A standing seam metal roof in South Florida starts at about $11 to $12 per square foot installed, for 24 gauge Galvalume steel with a Kynar color finish. On a typical roof of 2,500 to 3,000 square feet, that’s roughly $27,500 to $36,000. Near salt water, aluminum adds about 20 percent. Homes in Broward usually land at the upper end because of the stricter hurricane code. Treat these as starting ranges, since only an estimate on your roof gives a real number.
You’ll see much lower numbers online, sometimes $5 to $7 per square foot. Those are usually exposed fastener panels like 5V crimp, not standing seam, so the two prices aren’t comparing the same roof. Metal costs more than shingles up front but can cost less per year if you stay 15 years or more. The guide below breaks down the price, explains why quotes vary and shows when metal pays off.
Metal Roof Cost by Roof Size
Roofers price by the square foot of roof, not the size of your home. A 2,000 square foot house often has 2,300 to 2,800 square feet of roof once you add the garage, the overhangs and the slope. Our guide to roof replacement cost in Florida shows how to estimate yours.
| Roof size | Galvalume steel standing seam ($11 to $12 per sq ft) | Aluminum standing seam (about 20% more) |
|---|---|---|
| 2,000 sq ft | About $22,000 to $24,000 | About $26,400 to $28,800 |
| 2,500 sq ft | About $27,500 to $30,000 | About $33,000 to $36,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | About $33,000 to $36,000 | About $39,600 to $43,200 |
| 3,500 sq ft | About $38,500 to $42,000 | About $46,200 to $50,400 |
Roofers also talk in squares (one square is 100 square feet of roof). Steel standing seam at $11 to $12 per square foot is $1,100 to $1,200 per square, and aluminum is roughly $1,320 to $1,440 per square.
Why Metal Roof Quotes Vary So Much
“Metal roof” covers several very different products. Published Florida price guides show installed prices in these ranges:
| Type | Typical installed price per sq ft | How it’s fastened |
|---|---|---|
| Exposed fastener (5V crimp, corrugated) | $5 to $12 | Screws go through the face of the panel |
| Stone coated steel | $7 to $15 | Interlocking panels that look like tile or shingles |
| Standing seam | $10 to $25 | Hidden clips under raised seams |
| Copper or zinc | $20 to $35+ | Specialty, mostly on luxury homes |
The biggest price gap is between exposed and hidden fasteners. On an exposed fastener roof, every screw has a rubber washer, and Florida’s sun and humidity wear those washers out over time, so they need checking and replacing. Standing seam hides the fasteners under the seam, with clips that let the panels expand and contract in the heat. There are no screw holes facing the weather, which means fewer places to leak and less upkeep.
So when one quote says $7 and another says $12, check the panel type first. It’s often the whole difference.
Stone coated steel is a separate case. It’s shaped and textured to look like tile or shingles, so some homeowners in HOAs that want a tile look consider it. Check your HOA’s approved list before you price it, and ask for its product approval number, just like any other roof. APEX installs stone coated steel too, priced by estimate.
What a Complete Metal Roof Estimate Should Include
A low price can leave out work you’ll pay for later. A complete standing seam estimate should list:
- Tear-off and disposal of the old roof, down to the wood deck.
- Deck repairs. Ask whether all rotted plywood is included or priced per sheet. APEX Roofing of Delray Beach includes all compromised decking in its metal, tile and shingle prices.
- Deck re-nailing to current code, which also helps your wind mitigation report.
- Underlayment. Under metal in Florida, that should be a high temperature self-adhering membrane (a sticky waterproof sheet that won’t soften in attic heat), which also serves as the secondary water barrier.
- Panels: the metal (steel or aluminum), the gauge (thickness), the seam height and the paint finish. APEX usually quotes 24 gauge panels with a 1.5 inch seam and a Kynar finish.
- Trim and flashing at every edge, wall, valley and vent.
- Permit and product approval. In Broward, the panels need a Miami-Dade approval because the county is in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. In Palm Beach County, look for Florida Product Approval.
What Raises or Lowers the Price
Steel or aluminum. Most steel roofing in Florida is Galvalume (steel coated with aluminum and zinc to resist rust), and it works well inland. Within about 1,500 feet of the ocean or brackish water, aluminum is the safer choice, because a scratch in steel can start to rust in salt air and aluminum won’t rust at all. It costs about 20 percent more, and it’s a softer metal, so it dents more easily from hail, falling coconuts or branches. Our article on why aluminum roofing matters near saltwater explains why.
Gauge and finish. Thicker panels (a lower gauge number, like 24 instead of 26) cost more and resist dents better. APEX offers both and usually quotes 24 gauge, which most homeowners choose. Premium PVDF paint finishes (often sold as Kynar 500) hold their color much longer in the Florida sun than basic polyester paint.
Roof shape. Every valley, hip, dormer and skylight needs custom trim and more labor. A simple roof costs less per square foot than a cut up one.
What comes off. Tearing off heavy tile takes longer than tearing off shingles.
Where you live. Broward’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone narrows the list of approved panels and attachment methods, which pushes prices toward the top of the range.
Important: compare metal quotes line by line. Before you compare prices, make sure each quote names the same panel type, metal, gauge, finish and underlayment, plus the product approval number. Two “metal roof” quotes can describe very different roofs.
When a Metal Roof Pays Off in Florida
Metal pays off when you look at cost per year of roof life instead of the price today. Here’s a rough comparison on a 2,500 square foot roof, using midpoint prices:
| Architectural shingle | Standing seam metal | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed price | About $16,250 | About $28,750 |
| Typical life in South Florida | 15 to 20 years | 40+ years |
| Rough cost per year | About $900 (over 18 years) | About $720 (over 40 years) |
This leaves out inflation and financing, so treat it as a comparison, not a forecast. The point holds, though: a shingle roof usually needs replacing at least once in the time a standing seam roof lasts.
Insurance. A new roof built to current code, with a sealed deck and strong deck attachment, often improves your wind mitigation report and the discount that comes with it. Our guide to the wind mitigation inspection in Florida explains what counts.
Roof age and resale. Florida insurers look hard at roof age, and a shingle roof reaches 15 years much sooner than a metal roof wears out. Buyers and their insurers notice the same thing, so a newer metal roof is an easy selling point.
When metal isn’t the best fit: you plan to sell within about 10 years, your HOA requires tile or the upfront budget isn’t there. Our comparison of the best roofing material for Florida covers the other options.
If you’re ready to get quotes, our list of questions to ask a roofer before hiring helps you compare them, and it includes how to check a roofer’s license in two minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a metal roof go over my old shingles in Florida?
Sometimes, but it’s rarely the right call in South Florida. The Florida Building Code never allows a roof-over on tile, on a water-soaked roof or on a roof that already has two layers. Tearing off the old roof also lets the roofer inspect and re-nail the deck, which matters for your insurance.
Do metal roofs rust in Florida?
Galvalume steel resists rust well inland, but salt air can attack cut edges and scratches over time. Aluminum doesn’t rust. Using the wrong fasteners or mixing metals (like copper next to steel) can also cause corrosion, so ask what your roofer uses.
Does a metal roof keep a Florida home cooler?
It can help. Light colors and cool rated finishes reflect much of the sun’s heat, which keeps the attic cooler and eases the load on your air conditioning. Dark colors reflect less.
Can a My Safe Florida Home grant help pay for a metal roof?
It can help with roof work when your free wind mitigation inspection recommends it and funding is open. The program offers grants of up to $10,000, usually matching $2 for every $1 you spend, for homesteaded single family homes within income limits.
Get a Standing Seam Metal Roof Estimate
APEX Roofing of Delray Beach is a licensed Florida roofing contractor (CCC1336203) that installs standing seam metal roofs in Galvalume steel and aluminum across Broward and Palm Beach County, with all compromised decking included in the price. Every roof is backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty, and the roof inspection is always free. Learn more about our roofing services, request a free online roofing estimate or call us at 561.414.2909.
