Your shingles are curling at the edges after years of Florida sun, and you keep noticing metal roofs on houses around town. You like the look. You like the idea of a roof that shrugs off a hurricane. But you’ve also heard metal is loud in the rain, that it rusts, and that it costs a lot more, and you’d like a straight answer on metal roofing in Spring Lake Pointe before anyone hands you a contract.
That’s a sensible place to be. A new roof is one of the bigger checks you’ll write for your house, and with metal you’re choosing something you’ll live with for a long time.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified contractor, licensed in Florida (CCC1337030) and insured, and your inspection and estimate are free. Call 407-270-1129 and a roofer will look at your current roof and talk through whether metal fits your house and your plans.
Two kinds of metal roof, and how to tell them apart
Most residential metal roofing falls into two families.
Screw-down panels, also called exposed-fastener, ribbed or corrugated panels, are fastened straight through the metal. From the driveway you can see rows of screw heads running up the roof. Each screw has a rubber washer under its head to keep water out. These panels cost less and go on fast, which is why they’re so common on porches, sheds, workshops and barns. Some homes use them too.
Standing seam panels are held down by clips hidden under raised seams that run from the ridge to the eave. Nothing pierces the flat of the panel. The roof looks cleaner, and you skip the hundreds of washers that would otherwise bake in the sun for years. When homeowners want metal on the house itself, this is usually what they pick. Our page on standing seam metal roofing in Altamonte Springs goes deeper on it.
There’s a third option if you want metal’s toughness with a more traditional look: metal shingles and stone-coated steel. They’re pressed to look like shingle, shake or tile from the street.
How metal roofing holds up in Spring Lake Pointe weather
Hurricane wind
Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and wind is what takes roofs apart. It pulls hardest at the edges, corners and ridge. On a well-installed metal roof, the trim at those edges hooks over a continuous cleat instead of being nailed through, and the clips or screws get closer together near the perimeter, following the panel maker’s tested layout. Ask about that detail work. It matters as much as the panel.
Sun and heat
Metal reflects a good share of the sun, especially in light colors or “cool” finishes, which can keep your attic noticeably cooler in July. It also gives up its heat quickly after sunset. A dark metal roof still soaks up heat like any dark surface, and your attic ventilation and insulation do as much for comfort as the color does.
Summer downpours
The loud “tin roof” sound comes from panels screwed over open framing, like a barn. On a house, metal goes over a solid roof deck and a high-temperature underlayment, with an insulated ceiling below. Most people hear an afternoon storm about the same as they would on shingles.
What to ask about thickness and finish
Steel is sold by gauge, and a lower number means thicker metal. Homes usually get 24 or 26 gauge, while 29 gauge shows up on outbuildings. You can’t tell gauge by looking, so ask what’s in your estimate and ask for the product data sheet.
Ask about the paint, too. Steel panels get a zinc or zinc-aluminum coating at the mill and then a baked finish. PVDF finishes (you’ll often see the brand name Kynar) hold their color for many years. SMP finishes cost less and tend to fade and chalk sooner. Aluminum can’t rust, but it dents more easily, so it needs a thicker panel.
One more thing worth asking about is oil canning, a slight waviness you can see in the flat part of a standing seam panel when the sun is low. It’s cosmetic and doesn’t cause leaks. Narrower panels, striated or ribbed flats and a flat, true roof deck all help keep it down, and you can look at photos of both before you choose a profile.
Is a metal roof worth it for your house?
Metal costs more up front than architectural shingles. In return you get a roof that, installed right, handles wind well and lasts a long time, with paint and fasteners being the parts that age first. It tends to make the most sense if you plan to stay in the house for years. If you expect to sell soon, a new shingle roof may be the better use of your money, and that’s a fair thing to weigh with a roofer who isn’t pushing one answer.
Insurance is worth a call too. Some insurers look at roof type and age when they write or renew a policy, so ask your agent how a metal roof would affect yours.
If you’re comparing options, our Altamonte Springs metal roofing page covers the other metal systems we install, and you can see everything we do in your area on the Spring Lake Pointe roofing page.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 407-270-1129 or request a free online estimate. A roofer checks your current roof, the deck and the attic.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of what we found and get a written estimate that names the panel profile, gauge and finish. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your new roof goes on and the site gets cleaned up. You’ll know the schedule ahead of time, and the yard is cleaned up before the job is called done.
Putting off a tired shingle roof for one more hurricane season is a gamble with your ceilings. A worn roof often lets water into the attic for a while before you ever see a stain, and that turns a planned project into a rushed one.
Metal roofing questions from Spring Lake Pointe homeowners
Does a metal roof attract lightning?
No. A metal roof isn’t more likely to be struck than any other roof, and it doesn’t burn if it is.
Will a metal roof rust in Florida?
Coated steel with a good finish holds up well. Rust usually starts where the coating is broken, like a deep scratch, an untreated cut edge or a spot where copper or treated wood touches the steel. Careful installation keeps those spots to a minimum.
Can I get a metal roof that looks like shingles or tile?
Yes. Metal shingles and stone-coated steel are made for exactly that, and they’re worth seeing in person before you decide.
Can metal go over my existing shingles?
No. APC Roofing always tears the old roof off down to the deck first. If the deck is soft, we replace it before the new metal goes on.
Book your free metal roof inspection
Call 407-270-1129 or start your estimate online. You’ll get a clear picture of what metal would cost your house and whether it’s the right fit, with no pressure either way.
Picture the next storm season with a roof you don’t have to worry about, a cooler attic and a decision you feel good about. Trust matters, and we’d like to earn yours.
