Replacing a roof in St. Augustine involves one decision that inland homeowners do not have to make: how the roof will hold up against salt. Airborne salt corrodes metal components — fasteners, flashing, drip edge, vents — and on a coastal home those often fail well before the roof surface does. Specifying for that, rather than installing the same package you would put on a house in Clay County, is most of what separates a coastal roof that lasts from one that does not. Bigfoot Roofing & Construction installs and replaces roofs across St. Johns County, licensed and insured as a Florida Certified Roofing Contractor (CCC1329769) and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred certified — an invitation-only tier held by roughly the top 1% of contractors nationwide.
Bigfoot Roofing & Construction installs and replaces roofs throughout St. Augustine, FL. Contact us for a free inspection and written estimate.
Choosing a Roofing Material in St. Augustine
Architectural Asphalt Shingle
The most common choice and the right one for most St. Augustine homes. Better wind ratings than old three-tab, least expensive to install, and the cheapest and easiest to repair after a storm. Realistically it gives 16 to 20 years in Florida, and coastal exposure tends to land nearer the shorter end. We install Owens Corning Duration® on most shingle replacements; its fabric-reinforced nailing zone improves fastener holding power, which is the failure point that matters in wind. Specify algae-resistant shingles — the dark streaking common on coastal Southeast roofs is algae, and the fix is copper or zinc granules built into the shingle rather than applied later.
Metal
Metal is a genuinely strong option here and a popular one, running 25 to 70 years depending on system, handling wind better than anything else at comparable cost, and reflecting solar heat rather than absorbing it.
But the coastal caveat is not optional. Specify the coating and the fastener metallurgy for salt exposure. Aluminum, or a properly coated steel with stainless fasteners, will substantially outlast standard galvanized hardware near the water — and standard galvanized on a beachfront roof is how a metal roof becomes a maintenance problem instead of a 50-year asset. This is the single most important question to ask any contractor quoting metal in St. Augustine.
Tile
Excellent in these conditions where the architecture and the structure support it, and it suits a lot of St. Augustine’s Spanish and Mediterranean building vocabulary. The point homeowners miss: the tile outlives the roof. Tile can go 40 years or more while the waterproofing underlayment beneath it gives 15 to 25, which is why many tile projects here are underlayment replacements with sound tile lifted, set aside and relaid rather than full tear-offs — at meaningfully less cost.
See the best roofing material for Florida homes for the full comparison.
Historic District Review
Homes inside St. Augustine’s historic districts may be subject to architectural review governing roofing material, profile and appearance. That can narrow your options and adds time at the front of the project rather than the back. We confirm what applies to your specific address before proposing a scope — choosing a material and then discovering it will not be approved is an avoidable and expensive way to start.
What Drives the Price
- Roof size and pitch — pitch and overhangs typically make the roof surface 10 to 30 percent larger than the floor plan
- Existing layers — Florida code limits stacking; two layers doubles tear-off labor and disposal weight
- Decking condition — the real unknown, and on older St. Augustine homes a more significant one. It cannot be assessed properly until the old roof is off; our estimates state a per-sheet decking price up front
- Coastal hardware and coatings — corrosion-rated components cost more and are not a place to save money here
- Permit and inspection fees, and historic review where it applies
- Wind-uplift requirements — Florida Building Code drives fastening patterns, secondary water barriers and edge-metal detail, and coastal exposure requires more
- Complexity — valleys, hips, dormers, skylights, chimneys and the multi-era roof transitions common on older homes
- Material — the largest single lever
What a new roof costs in Florida breaks the ranges down by material. Financing is available from $149 per month on approved credit.
What the Installation Includes
Full Tear-Off and Documented Deck Work
We tear off to the deck. Roofing over an existing layer hides decking damage, adds dead load, shortens the new roof’s life and voids manufacturer warranty coverage — and on an older home it conceals exactly the problems you most need to find. Every board is inspected and what has failed is replaced before new material goes down, photographed and inside the permitted scope.
A Complete System, Specified for the Coast
High-performance underlayment, water barrier at vulnerable areas, new flashing at every penetration, drip edge and ridge cap, installed as a single manufacturer system with hardware appropriate to salt exposure. As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor we can offer coverage a non-certified installer cannot: limited-lifetime material coverage and lifetime Platinum Protection workmanship coverage — full for the first 25 years — backed by Owens Corning directly.
New Flashing and Corrected Ventilation
All flashing replaced with new material — reusing old flashing on a new roof is a shortcut we do not take, and near the coast the old flashing is frequently the thing that failed. Attic ventilation is corrected as part of the job, with intake and exhaust balanced.
Timeline and Permitting
Most single-family shingle replacements are a one to two day install once materials are on site. Tile and metal take longer, as do complex or multi-era roofs and jobs needing significant decking replacement. Permits and inspection scheduling usually add more calendar time than the install, and historic review adds more still where it applies. We handle permitting with St. Johns County or the City of St. Augustine, schedule inspections, and complete closeout as standard scope.
Schedule a Free Roof Inspection in St. Augustine, FL
Our Jacksonville Beach office is at 1510 Penman Rd, Suite 20, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 — (904) 751-6112. We serve St. Augustine and St. Johns County, including St. Augustine Beach, Vilano Beach and Hastings.
Call or request an estimate online to schedule your free inspection in St. Augustine, FL.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a roof replacement cost in St. Augustine, FL?
It depends on size, pitch, material, coastal hardware requirements and what the tear-off reveals. Architectural shingle is the least expensive option with tile and metal well above it. Rather than quote a range that may not fit your house, we measure the roof and provide a written estimate with good, better and best options. Financing is available from $149 per month on approved credit.
What is the best roof for a home near the beach?
Either metal specified for salt exposure, or algae-resistant architectural shingle, depending on your budget and how long you plan to own. What matters more than the category is the hardware: corrosion-rated fasteners and flashing, and a coating suited to salt. A cheap metal roof with standard galvanized fasteners near the water will disappoint you.
Will historic district rules affect my roof replacement?
They can, if your home is within one of the city’s historic districts — material, profile and appearance may be subject to architectural review. We confirm what applies at your address before proposing a scope so the material you choose is one that can actually be approved.
How long does a roof replacement take?
Most single-family shingle roofs install in one to two days once materials are delivered. Metal and tile take longer, as do complex roofs and any job needing significant decking work. Permits, inspections and historic review generally add more to the calendar than the installation itself.
Can I just replace the underlayment on my tile roof?
Often, yes — and on a tile roof with sound tile and a failed membrane it is usually the right call. Sound tile is lifted, set aside, and relaid over new underlayment, which costs considerably less than a full tear-off with new tile. Whether your tile is in good enough condition to relay is what the inspection determines.