A Florida HOA was Dead Set Against Metal Roofs (until they discovered this and changed the rules)

Imagine your home has been damaged by severe storms, to the point your home’s roof is on the verge of failing. Now envision you can’t get a roof replacement for nearly 6 months. Your hands are tied because your HOA’s covenants won’t allow for any other alternative material options. Every day that goes by and your roof remains damaged, it risks the well-being of your home’s interior and exterior.

For millions of homeowners who have lived through disasters, this story is a nightmare they are all too familiar with. But for one homeowner who took the time to challenge and change the mind of his HOA board, it’s a story with a happy ending.

A beautiful metal roof option was all it took to convince a local Florida HOA to update its community rules. Image courtesy of MRA member Vicwest

How one homeowner changed his HOA rules, for the benefit of an entire community

In a beautiful community near Orlando, Florida, the homes built in the early 2000s were designed with concrete tile roofs, in accordance with the neighborhood’s HOA style standards. Yet extreme weather had caused many of them to crack and fail over the years. Adding insult to injury, homeowners were facing terribly long lead times of up to 6 months to replace them with the required material.

That was motivation enough for one homeowner to try and find another option, and he began to advocate for replacing with metal instead. He felt metal was a great alternative, given its improved longevity, reliability, and excellent performance against extreme weather. He found metal offered stylish options that could help boost his home’s curb appeal.

The homeowner presented the idea of using True Nature Metal Roof Cedar Creek Shake Shingles by Vicwest in an Ebony finish. The textured finish features Sherwin Williams’ WeatherXL Crinkle coil coating system that creates a matte look and adds significant energy efficiency benefits.

The proposed new metal roof’s beautiful appearance, along with its low maintenance and curb appeal benefits, made it easier for the HOA to approve. In the end, the idea of being able to replace a roof with better performing materials–yet still maintain and even enhance the architectural integrity of the neighborhood–very much appealed to the HOA.

"This roof masterfully capture the authentic look of traditional material, seamlessly blending with established neighborhood aesthetics, yet it incorporates the benefits of advanced metal roofing technology,” said Didier Sévigny, Director of Residential, North America for Vicwest. “It’s a perfect solution for HOAs that prioritize community appearance and consistency."

Other neighbors took notice and admired the project so much they also have installed metal roofs. By allowing for metal as an option, the neighborhood is now more resilient, homeowners can better protect their investments, and metal still delivers all the gorgeous design aesthetics that are in keeping with the neighborhood.

The moral of the story: Seeing is believing

For HOAs who have yet to allow for more sustainable, better performing quality metal roofs due to outdated information or mistaken beliefs, seeing first-hand just how beautiful today’s stylish metal roofs are and how much value they can add to a neighborhood is proof positive.

If you are interested in re-roofing your home with metal, yet your HOA still doesn’t allow for them, MRA member Westlake Royal Building Products also offers some great tips for how to help make the case at https://www.westlakeroyalbuildingproducts.com/blog/hoa-approval-8-tips-to-quickly-get-to-yes