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Metal roof types

What is stone coated steel roofing, and is it approved in Florida?

Stone coated steel roofing is steel panels with a Galvalume base, an acrylic layer and crushed stone granules, stamped to look like tile, shake or shingles. In Florida, each system needs a Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA, and the install must match it exactly. Coastline does not install it.

By Josh Hildebrand, owner of Coastline Roofing · Florida license CCC1331076 ·

You saw a roof that looks like tile and is made of steel. Here is what it is, what Florida requires of it, and what to ask before you hire anyone.

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The basics

What is stone coated steel roofing?

Stone coated steel is a steel roofing panel covered in crushed stone granules, stamped to look like tile, shake, slate or shingles.

Think of it as a metal roof wearing a tile roof's clothes. The panel starts as a steel sheet with a zinc and aluminum coating, called Galvalume. A coat of acrylic resin goes on next, then stone granules are pressed into it. A clear acrylic layer on top locks the stone in place. DECRA, one of the best known makers, describes the same stack: steel, zinc-aluminum alloy, acrylic, then crushed natural stone colored with baked-on ceramic pigment. Westlake Royal describes its own version the same way, Galvalume steel with granules bonded by acrylic polymer.

Two things set it apart from the metal roofs most Florida homeowners picture:

  • The look. Panels are stamped into tile, shake or shingle shapes, so the roof does not look like a metal roof from the street.
  • The weight. Westlake lists its system at 1.5 pounds per square foot. That is about 150 pounds per roofing square (100 square feet). EDCO, which sells a competing metal shingle, gives the same figure for stone coated metal.

It is a different product from the standing seam and 5V crimp panels that Coastline installs. Coastline installs 24-gauge standing seam and 5V crimp metal roofs. Coastline does not install stone coated steel. This page explains the product so you can judge a quote from someone who does.

Already have a metal or tile look roof?

Coastline inspects roofs and sends a written photo report, so you know what you have. Coastline installs 24-gauge standing seam and 5V crimp metal roofs if you want to compare. Coastline Roofing works all over Florida (license CCC1331076).

Call (941) 896-7793 or text your town and a photo.

What owners like

What do makers say stone coated steel does well?

These are manufacturer claims. They are real tests, but the makers ran them and wrote them up.

Light on the roof structure

About 150 pounds per square, according to Westlake and EDCO. A lighter roof covering puts less dead load on the trusses. A structural engineer, not a sales sheet, decides whether that matters for a particular house.

Looks like tile or shake

The panels are stamped to copy the shape of other materials. Owners who want the tile or shake look without the tile weight look at it for that reason.

Wind ratings

Westlake says its panels are proven to resist winds over 120 mph when fastened properly. DECRA says its panels are warranted to resist Miami-Dade level winds up to 120 mph. Both depend on the panel being installed exactly as tested.

Hail rating

Westlake cites the highest UL impact rating, Class 4. Class 4 is a UL 2218 test that drops steel balls on the roof. Sheffield Metals points out the test does not measure whether the roof dents.

Fire rating

Westlake reports a Class A fire rating under ASTM E108 when its panels go over specific underlayment. The rating belongs to the whole assembly, not the panel alone.

Coating for wet and salty air

DECRA says the zinc-aluminum layer is there to resist corrosion in wet and seaside climates. See our guide to metal roof rust on the coast for what to watch on any steel roof near salt water.

Florida rules

How does Florida product approval work for stone coated steel?

A roofing panel sold in Florida should have a statewide Florida Product Approval number or a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance, and it only counts when it is installed the way that approval describes.

Florida runs a statewide product approval system for roofing and other building products. It comes from Florida Statute 553.842. The Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA) explains that roofing permit applicants must give the FL Product Approval number and show the roof system meets the current code. In Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, the Miami-Dade code applies and a Notice of Acceptance, or NOA, is what the building department looks for.

An NOA covers the whole system, not just the panel. Here is a real example. Miami-Dade NOA 23-1221.02 covers the Blizzard, Mistral, Thunder and Storm stone coated panels from Blachotrapez of Poland. It was approved on August 15, 2024, and it expires on August 15, 2029. The details tell you how strict these approvals are:

  • The panels are listed as 26-gauge steel with a minimum yield strength of 46 ksi.
  • The approved deck is wood: 19/32 inch or thicker plywood or plank on new construction, or 15/32 inch or thicker on a reroof, with a minimum slope of 2:12.
  • The deck is nailed with ring-shank nails at least 0.113 inch by 2-3/8 inches long.
  • The underlayment is ASTM D 226 Type II, or any other underlayment that holds a current NOA.
  • Panels go on with #12 by 1.5 inch screws in a set pattern, closer together at the roof edges and corners than in the middle.

What this means for you

A stone coated roof is only as good as the match between the approval and the work. If the deck is thinner than the approval allows, or the fasteners are a different type, the approval does not cover that roof. The approval also has an expiration date, so ask for the current one.

The NOA also says the manufacturer's current published installation instructions must be followed. Florida's approval page lets you look up any FL number on floridabuilding.org, and Miami-Dade posts NOAs on miamidade.gov. For the code side of reroofing, read our guides to Florida Building Code roofing rules and roof permits.

Check a quote

How do you check a stone coated steel roofing quote?

Ask for the product approval number, look it up yourself, and compare it line by line with the deck, underlayment and fasteners in the quote.

Because the approval spells out the deck, the underlayment and the fasteners, you can check a quote in about twenty minutes. This list works for any roofing product, not only stone coated steel.

  1. Get the approval number in writing

    Ask for the FL Product Approval number, or the Miami-Dade NOA number if the job is in Miami-Dade or Broward. A company that installs the product every week will have it handy.

  2. Look it up yourself

    Search the FL number on floridabuilding.org, or the NOA on the Miami-Dade product control page. Confirm the manufacturer and product name match the quote.

  3. Read the expiration date

    An approval that has expired is not valid for a new permit. Renewals happen, so check the current version.

  4. Match the deck and slope

    Read the deck thickness and minimum slope in the approval. Compare them with your roof. An older home with thin or damaged decking may need deck repair first. See our guide to roof deck damage.

  5. Match the underlayment and fasteners

    The approval names the underlayment and the fastener type and spacing. The quote should say the same things.

  6. Confirm the permit

    A reroof needs a permit. Ask who pulls it and when the inspector comes. Your county page, such as Manatee County roof permits, shows how it works locally.

Side by side

How does stone coated steel compare with standing seam and 5V crimp?

Stone coated steel is stamped and covered in granules for a tile or shake look. Standing seam and 5V crimp are flat or ribbed panels that show the metal, and they differ mostly in how the fasteners are placed.

This table sticks to what the sources above state. It does not rate one roof as better. The right roof depends on your house, your budget and your neighborhood.

Three metal roof types compared
FeatureStone coated steelStanding seam5V crimp
SurfaceStone granules over acrylic, stamped to look like tile, shake or shinglesSmooth panels with raised seams, painted metalRibbed painted metal panels
FastenersScrewed in a pattern set by the approvalHidden under the seam in clips or a flange, per Sheffield MetalsScrewed through the face of the panel (exposed fasteners)
Gauge in sources26-gauge in the NOA above24-gauge is the usual standard per Sheffield MetalsExposed fastener panels commonly run 29 to 26-gauge per Sheffield Metals
Offered by CoastlineNoYes, 24-gaugeYes

For a closer look at the two panels Coastline installs, read standing seam vs 5V crimp. If the tile look is what you want, our metal vs tile roof in Florida guide covers the real tile option too.

Honest limits

What are the downsides of stone coated steel?

The main ones are a more complicated installation, a roof that depends on exact fastening, and a need for an installer who knows that specific product.

No source on this page says stone coated steel is a bad roof. These are the points worth weighing before you sign anything.

  • It is a system, not a panel. The NOA above ties the panel to a specific deck, underlayment and fastener pattern. Skip a piece and you step outside the approval.
  • It takes specialty work. EDCO, a competitor, says stone coated metal uses exposed fastening and needs specialty cutting tools. That is one maker describing another, so treat it as a question to ask an installer, not a verdict.
  • Read the warranty itself. Westlake says performance depends on the proper underlayment and attachment process. Ask to see the actual warranty document and what installation it requires, not the brochure.
  • It costs more to compare. Because panels, trim and underlayment come as a package, two quotes rarely line up item by item. Our metal roof cost guide explains what moves the price on metal roofs in general.

If you already have a stone coated steel roof, Coastline can inspect it and send a written photo report of what we see. If you are choosing a new roof, tell us what you want it to do. Josh can walk you through the metal options Coastline installs, and our metal roofing page shows them. When someone else is the better fit for the product you want, we will say so.

Reviews

What homeowners say about working with Coastline

★★★★★
"From beginning to end the roof was done in 2 days. One night the crew stayed until 8:00. Each evening before leaving the crew ensured the yard was cleaned. We are so happy, and our roof is beautiful!"
Sharon T.Roof replacement
★★★★★
"Russell was great to work with. He was prompt in coming out to assess our roof and very knowledgeable. ... The job was complete in 2 days once work began."
Bryan S.Roof replacement
★★★★★
"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
Keep reading

Related guides

Metal Roofing

Standing seam and 5V crimp metal roofs installed by Josh.

See our metal roofing →

Standing Seam vs 5V Crimp

How the two metal panels Coastline installs differ.

Compare the two →

Metal Roof Cost in Florida

What sets the price of a metal roof in Florida.

See the cost guide →

Also see Galvalume vs galvanized roofing and how long roofs last in Florida.

FAQ

More questions

Is stone coated steel the same as a metal roof?

It is a metal roof, but a different kind. The panel is steel with a Galvalume base, like other metal roofs. The stone granules and stamped tile or shake shape are what set it apart. Standing seam and 5V crimp panels show the painted metal instead.

How heavy is stone coated steel roofing?

Westlake Royal lists its stone coated steel at 1.5 pounds per square foot, and EDCO gives about 150 pounds per 100 square feet for stone coated metal. Both come to roughly 150 pounds per roofing square. Whether your roof structure suits it is a question for an engineer.

Does stone coated steel need a Florida product approval?

Roofing products sold for Florida jobs are covered by the state product approval system or, in Miami-Dade and Broward, by a Miami-Dade NOA. FRSA says roofing permit applicants must give the FL number and show the system meets code. Ask for the number and look it up yourself.

Can stone coated steel go over my old roof?

The example NOA allows a reroof on wood decking at least 15/32 inch thick, with added nailing where the deck is under 19/32 inch. Each product's approval sets its own rules, and your county may limit layers. See our guide to roofing over existing shingles.

Does Coastline install stone coated steel?

No. Coastline installs 24-gauge standing seam and 5V crimp metal roofs. Coastline can inspect a stone coated steel roof you already own and send a written photo report of what we see. If you want metal from Coastline, standing seam and 5V crimp are the two options to compare.

Sources

  1. DECRA Metal Roofing: What is stone coated metal roofing
  2. Westlake Royal Building Products: Stone coated steel roofing benefits and weather protection
  3. EDCO Products: Metal roofing vs stone coated metal roofing
  4. Miami-Dade County Product Control: Notice of Acceptance 23-1221.02, stone coated roof panels (approved 08/15/24)
  5. FRSA: Do Products You Install Have a Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA? (Feb 27, 2018)
  6. Florida Building Commission: Product Approval search
  7. Sheffield Metals: 24 vs 26 gauge metal roofing
  8. Sheffield Metals: Standing seam vs exposed fastener metal roofing

Want a straight answer on your roof?

Coastline sends a written photo report of what is on your roof and what it needs. If metal is the plan, Josh can explain the standing seam and 5V crimp options.

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