You know that feeling of horror that runs down your spine when a wall of clouds rolls in off Tampa Bay and within twenty minutes of the dark sky opening up a torrent of rain to pour down sideways to pool on the pavement within twenty minutes, only to evaporate within twenty minutes and leave behind only a damp remnant, a mysterious brown stain to creep down from the ceiling of your bedroom to reveal a mysterious brown stain, letting you know that your roof is telling you something. And, for better or worse, finding the best roofer in Tampa is far more important than it would be in most places in the country, in part because of the unique abuse that our crazy weather doles out to our roofs on a daily basis. This guide will go into detail on the special abuse of your roof in Tampa, the typical roof styles found throughout Tampa, our unique criteria for judging each Tampa roofing company, and we end with our own list of the 5 best roofing companies in Tampa, FL. We’re Avatar Roofing, and we’ve included ourselves at the end and will explain in full why we placed ourselves on the list.
Why Tampa Weather Is Hard on Roofs
So you can compare apples to apples with Tampa roofing contractors, it’s worth noting the elements your roof faces every year.
Hurricane season
Hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1st to November 30th of each year. In 2024, two hurricanes, Helene and Milton, passed through the Tampa Bay area within weeks of each other. Thousands of local roofs lost shingles, tiles, and even sections of roofing material and flashing. Wind that powerful finds every weak spot in a roof and if your roof is already old, one hurricane could cause sufficient damage to require a complete roof replacement in Tampa.
Daily summer storms and lightning
Heavy rain falls on most afternoons from June to September. So, the condition of the flashing, the valleys, and all the joints between different roofs is put to the test. And there is the additional danger of lightning. Repeated rainy days will expose any leakages that a less than perfect installer may have left.
Heat and UV
Strong sun on our roofs year-round can dry out and crack asphalt shingles as well as destroy the sealants around vents and chimneys. This means that while a shingle may be rated for 25 years of use, it can actually begin to deteriorate much sooner in our sunny climate.
Humidity
The Tampa humidity creates algae on most roofs, appearing as dark streaks. In the attic the same humidity creates mold and can rot the wood decking under the roof’s shingles. Good attic ventilation is one of the unsung heroes to a healthy roof.
Salt air near the bay
Salt air is a normal part of life in Apollo Beach, Davis Islands and South Tampa. However, salt air can cause fasteners, nails and flashing to corrode much faster than they would on land. Corrosion-resistant building materials are often necessary to build a home near the water.
The forces that deteriorate your roof do not act alone. The UV rays of the sun can bake your roof’s sealant while the humidity causes your deck to swell. In the meantime, the salt from de-icing can begin to corrode the fasteners. Then a hurricane comes along to pull and tension all of the already deteriorating components of your roof. For this reason, Tampa roofs deteriorate faster than what most manufacturers’ literature would have you believe. Look for these warning signs from the ground: dark algae streaks, shingle granules in your gutters, curled or even missing shingles, cracked tiles, and any new water stain on your ceiling or walls. If you catch them in time, you can often avoid costly repairs down the road.
In all honesty, most roofs in Tampa do not last as long as their advertised label claims. It’s wise to have your roof inspected on an annual basis as well as following any severe weather. A small roof repair in Tampa today can end up saving you from a huge bill down the road.
Common Roof Types in Tampa Neighborhoods
Asphalt shingles
Shingles are the most common roofing material and the most cost-effective. They are seen on homes in Carrollwood, Brandon and the newly constructed homes in Riverview. A properly installed quality shingle roof provides an excellent balance of cost and protection. In Tampa, with its hot and humid climate, a shingle roof typically lasts 15 to 20 years. Annual inspections of the sealants and flashing are recommended to identify and repair minute cracks before they develop into leaks.
Concrete and clay tile
You see tile roofs all over South Tampa and Westchase. Their longevity and heat resistance make them very desirable. But tile roofs are very heavy and need to be installed and repaired by quality contractors. It takes a lot of skill to work with tile, and if installed incorrectly, it can lead to leaks and cracked tiles. Although tile lasts for 40 years or longer, the underlayment beneath it typically lasts for a shorter amount of time and should be factored into the budget for repairs. Cracked tiles also need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Metal roofing
The metal roof provides the best wind resistance, which is one reason to consider a hurricane roof in Tampa. There is growing interest in a storm-resistant roof in Lutz and Odessa, as homeowners are looking for a roof that will last for decades to come. With proper installation, a metal roof can last 40 to 50 years and needs very little maintenance. After a large storm, it is recommended to have all fasteners and seams inspected for possible damage. In areas near the bay it is best to choose coated panels that are resistant to salt corrosion.
Flat roofs
TPO and modified bitumen roofs are common on the older bungalows in Seminole Heights as well as many commercial buildings in the area. They need to be properly drained and have good seaming. They typically last 15 to 25 years depending on the material. Keep an eye on the drains and seams and make sure they are sealed. A flat roof gets old at the low points where water wants to collect.
Wind mitigation and insurance
A Wind Mitigation Inspection evaluates the wind-resistant design features of your roof. This includes the roof design, roof decking, roof covering, and tie-downs between the roof and walls of your home. A roof installed to current Florida building codes can result in insurance credits. After you have installed a new roof to current Florida building codes, have a Wind Mitigation Inspection performed and use the resulting report to receive the credits on your home insurance.
How We Picked the Best Roofers in Tampa
Note that the companies were ranked based on substantial factors that protect homeowners rather than on speculation.
- An active state license with the Florida DBPR
- Years in business and local track record
- Google rating and the quality of recent reviews
- BBB rating and complaint history
- Manufacturer certifications like Owens Corning and GAF
- Local office and local crews, not some out-of-town subcontractor.
- Clean permitting, thorough cleanup, and honest repair versus replace advice
The 5 Best Roofing Companies in Tampa, FL
1. Avatar Roofing
Avatar Roofing is located at 4407 N Thatcher Ave in Tampa. We are a local, family-owned business, not a national corporation. We have been servicing the Tampa Bay area since 2011 and have a 4.7 star rating from 78 Google reviews. A few of the major themes in the reviews are that we have crews that show up on time, we clean up after ourselves using magnets to pick up stray nails, and we make honest small repairs as opposed to trying to sell you a full replacement that you don’t need yet.
Avatar is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, which means that the warranties on our customers’ roofs are even stronger than they normally are. Avatar holds an active Florida roofing license, and, according to BuildZoom.com, Avatar is in the top 4% of over 191,000 licensed contracting companies in Florida. Avatar handles all of the necessary permits, completes the wind mitigation testing required by the state for new roofs, and can set up financing for a customer. Avatar also installs skylights and is a commercial TPO roofer. Avatar is also a recommended contractor for Best Pros In Town.
For the reasons we rate ourselves #1: Review volume is not a factor as several other very quality roofers have been accumulating reviews for many years. We rank #1 based on service: Owner is on every job, owner gives customers HONEST advice on whether they need a roof replacement or if a roof repair is all that is needed, and owner answers all phone calls and responds to all correspondence from first contact to completion of job and final cleanup.
2. Westfall Roofing
Westfall Roofing has an A+ rating as a BBB-accredited business with over 36 years of experience and is one of the largest, locally owned Tampa roofing companies. With over 1,500 five-star reviews in Central and Southwest Florida, this company is best for homeowners looking for a large, long-running company with deep roots in the region. They can provide both residential roof replacement and handle larger projects. With 36 years in business, they have a well-oiled system for permitting and inspections for all of their roof installations.
3. Bay to Bay Roofing
Bay to Bay Roofing is a family-owned Tampa Bay Roofing Company that has been servicing customers in the Tampa Bay area since 2004. As an Owens Corning Platinum Roofing Contractor, the Bay to Bay Roofing team is an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited Business that serves Hillsborough and Hernando counties. Offering some of the strongest warranty coverage available from Owens Corning as a Platinum Contractor, Bay to Bay Roofing can service both shingle roof homes as well as commercial flat roofs. Best Tampa Roofing Company for residential and commercial roofing needs in North Tampa and the Hernando area.
4. Acoma Roofing
Family-owned Acoma Roofing has served the Tampa Bay area for about 5 decades. The local company is a GAF Master Elite contractor, one of the few roofers in the area that have earned this status. They have zero complaints listed with the BBB and the licensing board. The GAF profile for Acoma lists 4.5 stars out of 5 based on 144 reviews. With GAF’s longest warranties available to them as a Master Elite contractor, and decades of local experience with how to make Tampa roofs last through storm after storm of seasons, Acoma Roofing is best for homeowners looking for the very best warranty options.
5. Yowell’s Roofing
Yowell’s Roofing has been a Tampa and Lutz family-owned business since 1964. It is now in its fourth generation of family ownership. They use salaried employees to do metal, shingle and flat roof jobs as well as skylights and ventilation. They also offer financing. The biggest advantage to using an on-staff crew is that you will get consistent workmanship. These employees know that they are representing the family name. We recommend Yowell’s Roofing to customers in the Lutz and north Tampa areas. They are a family-owned business with a long history and consistent crews.
Quick Comparison
- Avatar Roofing – Founded 2011 – 4.7 Google Rating – Owens Corning Preferred Contractor – Active FL License – Top 4% BuildZoom Rated Contractor. Owner-level attention and honest advice.
- Westfall Roofing: A large number of reviews for a company founded in 1989. BBB A+ accredited. Best for: Large established companies.
- Bay to Bay Roofing: Founded in 2004, BBB A+ rated, Owens Corning Platinum; service areas include north Tampa and Hernando.
- Acoma Roofing – About 50 years old, 4.5 stars. GAF Master Elite installer, best for top GAF warranties.
- Yowell’s Roofing: Family-owned and operated for 4 generations since 1964. Best choice for Lutz and North Tampa.
Tips for Hiring a Roofer in Tampa
Even a good shortlist can cause problems – here are a few simple checks to avoid them.
- Check the license on the Florida DBPR website before you agree to anything.
- Make sure the roofer has liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. Get a certificate to prove it. You don’t want to be responsible for an injury to a roofer on your property.
- Get at least two or three written estimates so you can compare materials, scope, and price side by side, and be wary of any bid far lower than the rest.
- Ask who pulls the permit for your roof. It should be your roofer, not you.
- A warranty must be offered in writing and cover both the workmanship and manufacturer parts.
- Be very cautious of the storm chasers that come to your door after a hurricane. They disappear after they cash your check.
- Request a wind mitigation report after a new roof to earn insurance credits.
A good Tampa roofer will welcome your questions and not rush you off. If he tries to hurry you off or avoids your questions, then he is not the roofer for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I expect my roof to last here in Tampa?
Of course, the lifespan of roofing materials varies depending on the type. In general, asphalt shingle roofing lasts 15 to 20 years; tile roofs can last 40+ years, but the underlayment will need to be replaced much sooner; metal roofs last 40 to 50 years; and flat roofs last 15 to 25 years. It is best to get your roof checked every year as well as after every big storm to catch any minor problems before they become major ones.
Why does Avatar Roofing put itself first on this list?
In ranking service quality vs. number of reviews over time, Avatar ranks itself #1 for a reason: owner-level attention to every job, giving you honest advice whether you really need to replace something or just repair it, and clear communication from your first phone call with us through the final cleanup of any mess we create. Avatar is located at 4407 N Thatcher Ave and has served the Tampa Bay area since 2011.
What should I check before hiring a roofer in Tampa?
Go to the Florida DBPR website to verify the roofer’s license before signing anything. Ask for proof that they have liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Ask for written estimates from at least two other roofers in order to compare their offers regarding materials and scope of work as well as price. Make sure the roofer pulls the permit for work they do for you. Verify any warranty in writing. Be very wary of storm chasers going door to door after a hurricane.
The Bottom Line for Tampa Homeowners
Our top picks are truly unique in offering the kind of value they do to their customers. Avatar Roofing offers owner-level attention to their customers and can advise them on the best repair options for their roof. For larger roofs and a company with lots of experience, Westfall is a good option. For those in the north end of Tampa and in Hernando, Bay to Bay is a good choice for roof repair. Acoma offers GAF Master Elite warranties, and Yowell’s offers four generations of a family-owned and operated Tampa roof repair company capable of repairing or replacing your roof as well as handling hurricane roof repairs.
We offer free roof inspections and would be happy to let you know how much longer your roof will last or if repairs are even needed. We’ll give you the real truth about whether it’s going to be a simple fix or if you need to replace your roof altogether. Give us a call and have one of our local Tampa Bay roofers come out to take a look before the next big storm comes through.