Standing Seam Metal Roof
 

With the recent laws going into effect, I called Community Standards about allowing standing seam metal roofs, both times the answer was let me get an opinion from legal. A month later no response. I called today to check and was told they have not heard back from legal.
Maybe we will be allowed to have them.
Thoughts?

Thoughts?
Waiting on legal……………

Why not all developers commercial building have them. Roof is roof, who looks up at roofs anyway.

According to the new law, I don't believe the Villages can stop you from getting a metal roof BUT they may have some requirements on which style and colors you need to choose from.

The law went into effect because there is reliable evidence that metal roofs will help minimize damage to your home from hurricanes.

Personally, I like the way Standing Seam Metal Roofs look.

I have posted on the issue of metal roofs in the past and drew all kinds of uninformed opinions on them. The new metal roofing now available can be stamped and made to look like asphalt shingles. Friends of mine had a metal roof installed on their house and at a distance you couldn't see any difference from a conventional asphalt roof. There were no raised portions or seams to be seen. The roof was insulated for noise, so no, there was no sound of rain drops or hail hitting the roof in a storm. Too many uninformed people are basing their opinion on the metal roofing used in the past on barns, other farm buildings and on commercial buildings.
There have been claims that the metal will fade over the years and become unsightly. The fading will take a number of years to happen, and do you not think some enterprising entrepreneur will come up with a re-coating process to restore the color? You can bet your last dollar that it will be considerably cheaper than a new asphalt roof that will fade over the years also. My friend's roof had a 50 year warranty. How many companies that make asphalt shingles will give you a 50 year warranty?

I believe the problem with metal roofs are that most people here in the Villages will not pay the higher price to get one eventhough it will hold up way better and strengthen the structure during a hurricane. We will have to think a metal roof as an investiment increasing resale value of your home.

I would love to get a metal roof. But until it’s seen whether or not insurance companies will still make you replace them within X number of years regardless of condition, I’ll hold off.

Drawbacks
 

The two main reasons metal roofs may not be ideal here are the fading and heavy rains. Our sun can sometimes be brutal to paint and metal roofs do look rather ugly after a while. I’m not sure how faded one should become or how you would gauge this if you were Community Standards.

Another drawback would of course be the noise from rain. As most know our rains here can be exceptionally hard and lengthy in duration. Also for many there would be the speed the water drains from a metal surface and soil erosion. Perhaps some landscaping would need upgraded to serve the higher volume?

Maybe the villages should consider them because of the shortage of labor that could be coming? There is the idea of the federal government fining those who employ illegal immigrants to defray costs and fund deportation costs. Perhaps a roofing contractor here has or had some working for them?

At my previous home, I built a pavilion in my back yard and used metal roofing, the ones with ribs, from Lowe's for the roof. It is typical metal roofing everyone knows about, not fancy or decorative, just functional. This isn't roofing most people would use on their home. After 10 years there was no fading of the color. This was in Tennessee and the summer sun there is quite intense.
Did you not read my previous post on noise from metal roofs? You can have insulating material under the metal that negates the noise from rain and hail.
As far as water erosion, have you not heard of rain gutters? My house in TV didn't have gutters when we bought it, so I had them installed to negate any water problems with the slab foundation. Even with asphalt shingles you should have gutters.
Yes, there should be a lower labor cost as a metal roof is much faster to install. Do real research on the new metal roofing being used, this ain't 1940.

I had a metal roof also
 

To be clear I’m not for or against the more expensive option. I lived farther north in Michigan and also had a metal roof. The paint did fade after about 4 years, but we had a dark gray. I’m just wondering how a roof would be determined to be too faded here. Our major issue was ice dams, it was the reason we had it installed. Yes, our roof was louder but our home was almost 4,000 square feet too. I’m not sure if it was because they placed it over our shingles or not.

Metal roofs would be OK I guess if you paid the extra for some insulation it mitigated the noise problem. Also all homes that had the roofing could be forced to install 6 inch gutters. That would be a good thing. For sure though we don’t need mix matched neighborhoods with all different styles. Either the whole neighborhood is metal roofed or it isn’t. I suspect that would be your main sticking point with Community Standards.

I don't see a leg the insurance company can stand on in regards to making a homeowner replace a metal roof within X number of years. It is pretty common knowledge asphalt shingles deteriorate in a short time becoming brittle and less able to handle severe weather. It is understandable that an insurance company will require a new roof if the existing one is old, they don't want to have to pay to replace it in 5 years. Most metal roofs have a 50 year warranty, something that no asphalt shingle manufacturer will provide. The sun doesn't harm the metal to where it deteriorates in any form other than some fading after a number of years. Rust, tornados and hurricanes are the only things that will damage the metal. I have seen houses and farm buildings with the old style, flat metal roofing that have been on houses that are 50 years + old, that even though faded are still repelling rain.
In Florida, how many asphalt shingle roofs will be needed in a 50 year span? This is something the insurance companies should get behind, save them a bunch of money long term.

Asphalt shingles fade also. What is the community standards policy on faded asphalt shingle roofs? As far as mix matched neighborhoods, you had to be up really close and look really hard at my friend's house with the metal roof to see that it wasn't asphalt shingles. Their house's roof did not stand out at all in our neighborhood, and this was a subdivision where the houses had been built within a two year period. Community Standards could specify what styles would be acceptable. Do the current standards dictate regular flat shingles or the architectural style shingle. They are definitely visibly discernable as to their style. Is that a mix matched neighborhood?

True facts (the downside last):
I had Jackson Rib installed 2 years ago in my Georgia home. Panels are 36" wide, with about a 2" overlap on rib. Panels are cut for any length, so there is no piecemealing things together. It was 26 gauge, up in strength from 29 gauge. The cost was just over 48% increase that of shingles, but came with a 50 year warranty life and this covers color fade too. The temperature on the metal roof in Georgia was hitting in excess of 146 degrees on my temp gun in July at one point. May have been higher on another day. It was installed over one layer of asphalt shingles which is code compliant. The attic is still same temp as before, brown shingles and now green metal roof. Had a large limb in a storm hit roof and bend the end that hung off by the gutter. They came out with a 16' single sheet panel, unscrewed 30+ screws, slid the bent one off and slid new one in. Put screws back. 1 hour 10 minutes. Metal was recycled or cut for smaller repairs, either way, no shingles thrown into landfills. So there was no "dump charge" to me and asphalt shingles are the second most expensive thing that is taken to landfills. Tires being #1. Repair was $45 parts and $225 labor. I also had gutters installed to avoid any drainage issues. It's extremely quiet when it rains unlike my barns which are very noisy with no insulation or OSB panels to deaden the sound.

The reason TV won't install metal panels on new builds is due to cost. Shingles require little to no experience to install by laborers. Approval for homeowners to change will be delayed by months or years because nobody making the decisions ever had metal. It's the old business statement that has plagued many a business, "well, that's the way we've always done it."

As for insurance..well I have had USAA for 38 years and never made a claim. But they reduced my monthly once I installed it. It's wind, fire and impact resistant (hail) for them. I guess if there was a forest fire, the metal would not allow embers to start a fire, of course I have no forest issues.

Would I install it on TV home when the time comes. Probably. As oil prices rise, so does asphalt prices. Tear-off and disposal prices are huge for the homeowner, just usually hidden in fees. Can it be repainted? Yes there are companies, but fade is not an issue. There are houses down by our lake that had cheaper products installed and it's faded bad. Did my research and I am happy. I could have opted for a more expensive design, but only went with the thicker metal to keep cost down.

It's approved Miami-Dade wind
It's approved Texas heat

Downside: You can't walk on it if it's sloped too much. I have about a 7/12 pitch or 30 degree slope. If I am not careful and paying attention with tennis shoes on, I will slide right down like a kid's slide. Luckily one time it was onto the deck roof, but it was still scary. I only go up there to get to the two chimneys. Half the house is 2 story, so I use two ropes tied to my truck and a tree on either side of the house when I check that chimney, but it's still scary. Once I'm down, it's time for a celebratory cigar!

Our lake house has metal roof. Going on 10 years. It’s the light grey, straight line. But because of peaks and valleys it definitely has that cottage feel. Haven’t noticed any fading, but pine trees sometimes leave a stain. We have more snow than sun, plus Shade from giant pines. This was before noise insulation, light to medium rain not a big deal. Thunder storm, the upstairs bedrooms might as well head to the kitchen for a coffee.

Our insurance guy said we wouldn’t have to replace in 5 years, but our first premium was around $440 this year renewal is $2815. Just under 3600sf, with new heating system. No ac, because have never needed it. Zero fire hydrants, just drop the pump hose in the lake, so we get a big discount for the free water.

My house here in The Villages has a metal roof. We love it. We have to get the screws "sealed" every couple of years, which prevents water getting in under it. As for noise - we're in a double-wide. Lower-pitched roof, no attic or crawl-space over the ceiling. We don't hear the noise that people think of, when it's torrential downpours. I mean obviously we can tell that it's raining, but it's more like a rumbling sound, not bullets against metal. What I DO hear - is when the rain hits the skylight in the bathroom. That - can sound pretty ominous even when it's just a brief but heavy downpour.

Couldn't help you with insurance - ours is for manufactured homes only, no normal insurance company will offer any policy at all.

Our roof isn't attractive, but it's also around 20 years old, possibly older than that. It's held up incredibly well, has no dents or bent edges that we can see from the street or from our yard. Zero leaks. The laundry shed does leak, but whoever put the metal roof on THAT - didn't line it up properly with the house it was attached to, so water seeps in one of the seams and we have to put down drip pans if it's raining really hard for more than a few minutes. But that is because of the person who put the roof over the laundry shed and is no reflection on the workmanship or quality of the roof over the house.

The Villages installed my metal roof over twenty years ago. I am in a Townhome in Spanish Springs. There are several Metal, Shingle and Barrel tile roofs in our 47 unit complex. My Metal Roof is green and has only faded slightly in all these years.

Most likely, Karen?

Standing Seam Metal Roofs,
 

I would place an application with the ARC in your area. I believe they have a turn around time for response.

I have leaks from my aluminum roof on shed. A buddy has recommended going to White’s Aluminum in Leesburg for very expensive special metal roof caulk, but I also have been offered the use of this roof caulk. Has anyone used it, and if so, was it effective?
Pic is in next post

Here is the pic

They can and will make you do it
 

One of the main reasons we moved to TV earlier in life (55) was because we were being forced by the insurance companies to replace our tile roof that had no damage. The roof was a 100 year roof. No need to replace. We had two wind mitigations done on our roof and presented that information to the insurance company, they promptly dropped us because we failed to replace our perfectly excellent condition roof. We didn't even have a cracked tile that needed replacing. We were then forced to go to citizen's and our rates were 1000/mo for insurance.

That's their leg to stand on, do it or else. The insurance companies control the housing market in this state. I will never pay for a metal roof until laws are changed because you will be replacing that roof every 10 years, regardless.

I’m hoping the Legislature passes the new laws that ban asphalt shingles, but only if it prohibits the insurance companies from requiring home owners to replace perfectly serviceable roofs. I would like them to ban roof age as an insurance factor.

Metal Roof
 

I lived in south Florida for 15 years and saw many homes go from tile or shingle roofing to metal. Most were not painted / powder coated. Plain galvanized metal. Noise was not a factor nor was fading on the colored ones. Some were a dark color but didn't appear to fade. I think there was a warranty on fading but not sure how long...think 30 years.

Metal roof
 

Insurance premiums will be less with metal roofs. They never need replacement in your or my lifetime. I doubt insurance companies will ever require replacement, unless damaged some how.

I am guessing the leaks are probably at the screws (nails) that hold the roof in place, you MAY be able to simply seal these with a similar product in a caulk gun tube. I would go to ACE hardware and see what they recommend. NOTE: aluminum is notoriously hard to work with and there will probably be specific instructions on how to clean the area before the application of any sealer, follow these. If you need to use a metal brush DO NOT EVER USE A STEEL BRUSH, use only stainless-steel brushes.

I have been around metal roofs all my life. I would never put on the tin roofs of old like Grandma had. They had to be painted every 3 to 5 years. What a pain because she had me help with that job, never again.

Later in life they are the best. My aluminum roof has been on my VA. home fronting on the Chesapeake Bay for over 25 years. Never a problem and I'll fall asleep with the 1st raindrops.

Can a metal roof install meet the 150 plus mph design standards. That is the answer I need. I see too many news reports where metal roofs blow off. Not my fav projectile. Perhaps this is an issue because of housing density.

Simple quick answer is yes. Look up Miami-Dade building codes for metal roofing. Lots of info from the metal roof industry.

It depends on the pitch, the quality of the metal, the quality of the screws, the workmanship of the roofers, the structural integrity of your house, whether or not you have soffits and/or gutters, or trees with branches that hang over the roof and might "catch" on an edge, etc. etc. etc. Same as any other roof.

Here in The Villages it's not likely you'll ever see 150mph gusts. Oddly enough, a neighbor had a metal roof over their lanai, and it ripped completely off the corner of the lanai. However, it was a house that had been abandoned for many years and was in horrible shape when the new owners bought it. They've completely gutted and renovated the house but hadn't gotten to the roof yet when the storm came.

Meanwhile across the street at my house, we had one soffit edge dislodged, and it took around 5 minutes to put it back in place. The roof was fine, no damage of any kind. The house next door to use had damage to the gutters on the side of their house, one of them was dangling down to the ground. Two streets over, some lady lost half her membrane roof. It just folded right back against the other half.

This was all around 80mph gusts, if I remember right. Steady wind didn't go over 50.

I lived in homes with metal roofs for 34 years in Pennsylvania. One roof was perhaps a century old (200 year old log cabin). The other two I had installed in homes I had built or restored for me. I love metal roofs, even though mine cost about twice what asphalt would have cost. However, to me, stamped metal roofs that mimic asphalt roofs are ludicrous and phony. Given that they cost more than asphalt and are easier to blow off in a hurricane because they are light (not necessarily a problem with properly screwed down standing seam metal roofs), why bother? That said, the standing seam roofs often are very attractive.

Thanks Tinker

2024 was the Earth's HOTTEST on record - beating out 2023 for that DUBIOUS honor. The Gulf had record temperatures as did the Atlantic. Last summer were had 2 strong hurricanes affect Florida. Likely we will have other strong hurricanes and high winds in the future. This will make problems for the normally used roofs here in The Villages with 3-tab shingles, that are bad in high wind areas and hail areas. A type of roof that has a longer guarantee and is more energy efficient is a PVC membrane roof, which can be installed by All Florida Construction. They can give a lifetime warranty on their roof.
.......As far as metal roofing and noise........I imagine that additional insulation can be placed under the metal roofing to stop any NOISE problem.

If MORE people chose metal roofs (with insulation), then the price might come down. Also home insurance might come down. I disagree that ALL homes should look the same (remember the old song about "ticky tacky"). Personally I think that home owners should be allowed to have stone yards instead of grass because the fertilizer runoff from all the grass yards has caused the lakes to be overgrown with lake grass. Also, the fish have so much heavy metal poisoning that they can't be eaten.

It NEVER ends. How does a discussion on METAL ROOFS turn into a ROCK LAWN and FERTILIZER in LAKES discussion?

Community Stamdards
 

You can disagree, I do too. It’s just that it would be tough to get a group that wants the neighborhood to look homogeneous and updated to allow a different look.

We put on 50-year Decra metal roof on our home in IL around 2010 that looked like stone-coated shingles. It lowered our homeowner's insurance because it was fire proof, could withstand gold-ball sized hail, and had a 120 mph wind rating. We did add insulation beyond what was in the attic, and did not have noise from rain. Many friends didn't realize it was metal. We also put it on the gazebo. I haven't figured out how to attach a picture here, but I'd be happy to email one to anyone who contacts me.

Put me down as another person who prefers the look of a mixed neighborhood.

When everyone's home and garden look identical, that area can look cheap and mass-produced.

There are very few villages in TV where every house model is the same (although some CYV developments may be) so having different roofing materials (when many are different colors anyway) would make very little additional difference.

Cookie cutter, sardine can, Stepford. I've used all three terms to describe my initial thoughts of The Villages when we first started visiting for vacation. It was the #1 reason why I was so vehement against moving here. My parents live in a community where there are exactly four models of houses, and four colors available. Your house is not allowed to be the same color as the house on either side of you, but the colors are all just various shades of terra cotta so who cares, really? There are around 100 homes in their "section" of the community. What's worse, is the streets all have the same name. Orange Blossom Street, Orange Blossom Lane, Orange Blossom Road -

So if you're visiting for the first time and didn't put your GPS on - you will have no landmarks and similar-sounding street names guaranteed to get you lost.

While I totally get that a tidy community in well-maintained condition is important, it doesn't mean we have to be homogenous. If the tacky pink flamingo isn't missing a wing, I say put it in the flower bed and let people snicker as they drive by in their tacky sign-covered golf carts.

Forgive me for laughing at your expense but during our purchase process we asked several questions about the process and were told “I have to ask my team “ was the answer. No one ever got back to us with the answer. Must be a standard response. Good luck and keep on them