Metal Roofing in Central Florida

Metal costs more up front and lasts substantially longer. That is the whole trade, and the right answer depends almost entirely on one question: how long do you plan to own this house?

If the answer is a few years, shingle is usually the sensible money. If you intend to be here in twenty years, metal frequently wins on the arithmetic — you are buying one roof instead of two.

What's included

Standing seam, where the fasteners are hidden under the seam
Panel metal, which costs less and is a reasonable choice on the right building
Fastening done to spec, because that is the entire difference in wind
Reflects heat rather than holding it, which the attic notices
An honest comparison against shingle before you commit

In Florida there are two arguments beyond longevity. Metal reflects a great deal more heat than a dark shingle roof absorbs, which the house notices in August. And it behaves better in high wind when it is fastened properly — the fastening is the whole job, and a badly installed metal roof is worse than a well-installed shingle one.

Some insurers also treat metal differently from shingle on age. Whether yours does is worth a phone call before you decide, and it is a call we would rather you made than take our word for.

How we work

Ask how long you are staying

It is the question that decides this, and almost nobody asks it out loud. A few years and shingle is the better money; twenty and metal usually is.

Look at the roof shape

Metal suits some roofs far better than others. Lots of valleys, dormers and penetrations make it more expensive and more fiddly, and we will say so.

Tear off, deck, dry in

Same as any replacement — the deck gets inspected. Metal over bad decking is an expensive mistake that lasts a long time.

Fasten it properly

To spec, at the right spacing. This is the part that decides how it behaves in a storm, and it is the part that gets rushed on a cheap job.

Common questions

Shingle or metal — which should I get?

Shingle costs less now and is what most of the neighbourhood has. Metal costs more now, lasts longer, and does better in wind and heat. If you plan to keep the house a long time, metal usually wins on the maths.

Is metal noisy in the rain?

Far less than people expect on a house with decking and insulation underneath. The noise people remember is from metal over open framing on a barn, which is a different thing entirely.

Will my insurance like it better?

Some carriers treat metal differently from shingle on roof age. Whether yours does is worth asking them directly before you decide — we would rather you had that from them than from us.