Metal roof vs shingles is one of the biggest decisions in a Florida re-roof, and it is rarely settled by one factor. The two differ in how insurers age them, how they handle heat, how they look, what they need underneath and what drives their cost. This guide compares them on points that can be checked, so you can weigh them for your own house.
Is a metal roof better than shingles in Florida?
Neither is better for every house. A metal roof gets a longer age allowance from some insurers and can reflect more heat when painted, while shingles are lighter on the budget for most homes and simpler to repair in sections. Wind performance depends on the product approval and installation, not the material name.
The useful question is which one suits your house, your budget and how long you plan to stay. The sections below compare them on the points that matter in Florida.
How do metal and shingle roofs compare?
They differ most on insurance age limits, heat, repair, and the product and installation details that decide wind performance. Both must carry a Florida product approval, and both are credited on the wind mitigation form only if they meet the building code. The table sets out the main differences.
| Metal roof | Asphalt shingle roof | |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens age line for proof of replacement | More than 50 years | More than 25 years |
| Heat | Painted metal can qualify as a cool roof | Cool asphalt shingles are available |
| Algae streaks | Can occur on almost all roofing | Can occur, most visible on light colours |
| Repairs | Panel systems need matching panels and detailing | Damaged shingles can be replaced in sections |
| Wind mitigation credit | Depends on code compliance and product approval | Depends on code compliance and product approval |
Sources: Citizens’ March 2023 bulletin, the Department of Energy’s cool roof guidelines, ARMA’s algae guidance, and Florida’s OIR-B1-1802 form.
Which holds up better in a hurricane?
The one installed to the stronger standard. Wind resistance comes from the product’s approval, its fastening, the deck it is fixed to and the roof-to-wall connections beneath, not from whether it is metal or shingle. A well-installed shingle roof can outperform a poorly fastened metal one, and the reverse is equally true.
What the product approval tells you
Every covering used in Florida is listed in the state’s Florida Product Approval search, which ties a product to the conditions it was tested for and the way it must be installed. A metal panel system and a shingle line each have their own approvals and installation requirements.
When you compare metal and shingle quotes, ask each contractor for the approval number of the exact product. Then compare like with like: the approval, the fastener type and spacing, and the underlayment the approval calls for. A quote that names a material but not an approved product leaves you unable to check what you are buying. Keep the approval numbers with your permit record, because the wind mitigation form asks for them when it records your roof covering.
What sits underneath matters as much
The covering is only as strong as what holds it. Florida law names strengthening roof-deck attachment and adding a secondary water barrier as measures to address during re-roofing, under section 553.844(2), and roof-to-wall connections where a cost test is met.
These apply whether you choose metal or shingles. A re-roof is the time to have the deck fastening checked and improved, and a secondary water barrier added, because both sit under the covering and can only be reached when it is off. The wind mitigation form records each of them separately from the covering, so they can earn credits whatever material goes on top. Ask every contractor to quote them as separate lines, so the comparison between materials is fair.
Do insurance companies prefer metal roofs?
Insurers treat the two differently on age, and the state form treats them the same on code compliance. Citizens allows tile, slate, concrete and metal roofs up to 50 years before asking for proof of replacement, against 25 years for shingle. The wind mitigation form credits any covering that meets the building code.
Roof age limits
Citizens’ March 2023 bulletin describes roofs older than 25 years for shingle and other types, and 50 years for tile, slate, concrete or metal. For roofs past the maximum age, it requires five years of remaining useful life, and it bases age on the oldest part of the roof.
For a homeowner planning to stay a long time, that difference can matter. A shingle roof reaches Citizens’ age line sooner, which can mean an inspection or replacement earlier in its life than a metal roof would need. Other insurers set their own rules, so check how your own insurer treats each material before you decide. State law also applies to both: under section 627.7011, an insurer may not refuse to renew solely because a roof is under 15 years old.
Wind mitigation credits
The wind mitigation form’s roof covering question does not favour a material. It asks whether all roof coverings meet the Florida Building Code with a product approval current at installation, or have a roofing permit application on or after March 1, 2002, or are original on a home built in 2004 or later.
Under section 627.0629, insurers must offer discounts or credits for construction that reduces windstorm loss, including roof covering performance. A new, approved metal roof and a new, approved shingle roof can both meet the form’s standard. Ask your insurer what credit each would earn on your policy, rather than assuming one material earns more. Keep the product approval numbers and permit with your records, because the form asks for them.
Does a metal roof make a house hotter or cooler?
It depends on the finish. The Department of Energy says unpainted metals are good solar reflectors but poor thermal emitters, so they often fail cool roof standards, while paint can raise a metal roof’s reflectance and emittance enough to qualify as a cool roof. Cool asphalt shingles are also available.
The DOE’s guidelines note that typical dark roofs can absorb 90 percent or more of incoming solar energy, while cool roofs may absorb less than 50 percent. Its consumer guide says that in warm or hot climates, a cool roof can reduce a single-storey building’s annual air conditioning energy use by up to 15 percent. Both metal and shingle roofs come in cool versions, so colour and finish matter more than the material. The same guidelines say traditional dark roofs can reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit or more in summer sun, while a cool roof under the same conditions could stay more than 50 degrees cooler. That is why colour and finish deserve attention in a hot climate, and why it is worth asking for each product’s solar reflectance rating before you choose.
Where does tile fit in the comparison?
Tile is the third common choice on Central Florida homes, and it sits on Citizens’ 50-year line alongside metal. It is heavy, so the frame must be built to carry it, and Florida’s tile manual describes it as a water shedding assembly whose performance depends on the underlayment and flashings beneath.
The Florida High Wind Concrete and Clay Tile Installation Manual, published by FRSA and the Tile Roofing Industry Alliance, sets out how tile roofs are installed for high wind areas, including single-ply and two-ply underlayment systems. It also cautions against foot traffic of any kind on a finished tile roof, because tiles and the sub-roof can be damaged.
Compared with metal and shingles, tile brings its own trade-offs:
- Weight. The structure has to be suitable for it, which rules tile out on some houses.
- Insurance age. Citizens treats it like metal, with a 50-year line.
- Repairs. Broken tiles need matching replacements, and inspections must be done carefully.
- Heat. The Department of Energy notes that tiles can be made or coated as cool roof tiles.
If tile is on your list, ask whether your roof structure can carry it before comparing prices.
What drives the cost of metal versus shingles?
The material, the panel or shingle system, the roof’s shape, and what goes underneath. Metal roofs need careful detailing at seams, ridges, valleys and penetrations. Shingles are quicker to lay on most roofs. Both may need deck repair and wind upgrades at re-roof, which can move the total as much as the covering does.
Ask each contractor to price the same items, so you can see what is driving any gap:
- The covering, by product approval number
- Underlayment and any secondary water barrier
- Deck repair, priced per sheet
- Flashing and trim, new or reused
- Permit and inspections
If a contractor quotes only one material, ask them to price the other too. That is the fairest way to see what the choice really costs on your roof.
What else should you consider before choosing?
Your HOA’s rules, how long you plan to stay, how easily the roof can be repaired, and how it looks on your house. Some HOAs restrict metal or set colour and profile limits, which can narrow your options before cost or performance comes into it. Check the rules before you collect quotes.
Other practical points:
- Repairs. Damaged shingles can be replaced in sections. Metal panels need matching replacement panels and careful detailing.
- Algae. ARMA notes that almost all roofing systems can show algae discoloration in warm, humid climates.
- Service life. The National Roofing Contractors Association says most roofs are designed for about 20 years and that certain metals can last longer, depending on installation and maintenance (NRCA).
If you are weighing metal against shingles, Residential Roofing Orlando can price both on your roof so you can compare them line by line. See our metal roofing service or call (407) 305-0865.
How should you decide between metal and shingles?
Work through the decision in order: what your HOA allows, how long you plan to stay, how your insurer treats each material, and what each costs on your roof with the same work included. That order rules options out early and keeps the price comparison fair.
A short checklist:
- Check the HOA rules for material, colour and profile.
- Ask your insurer how each material is treated for age and wind credits.
- Get both priced on your roof, with the same deck work, water barrier and permit.
- Compare product approvals, not just material names.
- Think about time. The longer you plan to stay, the more the insurance age allowance and service life matter.
Frequently asked questions
These are short answers to questions homeowners search about metal roofs and shingles. Each points back to a fuller section above, where the sources sit. Insurance rules differ between insurers, so confirm how yours treats each material before you decide.
Do insurance companies prefer metal roofs?
Citizens allows metal roofs up to 50 years before asking for proof of replacement, against 25 years for shingle. The state’s wind mitigation form credits any covering that meets the building code, so ask your own insurer how each material is treated.
Is a metal roof better than shingles?
Not for every house. Metal gets a longer age allowance from some insurers and can be a cool roof when painted. Shingles can be repaired in sections and cost less on most homes. Wind performance depends on the product approval and installation.
Do houses with metal roofs get hotter?
Not necessarily. The Department of Energy says unpainted metal reflects sunlight but sheds heat poorly, while painted metal can qualify as a cool roof. Cool asphalt shingles are also available, so the finish matters more than the material.
What are the disadvantages of a metal roof?
Repairs need matching panels and careful detailing, some HOAs restrict metal, and unpainted finishes can fail cool roof standards. The cost depends on the panel system and your roof’s shape, so price it against shingles on your own roof.
