Memphis, FL is an unincorporated community in Manatee County. The City of Palmetto borders it on the south and west, and Terra Ceia Bay lies to the northwest. US 41 is the main road through town, and US 19 starts here and heads toward the Sunshine Skyway.
The community’s history runs deep. The Old Memphis Cemetery holds more than 600 graves of the area’s early African American settlers, and a historical marker was placed there in 2013.
About 9,000 people lived in Memphis in 2020, in roughly 3,600 housing units. Census estimates put the median home’s construction year in the late 1980s. Most homes are detached single-family houses, and fewer than one in ten units is a mobile home. So the typical Memphis home is a house close to 40 years old, and many owners are facing the same roofing decisions at about the same time.
Palmetto on the Envelope, County on the Permit
Memphis uses ZIP code 34221 and the Palmetto mailing city, so plenty of homeowners assume they live in the City of Palmetto. They don’t. Memphis is unincorporated, and the City of Palmetto’s building department doesn’t issue permits for it.
Roof permits in Memphis come from the Manatee County Building Division. Because the city line runs along two sides of the community, we check the property record before we quote. A permit filed with the wrong office costs time you don’t want to lose with a leaking roof. We handle the application and schedule the inspections, and we keep copies with your job file in case you sell the house or need them for insurance.
Late-1980s Homes, Second-Generation Roofs
A house built in the late 1980s has probably already had its first roof replaced. If that replacement went on 15 or 20 years ago, it may be getting close to the end of its life, and it may not have been installed to the wind standards used today.
When it’s time, a replacement is the chance to upgrade what’s underneath. We tear off to the deck, replace damaged plywood, re-nail the deck, add sealed underlayment and install high-wind Owens Corning or GAF shingles with the manufacturer’s high-wind nailing pattern. It’s a different roof from the one the house was built with. We also check attic ventilation and replace worn pipe boots and flashing, since those small parts are behind a lot of leaks on houses this age.
Close to Terra Ceia Bay
Terra Ceia Bay lies off the northwest side of Memphis, and homes on that side catch wind and salt air coming off the water. Metal parts of a roof feel it first: nails, drip edge, valley flashing and vent boots.
On homes near the bay, we use corrosion-resistant fasteners and coated flashing, and we replace rusted edge metal rather than painting over it. We also pay close attention to ridge caps and roof edges, where storm wind gets its first grip. Gutters near the water need the same thinking: seamless aluminum with sealed corners and fasteners that won’t rust out after a few years.
Mobile Homes in Memphis
Mobile homes make up a small share of Memphis housing, under one in ten units. Manatee County places every mobile-home community in evacuation Level A, the first zone told to leave before a hurricane.
Mobile home roofs use lighter framing and different fastening than a site-built house. We’ll inspect and tell you honestly whether yours is work we should take on, and what would make it hold up better.
Choosing Colors and Styles
A new roof changes how a house looks from the street more than most people expect. If your current roof is flat three-tab shingle, switching to dimensional architectural shingles gives the roof more depth and shadow, and it’s usually the biggest visual change you can make to the outside of the home.
You can browse the Owens Corning styles and colors we install, and we’ll bring samples so you can see them against your walls and trim in daylight.
After the Storm Passes
When a storm opens a roof, we provide same-day dry-in to seal the opening and stop more water damage while the permanent repair is planned.
Then we inspect the whole roof, take job photos and give you an itemized estimate for your insurance claim. Once repairs are planned, we file the permit with the county, not the city. If water is coming in, move valuables, set out buckets and call us. Please don’t climb onto a wet roof yourself.
Roofing Help in Memphis
If your late-1980s home is on an aging second roof, or you just want to know for sure which office handles your permit, we can help. Call Mitchell Roofing Company at (727) 288-4650 for a free estimate. We serve all of Manatee County, including neighboring Palmetto.
Frequently Asked Questions
My address says Palmetto. Am I in the City of Palmetto?
Not if you’re in Memphis. Memphis uses the 34221 ZIP code and the Palmetto mailing city, but it’s unincorporated, so Manatee County issues roof permits.
My house was built in the late 1980s. Is it on its original roof?
Probably not, but it’s worth checking. Many homes this age have already had one replacement, and that roof may now be nearing the end of its life.
I live near Terra Ceia Bay. Does that change the roof I need?
It changes the details. Corrosion-resistant fasteners and coated flashing hold up much better in salt air, and we use them on homes near the water.
Can you show me roof colors before I decide?
Yes. We bring samples and can show you options from Owens Corning and GAF so you can compare them against your house.
What is the Old Memphis Cemetery?
It’s the burial ground of the community’s early African American settlers, with more than 600 graves. A historical marker was placed there in 2013.