No. The Metal Construction Association says roof material does not influence the risk of a lightning strike. Height, open ground, building size and local storm activity do. A properly grounded metal roof does not burn and can spread a strike's energy, but it does not protect a building from lightning.
Florida is the lightning capital of the country, so the question is fair. Here is what the roofing and weather sources actually say.
No. The roofing material is not one of the things that decides whether lightning hits a building. Height, location, size and local storm activity do.
The Metal Construction Association (MCA), the trade group for metal building products, put it in a technical bulletin: research has shown that the material used in a roof does not influence the risk of a lightning strike. The bulletin goes on to say that metal roofs do not attract lightning, and they do not protect a building from it either. A metal roof is no more and no less likely to be struck than any other roof.
The Metal Roofing Alliance says the same thing in plainer words: lightning typically strikes the highest object, regardless of what material it is.
The myth probably lives on because metal conducts electricity and looks shiny. Both facts are true, and neither one draws a bolt. Lightning reaches for the tallest, most exposed path to the ground. It is the height and exposure of the whole building that counts, not the panels on top.
Both groups sell or promote metal roofing, so it is fair to ask whether they would say this either way. The claim about attraction matches the way lightning works, and it is consistent across the manufacturers we read, including DECRA and ATAS. If you want a neutral source on lightning in general, the National Weather Service pages in the source list are a good place to start.
Coastline installs 24-gauge standing seam and 5V crimp metal roofs. This page is general information about lightning, not a promise about any one roof. For other storm risks to Florida roofs, see our guides to what wind speed damages a roof and hurricane season roof prep.
Coastline installs 24-gauge standing seam and 5V crimp metal roofs. Coastline also sends a written photo report with every inspection. Coastline Roofing works all over Florida (license CCC1331076).
The MCA bulletin lists the factors. None of them is the roof material.
A tall building compared with the buildings and trees around it is more likely to be struck. A tall tree or tower next to a small house can reduce the chance for the small house, according to the MCA.
A building on a hill or an exposed spot has a higher chance, because lightning is drawn toward the highest object in the area.
A building that covers a lot of ground is an easier target than a small one, even when it is not the tallest around.
Some areas have more lightning storms than others. The National Weather Service calls central Florida the lightning capital of the United States, and says lightning kills more people in Florida than all other weather hazards combined.
The MCA says a very tall structure close to a small building tends to lower the chance of a strike on the small one. What stands around your house matters as much as the house.
Not on the list. The MCA says none of the significant factors includes the material used to build the roof. A shingle, tile or metal roof of the same shape and height has the same chance.
A properly grounded metal roof carries the strike across a wider area, and it does not burn. Both lower the chance of fire, but it does not stop damage to wiring and electronics inside.
The MCA says a properly grounded metal roof, installed to the NFPA 780 standard, spreads the energy of a strike over a wider part of the roof. That reduces the heat passed to the building and the chance of fire. It also notes metal is noncombustible, so the roof does not add fuel to a fire that starts.
DECRA says much the same: grounding a metal roof under NFPA 780 makes a building less prone to lightning damage, and metal's main lightning related advantage is that it does not burn. NFPA 780 is the national standard for installing lightning protection systems.
The MCA is clear that metal roofs do not protect a building against lightning. A true lightning protection system is a continuous path of conductors from the highest points down to the ground. The MCA says it may be prudent in some cases. A qualified lightning protection contractor designs and installs one. Coastline does not.
If you add a lightning protection system to a metal roof, the parts matter. DECRA says to use only aluminum components with its roofing, to avoid corrosion where two different metals touch, and says copper must not touch the roof. It also says lightning protection should be installed by qualified professionals following NFPA, UL and IEC standards. Check your roof maker's instructions before anyone drills or clamps anything to the panels.
The MCA also notes that damage from a strike depends on what is inside and around the building: wiring, electronics, flammable contents and how far help is. A good roof does not change that.
Most come down to confusing conducting electricity with attracting it.
| Claim | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Metal roofs attract lightning | No. Roof material is not a factor in strike risk, per the MCA. Lightning typically strikes the highest object, per the Metal Roofing Alliance |
| A metal roof protects the house from lightning | No. The MCA says metal roofs do not protect a building. A grounded roof can help limit fire, but a lightning protection system is what is designed to protect |
| A metal roof makes a strike more likely to start a fire | The MCA says the opposite: a grounded metal roof spreads the energy and does not burn |
| A metal roof changes my home insurance | That is a question for your insurer. Your policy and your insurance company decide what is covered and what it costs. See our guide to metal vs shingle roofs and Florida insurance |
Your policy and your insurer decide what a particular loss would cover.
Go indoors when you hear thunder and stay in for 30 minutes after the last clap, whatever your roof is made of.
The National Weather Service office in Melbourne, Florida, gives these rules for being indoors during a storm:
If you can hear thunder, the storm is close enough to strike you.
Start the clock after the final clap, not when the rain stops.
Hold off on showers, baths, dishes and laundry until the storm passes.
If you plan to unplug something, do it before the storm gets there.
Do not sit on the porch.
If a strike hits your house, call 911 if you see smoke or smell burning, and let an electrician check the wiring. Then have the roof looked at. Coastline sends a written photo report with every inspection, so you can see what the roof looks like, whatever material it is. Our metal roofing page explains the two metal roofs Coastline installs, and the metal roof cost guide covers what sets the price.
"Josh was especially amazing. He was professional, patient, and took the time to explain everything clearly so I felt comfortable and informed throughout the entire process. You can tell he genuinely cares about his customers and takes pride in his work."Madison T.Roofing customer
"Good communication and did a great job."Rick R.Roofing customer, Florida Gulf Coast
"Highly recommend. Great communication. Great quality of work and very personable. Easy to work with. Will use again for home renovations."Justin S.Roofing customer, Florida Gulf Coast
Your safety depends on staying indoors and away from plumbing and electrical equipment, not on the roof material. The National Weather Service says to go indoors when thunder roars and stay in for 30 minutes after the last clap. A metal roof does not change that.
The MCA says a metal roof grounded to the NFPA 780 standard can conduct a strike over a broader area and reduce fire risk. NFPA 780 covers lightning protection systems. A qualified lightning protection contractor designs and installs them. Coastline does not install lightning protection systems.
The MCA says a metal roof is no more or less likely to be struck than another roof, and that a grounded metal roof is noncombustible and may even lower fire risk. Damage to wiring and electronics depends on the home and what is inside it.
A lightning protection system should be designed and installed by a qualified professional. DECRA says to use only aluminum components with its roof, keep copper off it, and follow NFPA, UL and IEC standards. Check your panel maker's instructions before anything is attached.
Your policy and your insurer decide that. The sources we read do not publish a lightning related rate rule for metal roofs. Ask your insurance company how it treats your roof type, and read our comparison of metal and shingle roofs in Florida.
Coastline sends a written photo report of what is on your roof and what it needs. Josh can explain the metal options Coastline installs.
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