Zen Metal Roofs is headquartered at 237 S Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, FL 33133. This is not a marketing claim — it is Zen's registered business address. Eduardo Garcia works from Coral Gables, installs across Coral Gables, and navigates the City of Coral Gables' Board of Architects review process as a routine part of Zen's operations.
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Coral Gables is one of the most architecturally governed municipalities in Florida. Every exterior modification to a residential property — including roof replacement — requires review and approval by the City's Board of Architects before a building permit can be issued. For locally designated historic properties, the Historic Preservation Board may also be involved.
The City enforces a strict Mediterranean Revival architectural vocabulary: barrel tile roofs in approved earth-tone colors are the standard, and materials that do not conform to the city's guidelines are not approved.
Standing seam metal roofing in Coral Gables requires specific approval. The City Commission passed an ordinance in 2022 (File No. 22-4482) that explicitly added standing seam metal roofing to the list of allowed pitched roof materials — defining "standing seam metal roof" in the
Zoning Code and establishing the conditions under which it can be approved. Imitation materials and roofs painted after installation are not permitted. Eduardo understands these requirements in detail and prepares Board of Architects submissions that meet them.
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Zen Metal Roofs — Coral Gables' local contractor: (786) 284-6994
The Coral Gables Board of Architects — What Every Homeowner Must Know
The Coral Gables Board of Architects convenes weekly at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall and reviews every exterior modification to a residential property in the city — new construction, additions, exterior renovations, roofing changes, paint color changes, and more. Every application must pass Board of Architects review before the Building Department issues a permit.
For roofing specifically, the Board of Architects review evaluates:
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1) Material appropriateness: Is the proposed material consistent with the Mediterranean Revival architectural vocabulary the city enforces? Barrel tile (clay or concrete in earth tones) is the established standard for most Coral Gables residences.
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2) Profile and color: Does the proposed roof profile and color maintain the visual character of the home and neighborhood? Approved materials include clay barrel tile, concrete tile, copper (natural state only), and — since the 2022 ordinance — standing seam metal in specific profiles and colors.
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3) Prohibited materials: Asphalt shingles, vinyl, imitation materials, and standing seam metal in most configurations are not approved for primary roof surfaces. Paint applied after installation to metal is also prohibited.
What this means for standing seam in Coral Gables:
Standing seam is approved in Coral Gables under the 2022 ordinance — but only when the profile and color are consistent with the architectural character of the specific property and the Board of Architects agrees. This is a judgment Eduardo is experienced making. He assesses each property's architectural era, style, and existing precedent in the neighborhood before recommending standing seam as an option vs. BTR metal tile.
Complete Roofing Services in Coral Gables
Historic Preservation in Coral Gables — The Additional Layer
For properties that are locally designated on the Coral Gables Register of Historic Places, or that contribute to a local historic district, a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is required before a building permit can be issued for exterior modifications including roof replacement.
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There are two COA tracks in Coral Gables:
1) Standard COA (staff-level review): For work considered "minor" — including re-roofing in kind, painting, and in-kind repairs. Staff reviews and approves without a public hearing. Timeline: typically 1–2 weeks.
2) Special COA (Historic Preservation Board hearing): For "substantial impact" work — additions, demolitions, major exterior remodeling, and material changes that affect the character of a locally designated property. Requires a public hearing before the Historic Preservation Board. Timeline: 8–16 additional weeks.
The practical implication: for a Coral Gables homeowner replacing an aging barrel tile roof with a like-for-like system (same profile, same color range), the process is typically staff-level Standard COA — manageable. For a homeowner switching from clay tile to standing seam metal on a locally designated property, the Special COA process may apply. Eduardo identifies which track applies before a proposal is signed, so there are no timeline surprises.
What Zen Installs in Coral Gables
BTR Metal Tile — The Standard Recommendation
For the majority of Coral Gables' Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial homes, BTR stone-coated metal tile in barrel profile is the correct system — both architecturally and practically. It matches the Board of Architects' established expectations for roofing material in the city while delivering HVHZ-certified hurricane performance that clay tile cannot.
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1) Profile: Barrel tile — matches the established Coral Gables aesthetic
2) Substrate: Galvalume — Coral Gables is inland, no coastal salt-air exposure
3) Weight: 1.4 lbs/sq ft vs. 9–12 lbs/sq ft for clay tile
4) HVHZ certified: Current NOA on file
5) Colors approved for Coral Gables review: Terracotta, Colonial Red, Weathered Wood — all consistent with the Mediterranean Revival earth-tone palette the Board of Architects enforces
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The argument for BTR metal tile on aging Coral Gables homes goes beyond aesthetics. Clay tile at 9–12 lbs/sq ft on a 1920s–1940s Coral Gables roof deck that has experienced 80+ years of humidity cycling creates structural risk that many homeowners don't fully appreciate. BTR metal tile eliminates that weight concern while looking identical to clay tile at street level.
Englert Standing Seam — For Properties Where the Board Approves It
Following the 2022 ordinance, standing seam metal is a viable option in Coral Gables — for the right properties. Eduardo recommends standing seam when:
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1) The property's architectural era and style are consistent with a clean metal profile (contemporary additions, mid-century structures, or secondary roof planes)
2) The property is not locally designated, or the COA track for the designation is a staff-level Standard COA
3) The proposed Kynar color is within the Board of Architects' approved palette for the specific property
Important: Standing seam cannot be painted after installation under Coral Gables' ordinance. The Kynar color must be specified at fabrication. This is standard practice for all Englert panels — Kynar 500® is a factory-applied coating, not a field-applied paint.
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1) Product: Englert Series 1300, 24-gauge Galvalume, Kynar 500®
2) NOA: No. 20-0131.06 — HVHZ approved
3) Colors consistent with Coral Gables review: Champagne, Aged Bronze, Slate Gray, Dark Bronze — earth tones and neutral metallic finishes most consistent with the city's architectural vocabulary
2026 Pricing for Coral Gables Homeowners
Coral Gables homes tend toward larger roof areas and steeper pitches than the South Florida average — actual project totals reflect the specific home. Every Zen proposal is written, fully itemized, with the specific product, NOA number, and an honest assessment of the Board of Architects approval timeline.
PACE financing available:
Qualified homeowners finance 100% with no money down, repaid through the property tax bill.
Why Zen's Location Matters for Coral Gables Homeowners
A contractor based in Coral Gables knows things that a contractor expanding into the city does not. Eduardo knows which BOA reviewers focus on which details. He knows the current approved color palette and how it has shifted since the 2022 ordinance. He knows which neighborhoods have the highest concentration of historically designated properties — and which ones don't. He can assess a property's submission path (Standard COA vs. Special COA vs. BOA-only) by address, before a proposal is signed. That local knowledge translates directly into faster approvals, fewer deferrals, and no surprises on the project timeline.
"Coral Gables is where I work every day. Our office is on South Dixie Highway — this is the community I know best, the architecture I understand most deeply, and the Board of Architects process I have navigated more than any other in Miami-Dade. When a Coral Gables homeowner calls me, they're not calling a company that is expanding into their city. They're calling their neighbor."
Eduardo Garcia, Founder, Zen Metal Roofs
Neighborhoods We Serve in Coral Gables
South Dixie Highway corridor, Miracle Mile area, Coral Gables Country Club, Coconut Grove border neighborhoods, Brickell-adjacent Coral Gables, Old Cutler Road northern edge, Ponce de Leon Boulevard corridor, Salzedo Street neighborhoods, South Gables, Riviera neighborhood, Douglas Road corridor, and surrounding Coral Gables residential neighborhoods
Frequently Asked Questions — Coral Gables
Does every roof replacement in Coral Gables need Board of Architects approval?
Yes — every exterior modification requiring a building permit, including roof replacement, must receive Board of Architects approval before a permit can be issued. This applies to all residential properties in Coral Gables, whether or not they are historically designated. Zen prepares the complete BOA submission package as a standard project deliverable.
Call Zen: (786) 284-6994 | Zen Metal Roofs | 237 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33133
Eduardo Garcia is the founder of Zen Metal Roofs and a Florida licensed roofing contractor with 300+ metal roof installations across South Florida. Certified by both Englert and BTR. Based in Coral Gables. Available at (786) 284-6994.