Maybe it’s the shop out back with rust streaks running down from every screw. Maybe it’s a porch roof that’s started dripping, or you’re planning a new roof and like the look and price of corrugated panels. Corrugated metal roofing in Daytona Beach can be a good, durable choice, but the salt air and coastal wind here are hard on the wrong panel and the wrong fasteners.
You don’t want to find that out two years from now with rust spots and leaking screws. You want to know up front what will hold up on your building.
APC Roofing installs and repairs metal roofs across the Daytona Beach area, from corrugated panels on outbuildings to standing seam on homes. We’re licensed in Florida (CCC1337030), insured and GAF Certified, and your inspection is free. Call 386-259-8425 to get started.
What corrugated metal roofing is
Corrugated metal is the wavy or ribbed panel most people picture on barns, sheds and older Florida porches. Today the term covers a few profiles: the classic rounded wave, and ribbed panels with taller, squared-off ribs that are common on homes and shops.
What they share is how they’re attached. Corrugated and ribbed panels are exposed-fastener roofs. Screws go straight through the face of the panel into the wood or framing below, and each screw has a rubber washer that seals the hole.
Standing seam is the other main kind of metal roof. Its fasteners are hidden under raised seams. We cover that system on our standing seam metal roofing page.
Where corrugated metal fits
Corrugated panels are a common, practical choice for:
- Workshops, barns, sheds and detached garages
- Carports and covered patios
- Back porches and screen rooms
- Homes where the owner wants the look and is fine with periodic screw checks
Compared with standing seam, exposed-fastener panels usually go on faster and cost less. The trade-off is upkeep, which comes down to the screws.
The screws are the weak point
Every screw on a corrugated roof is a small hole sealed by a rubber washer. The Florida sun breaks that rubber down over time. Daily heat makes the panels expand and contract, which can slowly back screws out or wallow the holes larger. When that happens, the washer stops sealing and water gets in.
That’s why most corrugated roof leaks start at fasteners, not in the open panel. A screw that was driven too tight crushes its washer. One driven too loose never sealed at all. One driven at an angle leaves a gap on one side. A careful install puts each screw in the right spot on the panel, straight and snug.
Over the life of the roof, it’s normal for screws to need checking, tightening or replacing with slightly larger ones. That’s routine care for this kind of roof, not a sign it was a bad choice.
Salt air changes what you buy
This is where Daytona Beach is different from inland Florida. Salt in the air settles on metal and speeds up corrosion, and the closer you are to the ocean or the Halifax River, the more of it your roof sees.
A few things matter more here:
- The panel’s coating. Steel panels are protected by a metallic coating, usually galvanized (zinc) or Galvalume (aluminum-zinc), and often a painted finish on top. Some panel makers limit how close to salt water certain coatings should be used, so ask what’s recommended for your location.
- Aluminum as an option. Aluminum panels don’t rust and are often the safer choice for buildings very close to the water.
- Matching metals. When two different metals touch in wet, salty air, one can corrode the other. Copper next to steel is a classic problem. Fasteners, flashing and panels should be compatible.
- Cut edges and scratches. Bare steel at cut ends and scratches is where rust starts first, so careful cutting and touch-up matter.
Wind, slope and the details
Coastal Florida gets strong wind, and metal panels resist it through their fastening pattern. Edges, corners and ridges see the most uplift, so screws are placed closer together there. Building code sets wind requirements for roofs in this area, and the panel and fastening have to meet them.
Exposed-fastener panels also need enough slope. Low-slope porch roofs can be tricky, because water moves slowly over the side laps. Manufacturers set a minimum pitch for each profile, and below it a different system is usually the better answer.
Trim matters too. Ridge caps, eave closures and wall flashing keep wind-driven rain and pests out of the ribs. Foam closure strips that fit the panel’s profile get installed at the eaves and ridge.
Repair or replace a corrugated roof?
A corrugated roof with some leaking screws and a few loose panels is often a repair. Swapping failed fasteners, resealing laps and replacing a damaged panel or two can add years.
Widespread rust that’s eaten through the panels, lots of loose or stripped screw holes, or rotted wood underneath usually point toward a new roof. You’ll see photos of what’s going on before you decide. If you’re comparing metal styles for a replacement, our metal roofing in Daytona Beach page lays out the options, and metal roof installation covers how a new one goes on.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 386-259-8425 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We check the panels, fasteners, laps, trim and the wood underneath, and tell you whether a repair or a new roof makes more sense. You’ll get photos and a written estimate.
- Get the work done and the site cleaned up. Panels and trim are installed or repaired, and the crew picks up metal scraps and screws before they leave.
Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Corrugated metal roofing questions from Daytona Beach owners
Is corrugated metal good for a house in Florida?
It can be, especially on the right building with the right coating and fasteners. Many homeowners pick standing seam for the main house and corrugated for porches and outbuildings.
Why are the screws on my metal roof rusting?
Usually the fasteners don’t match the coastal conditions, or their coating was damaged when they were installed. Rusty screws should be replaced before the rust spreads into the panel around them.
Is a corrugated metal roof loud in the rain?
It’s louder over an open porch or shop with no ceiling. Over a finished room with insulation and a solid deck, most people find it no louder than other roofs.
Do you tear off old shingles before corrugated metal goes on?
Yes. APC Roofing always tears off the old shingles first so the wood can be checked and any soft decking replaced before the panels go on.
A metal roof that holds up to the coast
A few leaking screws today can mean wet wood and rust spots next year. Getting them looked at now keeps a repair a repair.
Call 386-259-8425 or start your free estimate online, and you’ll end up with a metal roof built for the salt and wind out here, and one less thing to worry about every time a storm rolls in.
