Across all parts of Florida, metal roofs are becoming more and more popular as a way to minimize hurricane damage to your roof. However, there are many types of metal roofs. Could galvanized steel roofing be the solution you’re looking for? Or is there a metal roofing material for your home or commercial property?
We’re PITCH Roofing, and as your local roofing partner, it’s our job to help you answer these questions and more. Today, we’re telling you everything you need to know about galvanized steel roofing in Florida. To start, let’s answer the most basic question: What is galvanized steel, and how does it perform?
What Is Galvanized Steel?
You’ve probably heard of galvanized steel before, but many people aren’t sure what that is, exactly. In the simplest terms, galvanized steel is ordinary steel that has been given a protective, rust-resistant coating. Specifically, the coating is usually made of zinc. Because zinc is self-healing and sheds corroded parts of itself, galvanized steel is great at resisting rust.
This shores up a big weakness of steel roofing. Hardy steel is more than strong enough to withstand hurricanes and other inclement weather, but it’s prone to rust. Given Florida’s humidity, this can be a big problem. However, galvanized steel roofing can stand up against rust, making it a popular metal roofing material.
Like any metal roof, contractors will install your galvanized steel roofing panels in either a standing seam or 5V metal roofing system. While how you install your metal matters, there are some good and bad features of galvanized steel that transcend fasteners. Let’s see what you can expect from your galvanized steel roof!
Pros of a Galvanized Steel Roof
Galvanized steel has a lot to offer, and it’s perfect for some situations. Let’s take a look at the advantages you can expect to enjoy with galvanized steel roofing!
Affordability
While metal roofing is never the cheapest option, galvanized steel roofing is quite affordable. Steel is an abundant resource, it’s easy to shape into roofing panels, and galvanizing coatings are seldom expensive. As a result, you can expect significant savings when you choose a galvanized steel roof.
Prices vary, but in general, galvanized steel roofing costs $4.50 to $9 per square foot. This is of course before considering the type of metal roof you’ll have or who your contractors are. But generally, that makes this a very affordable metal roofing material!
Good Warranties
Warranties protect your roof across its lifespan, and galvanized steel roofing comes with some of the best warranties on the market. This includes a substrate warranty, which will protect your roof in case it suffers any perforations.
Additionally, you’ll enjoy a paint warranty to refresh your paint if it starts to fade over the years. This is important protection in Florida, where UV rays can bleach roof paints over the years and lead to significant discoloring!
Cons of Galvanized Steel Roofing
While there’s a lot to love about galvanized steel roofing, there are also downsides to consider. To give you the complete picture, let’s talk about the downsides of galvanized steel roofing in Florida!
Not Suitable for the Coasts
As we’ve established, galvanized steel roofing has considerable rust resistance. However, that resistance is not perfect. While galvanized coatings help resist rust, they can’t stand up to Florida’s harsh coastal air. With all of that saltwater in the air, even galvanized steel will start to rust almost immediately.
If you live within a mile of the coasts, you may be better served by aluminum roofing. Since aluminum is completely immune to rust, it’s the go-to metal roofing option for coastal homeowners!
Low Life Expectancy
Typically, homeowners invest in galvanized steel roofing because they want a roof that will last. While steel is durable, though, these metal roofing sheets are not the most long-lived option on the market. They may have no problem standing up to hurricanes, but they can still get worn down by the daily weather conditions in Florida.
UV rays and humidity are two big roof killers in Florida. Over time, they can wear down even steel and cause your roofing system to prematurely age. That’s why galvanized steel roofing lasts for about 20 years in Florida. While this isn’t awful, it’s less than most homeowners are hoping for with metal roofing. For a longer-lived alternative, consider Galvalume metal roofing, which can last twice as long!
Hard to Find
In Florida, it can be tough to find contractors willing to install galvanized steel roofing. Galvanized steel is more popular in parts of the country with a lot of farmers raising wildlife, since it makes a great barn roofing material. In Florida, however, other metal roofs perform better, so it can be hard to get your hands on galvanized steel panels.
If you want a more accessible option, Galvalume steel is the way to go. Galvalume lasts longer than galvanized steel and comes with a matte look that’s more homeowner-friendly, which means plenty of manufacturers are producing it in Florida. This makes it much easier to plan a Galvalume roof replacement than one with galvanized steel roofing!
Get a Free Metal Roof Replacement Estimate
Galvanized steel roofing is perfect for some projects, but not quite right for others. Regardless of the type of metal roof you want installed, PITCH Roofing has you covered. Founded by Florida roofers with over 60 years of combined local experience, nobody knows Florida metal roofing better than our expert crew!
Every metal roof replacement starts with a free, no-obligation estimate. For yours, call us at 727-677-4824 or fill out our contact form. Alternatively, if you’d rather skip the in-person roof inspection, you can sign up for an express estimate. This process lets us examine and measure your roof using satellite images, which gives you a reliable price without anyone needing to climb on your roof!
At PITCH, we excel in workmanship, customer service, and reliability. If you’re considering getting a metal roof, reach out to our expert crew and let us show you how easy the roofing process can be. We’ve been around the block, and we know that no other roofers are as committed to Roofing Done Right as we are!
Heather Ware is an In-House Roofing Specialist at PITCH Roofing. Working daily alongside our internal roofing teams, she translates complex Florida building codes and roofing techniques into clear, actionable advice for homeowners. With 4 years of experience in the Florida roofing industry, her goal is to ensure property owners have the exact facts they need to protect their investments.
