Your shingles are getting old, or the last hurricane season left you tired of finding pieces of your roof in the yard. Now you’re wondering whether metal roofing in Orlando is worth it, and it’s hard to get a straight answer when every company seems to be selling something. You want to know what a metal roof will actually do for your house, what it costs to own over the years, and whether your current roof even needs replacing yet.
That’s a fair thing to want. A roof is a big decision, and you should get the facts before anyone hands you a contract.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified contractor, licensed in Florida (CCC1337030) and insured. We install and repair metal roofs on Orlando homes and light commercial buildings, and inspections and estimates are free. Call 407-270-1129 to set up a visit, or see all our roofing services in Orlando.
Why metal roofing in Orlando makes sense for a lot of homes
Central Florida asks a lot of a roof. The sun is strong nearly every day of the year. Most summer afternoons bring a thunderstorm with heavy, wind-driven rain, and hurricane season runs from June through November. Asphalt shingles can handle that, but heat and UV dry them out over time, and high wind can lift tabs that have lost their seal.
Metal handles those conditions differently. The panels don’t break down in the sun the way asphalt does. Light colors and reflective finishes send back a good share of the sunlight, so the attic can run cooler on a July afternoon. And when the panels are fastened to the right pattern for the wind exposure at your address, metal holds up well in a storm.
It isn’t the right call for every house, though. A metal roof usually costs more up front than shingles, and repairs need a crew that knows the exact panel system on your roof. We’ll walk you through both sides so you can decide.
Types of metal roofs on Orlando homes
Most metal roofs we see around Orlando fall into one of these groups:
- Standing seam. Long panels joined by raised seams, held down with clips hidden under the seam, so no screws face the weather. It’s a popular choice for homes. Our standing seam metal roofing in Orlando page goes deeper.
- Exposed-fastener panels. Corrugated or ribbed sheets screwed down through the face. They cost less and go up faster, which is why you see them on porches, sheds and workshops. The rubber washers under each screw wear out over the years and need attention.
- Metal shingles and stone-coated steel. From the street these look like shingles, tile or shake, but they’re steel underneath.
Steel is the usual material for homes. It comes from the mill with a zinc or aluminum-zinc coating and a baked-on paint finish. Aluminum costs more but doesn’t rust, so it’s worth a look on homes closer to the coast.
What makes a metal roof last in Central Florida
The panels get all the attention. The details underneath decide how long the roof actually lasts.
Fastening for wind. The edges and corners of a roof take the hardest pull in a storm. A careful installer tightens the clip and screw spacing there and follows the manufacturer’s layout for your home’s wind exposure.
Underlayment that can take the heat. Metal gets hot in the Florida sun, and ordinary felt can dry out and crack under it. A synthetic underlayment rated for high temperatures goes on the deck first.
Room to move. Metal grows a little in the afternoon heat and shrinks back at night. Standing seam clips let the panels slide. Without that give, fastener holes slowly wear into slots and water finds its way in.
Flashing at every opening. Pipes, vents, walls and valleys are where most metal roofs leak. Folded metal and properly fitted pipe boots keep the water out. Caulk is a backup and nothing more, because the Florida sun cracks sealant within a few years.
Repairing the metal roof you already have
Plenty of metal roof problems don’t call for a new roof. On Orlando homes we often find worn screw washers on exposed-fastener roofs, trim loosened by a storm, cracked pipe boots, and rust starting at a cut edge or a deep scratch. Most of those are small, contained repairs.
When rust has spread across many panels, or wind has bent the roof out of shape, replacing it usually makes more sense than patching. If you’ve got a leak right now, start with our metal roof repair in Orlando page.
Metal roofing for shops and commercial buildings
Metal works well on workshops, warehouses and light commercial buildings too. Some low-slope sections are better served by a membrane, so we measure the pitch on site and tell you which one fits. Our commercial roofing in Orlando page covers those systems.
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 check your current roof, measure it and show you photos of what we found. If metal makes sense, the written estimate names the panel, the gauge, the finish and the underlayment.
- Get your roof done and your yard cleaned up. The crew protects your landscaping, installs the roof and cleans up before they leave.
If you’d like to spread out the cost of a bigger job, we work with financing partners including Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Questions about metal roofing in Orlando
Is a metal roof loud when it rains?
On a house, usually not much louder than shingles. The panels sit on a solid deck with underlayment, and the attic insulation below soaks up most of the sound. The noisy metal roofs people remember are usually on barns with nothing under the panels.
Will a metal roof make my house hotter?
Usually the opposite. Light colors and reflective finishes send back much of the sun’s heat, and thin metal cools off fast after sunset. Attic ventilation and insulation still matter as much as the roof color.
Can a metal roof go over my existing shingles?
Some building codes allow metal over a single layer of shingles. If the roof has already been covered once, or the decking is soft, everything should come off first. We check for both during the inspection.
How do I pick a metal roofing contractor in Orlando?
Look up the contractor’s license on the Florida license search, ask for proof of insurance, and get the panel type, gauge and underlayment in writing. Be careful with anyone who wants a signature the same day they knock on your door.
Do you put metal roofs on commercial buildings?
Yes. We work on light commercial buildings as well as homes, and we’ll tell you if a membrane system fits a low-slope section better.
A roof you don’t have to think about
Putting off a decision on a worn-out roof rarely saves money. A small leak works its way into the decking and insulation, and an easy repair becomes a much bigger job. You don’t have to decide everything today. It just helps to know where you stand.
When the next hurricane watch goes up, you can feel calm about what’s over your head: a sound roof, a dry house and no surprise bill. Call 407-270-1129 to book your free inspection, or start with our free online estimate.
