March 10, 2026 · 12 min read · Materials
Choosing between tile, shingle and metal
Three roof systems cover most homes in Palm Beach County: asphalt shingle, metal and tile. Each can be built to the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition for the county's wind-borne debris region. The right one for your house depends on how it is framed, how close it sits to salt water, what the street and any design board expect, and how long you plan to own it.
Molsbee Roofing installs all three and has roofed homes across the county since 1975. This is how we help owners compare them.
The short version
| Question | Asphalt shingle | Metal | Tile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Lower range | Middle to upper range | Upper range |
| Weight | Light | Light | Heavy |
| Look | Traditional, many colors | Modern or shingle and tile profiles | Mediterranean and Spanish |
| Wind detail that matters most | Nailing pattern and edges | Clips, seams and trim | Tile attachment and underlayment |
| Typical later work | Replace the covering | Check sealants, trim and screws | Replace underlayment; on clay barrel tile, reset the same tile |
Asphalt shingle: the practical choice
Architectural shingles have the shortest install time of the three, and their cost depends on the roof. They suit many homes, and in some places they are the original material: in Delray Beach's historic districts, some 1920s to 1940s cottages carry Cape Cod shingle roofs. The trade-off is a shorter service life than metal or tile in the county's sun, and more exposure to wind damage at the edges. Installation decides a lot: the manufacturer's high-wind nailing pattern, sealed starter strips and ridges, balanced attic ventilation and a secondary water barrier underneath. More on shingle roofing.
Metal: light, clean and strong in wind
Standing seam hides its attachment inside the seams, so there are no exposed screws in the field for wind to work loose. It adds little weight, which makes it a fit for homes not framed for tile. Metal shingle and metal tile profiles give a traditional look on a light roof. Near the Atlantic, the Intracoastal or the lagoon, the metal, coating and fasteners have to be specified for salt. More on metal roofing.
Tile: the county's signature roof
Concrete and clay tile define much of the county's architecture, from the island's Mediterranean Revival houses to the concrete tile neighborhoods west of State Road 7. Tile is heavy, so framing matters. On clay barrel tile we can detach and reset, lifting the tile, replacing the underlayment and resetting the same tile. The underlayment beneath is the real waterproofing. More on tile roofing.
Which one handles hurricanes?
All three, when built to code for your wind band, which runs from 150 mph inland to 170 mph on the barrier islands. What differs is where each is vulnerable. Shingles are most exposed at edges and ridges. Metal depends on clip spacing and trim. Tile depends on each piece being secured and on the underlayment staying intact if a few pieces are lost. On the re-roofs we build, a secondary water barrier goes on the deck first, and that layer protects the house no matter which covering is on top.
Who else has a say?
Often, someone besides you:
- Associations. In Abacoa in Jupiter, roofs are tile, metal or asphalt shingle depending on the neighborhood, and the replacement is matched so the street still reads as one.
- Historic boards. Boca Raton's Old Floresta guideline prefers straight barrel mission tile and lists asphalt shingle, metal shingle and standing seam as not preferred. In Lake Worth Beach's six historic districts, the replacement has to look like the original.
- The island. In the Town of Palm Beach, a re-roof that changes the material or appearance goes before the Architectural Commission.
We check which of these applies before recommending a material, so you do not pick a roof you cannot permit.
How do we help you decide?
- A free roof inspection of the roof, flashing, edges and the attic and framing we can reach.
- Photos of the findings, so the recommendation is about your roof.
- A written scope with the price before any work starts. If two or three systems fit your house, we price each one on the same terms so you can compare them side by side.
For the cost side, see our roof replacement cost guide.
About Molsbee Roofing
Molsbee Roofing has built roofs in Palm Beach County since 1975, from our shop in Lake Worth Beach, under Florida license CCC1327429. Tile, shingle or metal, the work carries our lifetime workmanship warranty along with the manufacturers' product warranties. We are a GAF Certified Contractor and an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, and we can provide a roof certification letter for your insurer when the job is done.
Compare the options for your house
Call (561) 318-8624 or request a free roof inspection, and we will show you which of the three your house supports and what each would cost, in writing.
