The Best Metal Roof for Florida

When looking into the types of roofs that you can choose from for your home in Orlando, Florida, one option that you will definitely come across is metal roofing. It’s quite common for commercial buildings, and has been growing in popularity for residential homes as well.

There are several types of metals that can be used your roof, each one offering unique functionality and aesthetic appeal. There are a number of factors to consider for installing a metal roof, and your place of residence is one of the biggest factors.

Your location determines the environmental conditions that your metal roof will be exposed to, and this has a direct impact on the rate at which your roof degrades. If you live in Orlando, Florida, you may be wondering which metal roofing option is the best for you. In this post, we will go over everything that you need to know about metal roofing in Orlando so you can get started on your search!

There are several kinds of metal roofing materials

There are several types of metal roofs that are available commercially. The materials that are used in metal roofs have direct implications on how they will perform in Orlando. Therefore, it is important to understand the different metals that you will encounter in your search.

Steel

Steel is a hard metal that is made from iron. For roofing, there are three variations of steel that can be used:

1. Galvanized steel is layered with a protective zinc coating that helps shield the metal from corrosion. It’s also the most common steel roofing material and works for almost any home.
2. GALVALUME® steel is just like galvanized steel, but has aluminum added onto the zinc coating that helps further prevent corrosion and is especially effective in more specific environmental conditions. It also gives the metal a different and slightly smoother look.
3. Weathering steel (corten) is much less practical for everyday homes and commercial buildings, but it is still used from time to time. This form of steel is manufactured to purposely rust on its outer layer. This makes it better for accent roofing to give the home a unique appearance. It also requires regular maintenance to ensure the rusting doesn’t get too out of hand.

Because steel is harder than other metals commonly used in roofing, it can stand up to hail storms and other extreme factors better than the alternative roofing materials. Hail has been reported over 20 times in Orlando in the past 12 months, so a steel roofing option would give you the most protection from denting or penetration from hail.

Copper

Copper is one of the most expensive and sought-after materials for metal roofing around the world, and it is no different in Orlando. Copper has been used for hundreds of years in roofing, and has an incredible longevity. It is also 100% recyclable, if you have an interest in being environmentally friendly.

Copper is a very soft metal and requires a lot of expertise to be worked on. Being a soft metal has some advantages and disadvantages. For example, it’s quiet during rain, and it’s more difficult for objects to penetrate copper than other, harder metals thanks to its flexibility. On the other hand, copper roofing gets dented much more easily than other metals. Copper may not be the best metal roofing choice in Orlando, due to the frequency of hail storms.

Aluminum

Aluminum roofing is not the most sought-after metal roof in terms of aesthetics, but it does bring unique value in regards to its durability and anti-corrosion features. Aluminum is a bit softer than steel, so it doesn’t hold up as well when damaged, but it is much more resistant to salt corrosion than any other metal roof type. This makes it a perfect option for coastal cities and other areas nearby.

Like copper, it’s quite expensive, but fans of aluminum argue that its unique features make up for the higher cost. Aluminum can be a good option in Orlando thanks to its durability, if you’re up for the cost.

Zinc

Zinc may the most environmentally friendly solution for metal roofing. This is because it requires significantly less energy to produce than other similar metals like steel and copper, and it is 100% recyclable.

It is about as durable as aluminum, except for aluminum’s unique resistant to salt corrosion, and is priced similarly. One downside to zinc is that it’s prone to a chalking effect, which requires regular maintenance to keep it looking presentable—unless of course you like the aesthetic, as some people do. Again, this metal is not especially unique for use in Orlando, but it will still offer as good of an option as aluminum in terms of its longevity.

Thinking of the climate and weather

Now that you understand what types of metal roofing options are widely available, let’s take into account Orlando’s climate and weather to further discover what metal roofing choice might be best for you.

Orlando sees an average of 233 days of sunshine each year, and an average yearly rainfall of 50 inches. This is well over the national average of 39 inches, which means that homeowners can suffer more from roof leaks.

Luckily, the temperature in Orlando does not fluctuate much throughout the year. The average temperature during Orlando’s hottest month (July) is 82°F (28°C) and 59°F (15°C) during its coldest month in January. This means that all metal roof types will see limited expansion and contraction, which helps reduce the chances of a leak developing.

Alternatively, in a place where the temperatures can range from freezing to over 100°F, like in some cities in Arizona, a metal roof would expand and shrink at a greater rate and increase the roof’s chances of forming leaks and other defects.

Lastly, Orlando is a very humid city, with humidity levels averaging 74%. This means that your metal roof will be exposed to more oxygen from the airborne water vapor, which will speed up the corrosion and rusting process. Some metal roofing options, like galvanized and GALVALUME® steel roofs, are coated with added materials to help prevent this, taking that concern off the table for those living in high humidity places like Orlando.