Metal slate roofing
Slate the way it looks, metal the way it performs. The top of what we install.
The short answer
Metal slate costs from $12 per square foot installed, so about $24,000 on a typical 2,000 sq ft roof. It is pressed metal shaped and finished to read as natural slate, which gives you the appearance of a slate roof at a fraction of the weight and with metal's wind performance and 50+ year life.
What you actually get
- Modular pressed-metal panels with a stone-textured finish that reads as individual slate courses from the ground.
- Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance on the full assembly.
- Interlocking panel design with concealed fasteners.
- Factory finish warranty registered in your name.
Is it right for your house?
Where it wins
- The look. Natural slate on a South Florida house is rare, heavy and expensive. This gets the same visual result.
- Weight. A fraction of real slate, so no structural upgrade to carry it.
- Lifespan. 50+ years, the longest of anything we install.
- Wind. Interlocking metal panels perform like metal, not like an individually-laid slate or tile course.
Where it does not
- Price. The highest rate we publish. Twice the cost of shingle on the same roof.
- HOA approval. Communities with a strict tile mandate may not accept a slate profile even in metal. Confirm before ordering.
- Payback horizon. Like metal, the economics only work if you are holding the property.
What it costs
At $12 per square foot, a 1,500 sq ft roof is about $18,000, a 2,000 sq ft roof about $24,000, and a 3,000 sq ft roof about $36,000. That is before deck replacement, permit fees and tear-off beyond one existing layer.
| Material | Rate | Lifespan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural shingle | $6/sq ft | 25 to 30 years | Lowest entry cost. Best value on simple, low-slope-to-moderate roofs. |
| Concrete or clay tile | $9/sq ft | 40 to 50 years | Matches most South Florida HOA and Mediterranean architecture. |
| Standing seam metal | $10/sq ft | 40 to 70 years | Best lifetime value. Reflective finishes cut cooling load. |
| Metal slate | $12/sq ft | 50+ years | Slate look with metal weight and metal wind performance. |
Roof area is not floor area. Pitch and overhang usually make a roof 10 to 25 percent larger than the square footage on your property appraisal, so a 1,700 sq ft house often has a 2,000 sq ft roof. Full cost guide.
How it is installed here
Metal slate installs as a metal system, on approved underlayment with a Notice of Acceptance covering the panel, the clip and the fastening schedule, plus the mandatory HVHZ in-progress inspection before it is covered. Because the panels interlock, the detailing at hips, valleys and penetrations is where the labour goes and where a bad install shows.
What our customers say.
5.0★★★★★161 Google reviews"He was prompt, professional, and gave me an on-the-spot quote. The crew efficiently removed the old roof and installed the new one with great care, leaving everything spotless."
"Outstanding experience from start to finish. They communicated clearly throughout the process, finished on time, and left everything clean."
"SkyGuard replaced my shingle roof, including some rotten decking that was causing a leak. My roof is now in perfect condition!"
Common questions.
Is metal slate the same as real slate?+
No. It is pressed metal with a stone-textured finish engineered to look like slate from the ground. Real slate is quarried stone, several times heavier, and would need a structural assessment on most South Florida homes.
Why is it more expensive than standing seam metal?+
The panels are more complex to manufacture and slower to install, because each course interlocks and the profile has to line up across the whole plane. You are paying for the appearance on top of the metal performance.
How long does metal slate last?+
50+ years, the longest of the four materials we install. The finish warranty and the panel warranty are registered in your name at completion.
Free inspection, written quote, no pressure
We measure the roof, photograph what we find, and give you an itemised number with the deck rate and permit fee stated up front.