You’ve been thinking about a metal roof for a while. Maybe your shingles came through the last hurricane season looking tired, or you’re done replacing a roof every time the sun and storms wear one out. Standing seam metal roofing in Orlando makes a lot of sense for many homes, but it’s a big purchase, and it’s hard to tell a careful metal installer from someone who just bought a panel machine.
You probably want to know if it’s worth the money for your house, whether it’ll be loud and how it does in a hurricane. Those are fair questions, and you should get plain answers before anyone hands you a contract.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified roofing contractor, licensed in Florida (CCC1337030) and insured. Inspections and estimates are free anywhere in the Orlando metro. Call 407-270-1129 to set up a visit, or look over all of our metal roofing options in the Orlando area.
What standing seam actually is
A standing seam roof is made of long steel panels that usually run in one piece from the eave to the ridge. Where two panels meet, their edges stand up and lock together into a raised seam. The clips that hold the panels down sit under those seams, so no screw goes through the face of the roof.
That’s the big difference from exposed-fastener metal, the ribbed or corrugated sheet you see on barns, sheds and some porches. On that kind of roof, every screw has a rubber washer, and Florida sun dries those washers out until they crack. Standing seam has no washers facing the weather. Fewer holes means fewer places for water to get in.
The panels also need room to move. Steel grows a little in the afternoon heat and shrinks again when an evening storm cools it off. The clips let each panel slide slightly, so the metal isn’t fighting its own fasteners every day. If you hear a light tick from the roof on a hot morning, that’s normal.
Why a metal roof holds up in Orlando
Central Florida is hard on roofs. Strong sun hits them nearly every day of the year, afternoon thunderstorms dump heavy rain most of the summer, and hurricane season runs from June through November. Here’s what standing seam brings to each of those:
- Heat. Light colors and cool-pigment finishes reflect a good share of the sun instead of soaking it into your attic. A dark metal roof still gets hot, so color and attic ventilation both matter.
- Rain. Long panels with no cross joints and no exposed screws give water a clean path off the roof.
- Wind. Wind pulls hardest at the corners and edges. On a well-built standing seam roof, the clips are spaced closer together in those zones, and the edge trim hooks onto a continuous cleat so a gust has nothing loose to grab. Panels carry uplift ratings, and the right system depends on where your home sits and what the building code calls for.
- Humidity and salt air. Roofing steel is coated with zinc or an aluminum-zinc blend, then finished with baked-on paint. A PVDF paint finish holds its color in the sun much longer than standard polyester finishes. If you’re closer to the coast, ask about the finish and metal, because some products aren’t recommended right by salt water.
Is standing seam right for your house?
Not every roof is a good fit, and a straight answer here saves you money. These are the things worth talking through first.
Pitch. Double-lock standing seam can go on shallower slopes than most metal roofs, but a nearly flat back porch or addition may need a membrane instead. Our flat roofing crews handle those sections.
The deck under it. Panels go over solid sheathing with a high-temperature underlayment, since regular felt paper cooks under summer metal. When the old roof comes off, any soft or rotted decking gets replaced before metal goes down.
Panel thickness. Steel is sold by gauge, and lower numbers mean thicker metal. Houses usually get 24 or 26 gauge. Once it’s installed, you can’t tell the difference by looking, so your estimate should name the gauge in writing.
Looks. Wide, flat panels can show slight waviness in low morning or evening light. It’s called oil canning, and it doesn’t change how the roof keeps water out. Thicker steel, narrower panels and small stiffening ribs in the flats all cut it down. Ask to see photos of finished roofs so you know what to expect.
Noise. Most homeowners are surprised by how quiet it is. The loud metal roof everyone remembers is bare sheet over open framing. On your house, there’s decking, underlayment and an insulated ceiling between you and the rain.
Budget. Standing seam usually costs more up front than shingles. A lot of people choose it anyway because it should last much longer and needs less upkeep. Your written estimate lets you compare the two honestly.
Already have a metal roof?
Problems on an existing metal roof tend to show up in the same few places: rust around screws, trim lifting after a storm, a pipe boot leaning to one side or paint peeling on the sunniest slope. One damaged panel can often be swapped out, though the new paint may look brighter than the faded panels around it. Our metal roof repair page covers that work.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 407-270-1129 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We measure the roof, check the deck from the attic and photograph what we find. Your written estimate names the panel, gauge, finish and underlayment, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
- Get your roof done and your yard cleaned up. The crew installs the panels, finishes the flashing and trim, and picks up every metal scrap and screw before leaving.
If you’d like to spread out the cost, we work with financing partners including Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Questions about standing seam metal roofing in Orlando
How long does a standing seam metal roof last?
A well-installed standing seam roof can last for decades, usually much longer than an asphalt shingle roof in the same spot. How long yours lasts depends on the finish, how close you are to salt water and how well the flashing was done.
Is a metal roof loud in an Orlando thunderstorm?
Not on a house built the normal way. The decking, underlayment and attic insulation soak up most of the sound. Most people can’t tell it apart from shingles once they’re inside.
Will a metal roof lower my cooling bills?
A light-colored or cool-pigment finish reflects more of the sun, so your attic runs cooler. Good attic ventilation and insulation matter just as much, and color alone won’t do the job.
Does standing seam hold up to hurricanes?
It’s one of the stronger options when it’s rated for your area and installed with the right clip spacing at the edges and corners. Flying debris can still dent or tear a panel, and we’ll inspect and document it after a storm. If you file an insurance claim, you file it yourself and pay your own deductible, and we provide the estimate and work with your adjuster.
Do you install other kinds of metal roofs?
Yes. Besides standing seam, we install corrugated metal, metal shingles and stone-coated steel. See metal roof installation in Orlando for more.
A roof you can stop thinking about
If your current roof is leaking or near the end of its life, waiting rarely saves money. Water that gets past the roof works into the decking, the insulation and the ceiling, and a small fix turns into a bigger one. You don’t have to decide anything today. It just helps to know where you stand.
A summer of afternoon storms goes by and you never once glance at the ceiling. A hurricane watch doesn’t send you up a ladder. That’s what a sound metal roof gives you: a dry house, no surprise bill and real confidence in the choice you made. Call 407-270-1129 to book your free inspection, or start with our free online estimate.
