Roof replacement in Mobile, built for the next hurricane
A new roof on the Gulf Coast is a wind decision. Tear-off to the deck, the soft spots replaced, the deck sealed, ring-shank nails, Class H shingles, the edges adhered. Done right, it's also the roof your insurer discounts and the state helps pay for.
Most roofs in Mobile that need replacing fall into two groups. The 1980s to 2000s subdivisions of west Mobile, Tillmans Corner and the Eastern Shore, built by the street with the cheapest shingle that met code and now aging out together: brittle, algae-streaked, creased by Sally and lifted by every front since. And the older houses of Midtown, Spring Hill and the historic districts, on their second or third roof, with cut-up slopes, old decking and sometimes a layer or two still under there. Either way, the right job starts the same way: everything off, down to the wood.
Then the deck. We replace the soft and delaminated sheets we find (budget a few on any roof over 20 years old in this humidity), re-nail the deck with ring-shank nails, and seal the seams with tape or a self-adhered membrane. That sealed deck is the heart of the IBHS FORTIFIED standard, which says sealing the seams can cut water intrusion by up to 95 percent if the shingles blow off, and the ring-shank nails at tighter spacing can double the deck's uplift resistance. Over it goes synthetic underlayment, ice-and-water membrane in the valleys and around every penetration, a wide drip edge with a fully adhered starter strip, new pipe boots and flashing, wind-rated ridge and off-ridge vents, and Class H architectural shingles or a metal system. The permit is pulled where it's required (Mobile County charges 0.5 percent of the contract on a re-roof), the inspection is one more set of eyes on the deck, and the warranty paperwork goes out the same evening.
The FORTIFIED question is worth a paragraph of its own. The extra steps for the designation, the sealed deck, the ring-shank pattern, the adhered starter, the wind-rated vents, the Class H shingles, add about $1,500 to $2,500 to a typical replacement here. In return Alabama insurers must offer wind-premium discounts, most Mobile carriers give 25 to 35 percent for FORTIFIED Roof, and the Strengthen Alabama Homes program pays up to $10,000 of the cost for Mobile and Baldwin County homeowners in its quarterly windows. We build every replacement to that standard whether or not you pursue the designation, because it's simply the right roof for this coast, and we'll tell you what the evaluator and the paperwork add if you want the certificate. See FORTIFIED roof and the grant.
What's included
Full tear-off
Everything off, down to the deck. No overlays; they hide rot and void most warranties.
Deck repaired, re-nailed and sealed
Soft sheets replaced, ring-shank nails in an enhanced pattern, seams sealed to the FORTIFIED standard.
Underlayment and membrane
Synthetic underlayment over the deck, ice-and-water membrane in valleys and around penetrations.
Edges built for uplift
Wide drip edge with a fully adhered starter strip, the first thing hurricane wind tests.
Class H shingles or metal
ASTM D7158 Class H wind-rated architectural shingles, or standing seam and 5V metal rated to site pressures.
Permit, cleanup, paperwork
Permit pulled where required, magnet sweep for nails, gutters cleared, photos and warranty sent the same evening.
Roof replacement cost in Mobile, AL
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural shingle roof, 1,800–2,400 sq ft home | $10,500 – $17,000 | Tear-off, deck repair allowance, underlayment, vents, permit |
| FORTIFIED Roof, same home | $12,000 – $19,500 | Sealed deck, ring-shank nails, adhered starter, evaluator |
| Standing-seam metal, same home | $24,000 – $42,000 | Galvalume, concealed fasteners |
| 5V or screw-down metal, same home | $15,000 – $26,000 | Exposed fasteners, 29-gauge or 26-gauge |
| Second layer tear-off | + $1,200 – $2,500 | More disposal |
| Soft decking replaced | $85 – $140 per sheet | Beyond the allowance |
| Strengthen Alabama Homes grant | − up to $10,000 | Mobile and Baldwin primary residences, when a window is open |
| Mobile County re-roof permit | 0.5% of contract | Per the July 2026 fee schedule |
These are 2026 Mobile-area ranges so you can budget. Your written price is itemized (tear-off, decking, underlayment, sealed deck, flashing, vents, disposal, permit) and good for 30 days.
Recent work
Questions we get about roof replacement
How long does a replacement take?
Most homes are done in a day, two for a big cut-up roof or metal. We don't start a tear-off with rain in the forecast, and in Mobile that means watching the radar in the morning.
Can you overlay the old shingles instead?
We don't. An overlay hides rotten decking, adds weight, traps heat in this climate, voids most shingle warranties, and can't be sealed to the FORTIFIED standard. Tear-off costs a little more and it's the only honest way to do it.
Do I need a permit?
Mobile County issues roof permits on a contract or signed estimate and charges 0.5 percent of the contract cost; the City of Mobile's building department (251-208-7696) handles permits inside the city, and structural changes always need one. We pull whatever your address requires and put it on the invoice.
Which shingle should I choose?
A Class H wind-rated architectural shingle with algae resistance. Class H is the ASTM D7158 rating FORTIFIED requires, and the algae-resistant granules matter on a north slope in 66 inches of rain. We'll show you the two or three lines we trust.
Is metal worth it here?
On the coast, often. Standing seam handles wind and salt air, lasts 40 to 60 years, and reflects heat. It costs two to three times a shingle roof up front. See metal vs. shingles.
What about the grant timing?
Strengthen Alabama Homes opens quarterly for Mobile and Baldwin, on separate days. If a window is coming up and your roof can wait, we'll time the job to it; if it can't, we build to the standard now so you still get the insurance discount.