Straight answers about metal roofs, salt & storms.

Key Largo sits on saltwater with island sun overhead and hurricane season every year — the exact conditions that wear out ordinary roofs fastest. Marine-grade metal stands up to all three, can be engineered to Monroe County's high design wind speeds, and resists the salt and corrosion that destroy lesser materials. It is a roof built for how the Upper Keys actually weather.

On a saltwater island, aluminum is usually the smarter default, especially near the ocean or a canal. Aluminum doesn't rust the way steel can if its coating is ever scratched or cut. We still install premium coated-steel standing seam where it makes sense further from the water, but on the salt line, marine-grade aluminum earns its keep.

Yes. Roofing work in Monroe County requires a permit and inspections — there are no informal roof jobs in the Keys. We pull the permit and handle the inspections as part of every job, so it is done by the book.

The Keys carry some of the highest design wind speeds in the country — up to roughly 180 mph in parts of Monroe County. That means the complete roof assembly (panels, fasteners, underlayment, and edge details) has to be engineered and installed to resist those uplift forces. The rating only holds if the whole system is installed to its approval.

They are similar in spirit but not the same. The Keys are Monroe County, with its own permitting and some of the highest design wind speeds anywhere. We build to the Monroe County requirements that apply to your island and address — not a generic mainland standard.

A properly installed metal roof is one of the most wind-resistant systems you can put on a home. We build to Monroe County wind code with tested fastening, uplift resistance, and approved underlayment. The whole assembly is engineered to stay on when the Keys take a direct hit — which, unlike most of the mainland, they periodically do.

The FEMA flood zone mostly governs the structure below, but elevated and stilt homes catch more wind, so the roof's uplift detailing matters even more. We've roofed plenty of elevated and flood-zone homes in the Keys and detail the edges, fasteners, and underlayment for that extra exposure.

Marine-grade systems are made for it. Quality aluminum and coated-steel roofs are built to resist corrosion, which is why metal is the material of choice on the coast. For homes right on the ocean or a canal, we lean toward aluminum and finishes suited to the heaviest salt exposure.

It can help. Many metal roofing finishes reflect a good portion of the sun's heat rather than absorbing it, which eases the load on your cooling through the long island summer. Proper attic ventilation matters too, and we can talk through both.

It can. A code-compliant roof paired with a wind-mitigation inspection may qualify your home for Florida premium credits — and in the Keys, insurance is a real cost. We provide the documentation an inspector and your insurer will want, though the actual savings depend on your carrier and your home; we do not promise a specific dollar figure.

Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada, Plantation Key, Windley Key, Rock Harbor, Ocean Reef, and the broader MM 90–107 Upper Keys corridor. If you are nearby but not listed, call and ask.

Absolutely. A lot of what we roof is vacation rentals and second homes, and we coordinate around bookings and absentee owners as a matter of routine. We schedule tightly, communicate by phone and email, and send photos so you know what's happening even when you're off the island.

Properly installed, a quality marine-grade metal roof commonly lasts decades — often well beyond an asphalt shingle roof, even in a climate as tough as the Keys. Many owners install metal as the last roof they expect to buy for the home.

No louder than other roofs. Installed over a solid deck and underlayment, a metal roof does not produce the drumming people imagine. That "tin roof" sound comes from bare panels over open framing, which is not how a residential roof is built.

Metal usually costs more up front than asphalt shingle, but it lasts far longer in the salt and sun and needs less maintenance, so the cost over the life of the roof is often very competitive. Add potential insurance credits and energy savings, and the long-term math frequently favors metal. We also offer financing.

Quality marine-grade systems are coated and finished specifically to resist corrosion, and aluminum doesn't rust like steel. Everyday rust is not a concern when the right product is properly installed for our coastal climate.

Sometimes, depending on the structure and what is there — but in the Keys a clean tear-off is often the right call, so the deck and details can be inspected and brought to current wind code. We will tell you which makes sense after the inspection.

No. Metal is generally lighter than concrete tile and comparable to or lighter than layered asphalt, so structural weight is rarely an issue — including on elevated and stilt homes.

No. Metal roofs do not make a home more likely to be struck by lightning. This is a common myth; a metal roof is no more a lightning target than any other roof.

Standing seam (concealed fastener), marine-grade aluminum systems, 5V-crimp, metal shingle and tile-look profiles, and ribbed structural panels — for homes, commercial buildings, and waterfront properties. We match the system to your exposure and your island.

Many residential roofs take a few days on the roof once materials are staged, plus permitting and inspection time on either end. Complex rooflines and waterfront access can add time. We give you a realistic schedule with your written quote.

Yes. We can connect you with financing options for roofing and home-improvement projects so a stronger roof fits your budget. (Client to confirm lender.) We will review the options alongside your quote.

A free reef-to-roof inspection. We get on your roof, assess its condition, take measurements, and give you honest options and a written quote. Call (305) 842-2332 or request your estimate online to get started.