Metal Roofing in Florida: Pros, Cons, and Costs

If you live in the Tampa Bay area, you may have noticed more and more of your neighbors getting new metal roofs. And when you think of all the harsh weather that our roofs have to face, it’s no wonder that metal roofing in Florida is getting more popular by the day. But should you get a metal roof if you live in Florida? That depends on a lot of factors, which we’re going to walk you through today.

We’re John Hogan Roofing, and in our 25 years as metal roofing contractors in Florida, we’ve seen it all. We know the pros and cons of metal roofing in Florida, and we’re going to use our decades of experience to answer all your questions about metal roofing’s advantages, drawbacks, and costs.

Types of Metal Roofing in Florida

Metal roofing, like other roofing materials, has a lot of variety, which creates opportunities for homeowners to get exactly the product and style that they’re looking for. So in addition to the types of metal roofing in Florida, there are also different types of metal roofing fasteners. We’ll walk you through all of these options so you can have a clear idea of your metal roofing options.

Metal Roofing Fasteners

Metal roofing is achieved by attaching metal sheets via fasteners. And when you’re considering your metal roofing options, there are two primary options for how you can achieve this: exposed fasteners or hidden fasteners.

As the name implies, exposed fasteners show where the connections between sheets are. This creates a more industrial aesthetic, which makes it more popular for commercial flat roofs than homes.

Hidden fasteners, on the other hand, create an aesthetic that is both sleek and seamless by hiding the fasteners underneath the panels. For this reason, this style is more popular with homeowners who are interested in metal roofing in Florida.

Now that you have a clear idea of different types of metal roof fastening, let’s look at the types of metal roofing in Florida.

Types of Metal Roofing

Whether you’re looking for a commercial or residential metal roof, you have options. While there are more types of metal roofing than can be explained in one blog, we’re going to cover the most popular options for metal roofing in Florida.

• Standing Seam: Standing seam metal roofs are made of wide, vertical panels of sleek sheet metal. This style of metal roof has hidden fasteners, so it creates a smooth, contemporary effect for Florida homeowners. Most often, standing seam metal roofs are made from steel, but they can also have aluminum and other metals in them.
• Corrugated: Corrugated metal roofs have a more industrial style to them. They’re shaped into a kind of wavy pattern, with many rises and dips in the metal, making them a great fit for commercial structures. With exposed fasteners, corrugated metal roofs are usually made from aluminum, which helps keep the price low.
• Stone-coated: Stone-coated steel is an exciting new option for metal roofing in Florida. And it is what it sounds like—metal sheets coated in a protective layer of stone. This creates a more traditional aesthetic more in line with roofing materials like tiles or shingles.

Clearly, there are a lot of options when it comes to metal roofing in Florida. But now that we’ve covered the different types of metal roofing, it’s time to consider why someone might want a metal roof. And, more importantly, it’s time to find out if a metal roof could be the right choice for you.

Pros and Cons of Metal Roofs

Metal roofs are undeniably popular in Florida right now, but why? Let’s find out by looking at the biggest advantages of installing a metal roof in Tampa Bay.

Pros of Metal Roofing in Florida

If you live in Florida, some of the biggest advantages of metal roofing are:

• Durability: Metal roofs stand up well to rain, winds, and heat—three of the biggest roof killers in Florida. And with lifespans of up to 70 years, metal roofs make a great long-term investment in your home or business.
• Energy Efficiency: Instead of absorbing UV rays like shingles, metal roofs reflect the sun’s heat away from your home. This can lower your monthly energy bill and help keep your home cool, which can be a huge relief in Florida’s hot summers.
• Rot- and Pest-resistant: Often, materials like shingles can rot over time, especially on an older roof that sees a lot of rainfall. This leads to the development of both algae and, in many cases, pests. But metal roofs prevent all of these issues by standing up to heavy rains and retaining their strength.
• Increased Resale Value: A home with a metal roof on it is worth substantially more than a similar home with a shingle roof. In fact, a new metal roof will usually cover about 60% of its installation costs by adding value to your structure.

For all of these reasons, metal roofing in Florida is one of the best options for a roof replacement. But remember, there’s no such thing as a “best” roofing material. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the drawbacks of installing a new metal roof in Florida.

Cons of Metal Roofing in Florida

What could prevent metal roofing from suiting your needs? Some of the biggest downsides of metal roofing in Florida include:

• High Up-front Cost: The many factors outlined above can have a big impact on the price of your new metal roof in Florida. But in general, metal roofing costs range from $5 to $17 per square foot, making them a more expensive roofing material. But you should keep in mind that metal roofs also save you money. Things like lower monthly bills and increased property values can largely offset these high up-front costs.
• Noise: Sometimes, metal roofs can make more noise than other roofing materials during a rainstorm. But this issue can be mitigated by installing insulation under your metal roof, which any experienced roofing company will recommend.
• Denting: Some metal roofs are prone to denting when struck by heavy objects. And in Florida, this can create issues when homeowners see hail or flying debris in a storm. For this reason, you should talk with your roofing contractor to make sure that the type of metal roof that you’ve chosen will be able to take these blows without denting.

While there are some cons of metal roofing in Florida, they’re generally offset by the many pros. And while the price might make metal roofs unrealistic for people on tight budgets, you should think of your new roof as an investment. Yes, other options might be initially cheaper, but they will likely not deliver the same kind of long-term value that a metal roof can.

Metal Roofing Video

Get Your New Metal Roof from Florida’s Top Contractors

If you live in Florida and think metal roofing is a good fit for you, John Hogan Roofing has you covered. We’ve got a team of experienced roofing professionals who know the ins and outs of metal roofing in Florida. And since we’ve lived and worked in the Tampa Bay area for 25 years, we know all about installing roofs that can handle the local weather.

So what are you waiting for? Get started with your free roofing estimate so you can know exactly how much your new metal roof will cost. All of our roofing cost estimators are friendly, professional, and committed to installing the perfect metal roof for you.