add labor and flashing. So does location in a design-review area. In Delray Beach's historic districts, some cottages carry Cape Cod shingle roofs, and the Historic Preservation Board has ruled on roof color before, so color is settled before the permit is used. In Boca Raton's Old Floresta district, the guideline lists asphalt shingle as not preferred, which can rule shingle out entirely on some houses. We flag that before you choose.
What can an inspection see, and what can't it?
A free roof inspection shows lifted or missing shingles, granule loss, damaged flashing, failed pipe boots and leak staining in the attic. It cannot show the full deck under the shingles. That is why deck repair is written as a rate, not a guess.
How is the written scope built?
Our process is the same on every shingle roof:
- A free roof inspection of the roof surface, flashing, ventilation and the attic where we can reach it.
- Photos of the findings, so you see what we see.
- A written scope with the price before any work starts: the shingle line and color, underlayment and secondary water barrier, nailing pattern, ventilation, flashing and edge metal, tear-off, permit and the unit rate for any deck repair.
Our shingle roofing page covers the systems we install, and financing is available if you want to spread the cost.
Shingle roofs in your town
See how we handle shingle roof replacement in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, Royal Palm Beach and Greenacres. Deciding between materials? Compare metal roof vs shingles.
Credentials
Molsbee Roofing holds Florida license CCC1327429 and has served this county since 1975. We are an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor. Every shingle roof carries the manufacturers' product warranties.
Get a written shingle roof price
Call (561) 318-8624 or request a free roof inspection, and you will have photos and a written scope before you decide anything.
