Englert Color Options For Series 1300 And Series 2000 Standing Seam Roofs
- Feb 10
- 13 min read
Updated: Jun 23
By Eduardo Garcia | Co-Founder & Lead Installer, Zen Metal Roofs
18+ years in South Florida roofing | Certified Englert Standing Seam Installer | BTR Systems Partner
"Color selection is one of my favorite parts of this job. There's a moment in every consultation when a homeowner who comes in thinking 'I just want gray' sees the Kynar finish samples in direct Miami sunlight — and completely changes their mind. The right color doesn't just look good on day one. It has to look good in twenty years. That's the standard we hold ourselves to."
Here's something most roofing contractors don't tell you: the color of your standing seam metal roof isn't just an aesthetic choice. In South Florida, it's a performance decision.
The same panel profile installed in a reflective Polar White Kynar 500 finish will behave meaningfully differently — in terms of attic temperature, cooling costs, and long-term coating durability — than the identical panel in a Charcoal Gray polyester finish from a discount supplier. The material underneath the paint matters. The coating chemistry matters. The gloss level matters. And in Miami's combination of intense UV, coastal salt air, and 180+ days of direct sun per year, these decisions compound over decades.
As a certified Englert installer, we work with the Series 1300 and Series 2000 panel systems on virtually every standing seam project we complete. In this guide, I want to walk you through the color and finish options honestly — not as a product brochure, but the way I'd explain it to a homeowner sitting across from me at their kitchen table in Coral Gables or Doral, trying to figure out what actually makes sense for their house.
Why Color Selection Matters More in Miami Than Most Markets
Before getting into specific palettes, it's worth explaining why this decision carries more weight in South Florida than it would for a homeowner in, say, Atlanta or Denver.
Miami's UV Intensity Is Genuinely Different
Miami sits at a latitude that delivers among the highest UV indices in the continental United States — consistently in the "extreme" category from April through October. Roof coatings that perform adequately in northern climates can show measurable fading, chalking, and gloss loss in South Florida within 5–10 years. This is why coating quality — not just color — is the first conversation I have with homeowners during color selection.
A Kynar 500 (PVDF) fluoropolymer coating is not interchangeable with a polyester-based paint. The chemistry is fundamentally different: fluoropolymer resins resist UV degradation at a molecular level in a way that polyester coatings cannot match. After 20 years in this market, I've inspected standing seam roofs that are 15–20 years old. The ones that still look right are Kynar-coated. The polyester ones tell the story of every Miami summer they've been through.
The Energy Efficiency Calculation Is Real
Miami homeowners run air conditioning for roughly 9 months of the year. A dark-colored, low-reflectivity roof contributes to attic temperatures that can reach 150°F+ on summer afternoons — heat that transfers into the living space and makes HVAC systems work harder.
The difference between a cool-roof-rated white or light gray and a standard dark charcoal can translate to a 15–25% reduction in cooling load under the roof deck. Over a decade of ownership, that's a meaningful number on your FPL bill. I always present the energy data alongside the color samples — homeowners deserve to make this decision with the full picture.
HOA Color Approval in South Florida Communities
This is one of the most practical issues I deal with on a regular basis. A significant percentage of homes in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are in HOA-governed communities — Weston, Doral, Palmetto Bay, Aventura, parts of Coral Gables — where roof color changes require architectural review board approval before any work begins.
I've helped homeowners navigate HOA submissions in dozens of communities. The process typically requires: the Englert color spec sheet, the Kynar warranty documentation, sometimes a physical sample submission, and a formal proposal letter. We handle all of this. What I've learned is that having Englert's manufacturer documentation — the exact color name, finish code, coating system, and warranty — makes approvals significantly smoother than showing up with a paint chip from a hardware store.
If you're in an HOA, start the color conversation early. Approval timelines vary from 1–3 weeks in most communities, and that time needs to be built into your project schedule.
Understanding Englert's Coating Systems: What You're Actually Choosing
Every color in Englert's palette sits on top of one of several coating systems. The coating system determines durability, warranty coverage, and long-term performance — and it's the variable most homeowners don't know to ask about.
Kynar 500 and Hylar 5000: The Standard for South Florida
Kynar 500 (manufactured by Arkema) and Hylar 5000 (manufactured by Solvay) are trade names for PVDF — polyvinylidene fluoride — fluoropolymer resin. These are the benchmark coatings for architectural metal roofing, and they're what we specify on every standing seam project at Zen.
What makes PVDF coatings different:
1) 35-year limited finish warranty on fade and chalk resistance — the longest available in the metal roofing industry
2) UV resistance at the molecular level — fluoropolymer bonds don't break down under UV radiation the way carbon-based polyester coatings do
3) Salt air and chemical resistance — critical for coastal and near-coastal homes in Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, and Aventura
4) Self-cleaning surface — the smooth, hard PVDF surface sheds dirt and organic debris more easily than porous polyester coatings, meaning the roof stays cleaner between rain events
This is not a premium upsell. In South Florida's environment, a Kynar 500 finish is simply the right specification. I won't install a polyester-coated panel on a South Florida home and put my name on it.
For a deeper look at how these coatings interact with the Galvalume substrate, read our [guide to Galvalume steel and premium coatings for standing seam roofs].
PermaColor 3500: Standard Solid Colors
Within Englert's Kynar/Hylar coating family, PermaColor 3500 is the primary residential product line. It delivers solid colors with a 35-year warranty on steel or aluminum substrates and is available in both low-gloss matte and standard gloss finishes.
This is the line most Miami homeowners end up in. The palette is extensive — hundreds of standard colors across neutrals, earth tones, and accent shades — and it performs consistently in South Florida's conditions. When I say "gray standing seam," this is almost always what I'm talking about.
PermaMetallic 2000: Metallic and Dimensional Finishes
For homeowners who want something beyond a solid color, Englert's PermaMetallic 2000 line offers metallic finishes that create visual depth and a dimensional appearance — copper tone, pewter, aged bronze, silver mica. These finishes have a 20-year warranty (vs. 35 for PermaColor) and carry a higher cost per linear foot.
I see these used most often on modern and contemporary homes where the roof is a deliberate design feature, not just a functional cover. A pewter metallic on a flat-front modern home in Miami Beach or a deep bronze on a custom build in Pinecrest can be stunning. They're not for every project, but when they're right, they're really right.
Cool-Roof and ENERGY STAR Compliant Colors
Englert offers specific colors that meet ENERGY STAR reflectivity and emissivity standards. These finishes use special IR-reflective pigments that allow the coating to reflect more heat than a standard pigment of the same visible color. The practical result: you can choose a medium gray cool-roof finish and get thermal performance closer to a white roof.
In Miami's climate, I recommend cool-roof-rated finishes to almost every homeowner unless they're making a deliberate aesthetic decision that requires a dark color. The difference in attic temperature is measurable, the difference in cooling costs is real, and in some cases it affects insurance premium calculations.
Englert's Color Palette: What's Actually Available
Englert's in-house continuous coil coating operation gives them color flexibility that most panel manufacturers can't match. Here's how to think about the available palette.
Neutrals and Earth Tones (The Most Popular in South Florida)
These are the workhorses of residential standing seam in our market — the colors that photograph well, age well, satisfy HOAs, and complement the widest range of architectural styles.
Whites and off-whites: Polar White, Bone White, Pearl, Bright White. These are consistently among the most-requested colors for coastal contemporary homes and new construction. Maximum reflectivity, clean appearance, HOA-friendly in virtually every community. If energy efficiency is your primary concern, this is where I'd start the conversation.
Grays: Light Gray, Dove Gray, Slate Gray, Pewter, Charcoal. The most requested color family overall. Light to mid-range grays hit the sweet spot between aesthetics and thermal performance — they look modern, pair with almost any siding color, and perform reasonably well on reflectivity. Charcoal is popular on contemporary homes where the contrast matters aesthetically; I always discuss the cool-roof coating option when it comes up.
Beiges and tans: Sand, Desert Tan, Champagne, Cream. Warm earth tones that work naturally with South Florida's tropical landscape, natural stone, and warm-toned stucco. Very common in Doral and Kendall communities.
Browns: Medium Bronze, Rustic Brown, Copper Tone Brown. Rich, warm colors that complement wood accents, brick, and more traditional architectural styles. Less common in Miami's newer construction but very appropriate for established neighborhoods.
Bold and Accent Colors
These colors are selected less frequently but are worth knowing, particularly for homeowners with specific design visions or unique architectural contexts.
Blues: Sky Blue, Slate Blue, Ocean Blue. Genuinely beautiful on waterfront properties and coastal contemporary homes. I've installed slate blue on two separate Miami Beach properties in the past few years — both homeowners specifically cited the sky/water connection as part of the decision. HOA approval required pre-clearance, but both went through without issue.
Greens: Forest Green, Sage Green, Patina Green. Green roofing reads naturally in lush South Florida landscapes and can be stunning on certain traditional and craftsman-influenced homes. Less common in the ultra-urban parts of Miami, more common in Pinecrest, South Miami, and tree-lined residential neighborhoods.
Reds and Terracottas: Barn Red, Brick Red, Terra Cotta. These colors specifically reference the barrel tile aesthetic — a natural fit for Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean homes where the homeowner wants the durability and wind resistance of standing seam but the warm tones of clay tile.
Charcoal and Black: True Black, Charcoal Black. High-impact, high-contrast choices for bold modern architecture. These work well on homes with very light-colored facades where the contrast is intentional. Always specify with cool-roof coating in Miami — the difference in thermal load between a standard black and a cool-roof-rated charcoal is the largest in the palette.
Gloss Levels: Matte vs. Standard
Englert offers both low-gloss matte and standard gloss finishes across most of its PermaColor 3500 palette.
Low-gloss matte finishes are the residential default — they deliver a sophisticated, non-reflective appearance that reads as high-end and modern. Matte finishes also tend to hide minor handling marks and surface variations better than gloss, which matters on a large visible roof surface. The overwhelming majority of residential standing seam projects I install are in matte.
Standard gloss has a visible sheen that reads as cleaner and crisper, and can make certain colors appear more vibrant. Some homeowners specifically request gloss for its brighter appearance. It's a legitimate choice — just know that the gloss will diminish somewhat over time as the surface weathers, even with Kynar coating.
Custom Color Matching: When Standard Colors Aren't Enough
This is one of Englert's most underused capabilities, and it matters more in South Florida than most markets because of HOA requirements and the prevalence of homes with very specific existing color palettes.
How the Custom Match Process Works
Englert's in-house coil coating line can produce custom colors from almost any reference sample — a paint chip, a piece of stucco, a fabric swatch, a brick sample, even a high-resolution photograph. The process:
1.Provide a physical sample — a small piece of the reference material you want to match
2.Englert's color analysis — spectrophotometric measurement and visual evaluation to formulate a matching paint
3.Sample approval — Englert produces a coated metal sample for your review before full production
4.Production and delivery — custom-painted coil delivered to Zen for installation
What Custom Color Costs and How Long It Takes
Minimum order quantities for custom Englert colors are typically 5,000 lbs of coil — enough for one large residential roof or two average-sized projects. Lead time for custom color production runs approximately 3–5 weeks from approved sample to delivered material.
The cost premium for custom color varies but generally adds $1.50–$3.00 per linear foot over standard catalog colors. For homeowners with strict HOA color requirements, historic preservation mandates, or very specific design goals, this premium is often well worth it.
Series 1300 vs. Series 2000: How Panel Profile Changes How Color Looks
Both panel systems are available in the same Englert color options and coating systems — your panel choice doesn't limit your color palette. But the profile does affect how color reads on your finished roof.
Series 1300: 1.5-Inch Mechanically Seamed Panel
The Series 1300 has a 1.5-inch tall rib with a mechanically seamed connection. The lower rib height means less shadow line definition — colors tend to appear more uniform and flat across the roof plane. This creates a clean, modern aesthetic where the color itself is the dominant visual element.
I recommend the Series 1300 most often for residential projects where the homeowner wants a sleek, contemporary profile — it's particularly strong on flat or low-slope roofs on modern architecture, and on homes where the standing seam is part of the clean-line design language. For color, any palette works on the 1300, but lighter, solid colors tend to look especially cohesive.
Series 2000: 1.75-Inch Snap-Lock Panel
The Series 2000 has a taller 1.75-inch rib with a snap-lock seam. The additional rib height creates more pronounced shadow lines and visual texture — colors appear slightly more dimensional because of the depth created by shadows between ribs, especially when viewed at an angle or in raking light.
This dimensional quality means the Series 2000 tends to make colors look richer and more substantial on larger roof planes. For homes where the standing seam is a design feature — large contemporary builds, custom homes in Pinecrest or Coral Gables, significant residential projects — the Series 2000 profile often delivers a more visually impactful result.
Color Recommendations by South Florida Architectural Style
Here's how I typically guide homeowners through color selection based on their home's architecture — drawn from 18 years of installations across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.
Coastal Contemporary Homes (Miami Beach, Aventura, Key Biscayne, Surfside)
These homes — clean lines, large windows, white or light-colored facades, direct sun and salt air exposure — respond best to:
1) Polar White or Bone White: Maximum reflectivity, clean aesthetic, zero competition with the home's other design elements. Our top recommendation for waterfront or near-waterfront properties.
2) Light Gray or Dove Gray: Versatile, modern, and slightly less stark than bright white. Works beautifully with glass, steel, and light concrete facades.
3) Slate Blue: For homeowners who want to reference the coastal context directly — used well, this color reads as intentional and sophisticated rather than decorative.
4) Metallic Pewter or Silver Mica (PermaMetallic): On truly contemporary homes where the roof is a design statement, a metallic finish adds depth that flat colors can't achieve.
Material note: aluminum standing seam is my default specification for homes within 1–2 miles of saltwater. The corrosion resistance difference over a 30–40 year timeline is significant enough that I won't spec Galvalume steel at that proximity.
Mediterranean and Spanish-Style Homes (Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Doral, Palmetto Bay)
The dominant residential architecture in many of our most active markets. These homes have stucco exteriors, warm stone or tile accents, arched windows, and traditional proportions that have specific color affinities:
1) Bronze or Copper Tone Brown: Warm, rich colors that feel native to the Mediterranean palette and harmonize naturally with terracotta, warm stone, and aged wood accents.
2) Warm Earth Tones (Sand, Desert Tan, Champagne): Less dramatic than bronze but equally appropriate — these colors blend so naturally with the warm stucco tones that the roof seems to belong to the house rather than sitting on top of it.
3) Barn Red or Brick Red: For homeowners replacing clay tile who want to maintain the warm red tone of the roofline — this is a legitimate and beautiful choice that I see work very well in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove.
4) What to avoid: Stark whites and cool grays, while popular in contemporary contexts, can feel mismatched against warm-toned Mediterranean exteriors. The clash is subtle but reads as off to most observers.
HOA note: Coral Gables has one of the most active historic preservation and architectural review processes in our market. Color submissions for this community need manufacturer documentation and typically take 2–3 weeks for approval.
Modern and Mid-Century Homes (Miami Design District, Edgewater, South Miami, Pinecrest)
Contemporary homes with geometric profiles, mixed materials (concrete, glass, steel), and bold design statements can absorb color choices that would look wrong on more traditional architecture:
1) Charcoal or True Black (with cool-roof coating): High-contrast against light facades, emphasizes clean lines and geometric profiles. Visually strong and increasingly popular in the design-forward parts of Miami. Always specify with IR-reflective cool-roof pigments.
2) Slate Gray or Pewter: Strong neutrals that read as modern without the drama of black. Work in almost any contemporary context.
3) PermaMetallic Bronze or Copper Tone: On mid-century homes where warm material tones are part of the design language, a metallic finish adds richness without competing with the architecture.
How Zen Guides You Through the Color Selection Process
I want to be transparent about how our consultation process actually works, because I think it's meaningfully different from what most contractors offer.
Step 1: On-Site Assessment in Real Miami Sunlight
Colors look different on a computer screen, on a sample card under fluorescent light, and on a roof in direct South Florida sun. We bring physical Englert coated metal samples to your home — the actual coated panels, not paint chips — and review them on-site, against your siding and trim, in real conditions.
This step eliminates a significant amount of buyer's remorse. A color that looked great on screen can look washed out in intense sunlight, or a darker color that seemed heavy indoors can look exactly right against a lush landscape backdrop.
Step 2: HOA Pre-Clearance Support (When Applicable)
If your community requires architectural review, we prepare the full submission package: Englert color spec sheet, Kynar 500 or Hylar 5000 warranty documentation, the physical sample if required, and a proposal letter. We've navigated HOA submissions in communities across Weston, Doral, Aventura, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, and dozens of other South Florida neighborhoods. We know what each type of review board typically requires, and we put together submissions that don't come back with questions.
Step 3: Energy Efficiency Walkthrough
Before finalizing your color selection, I walk through the thermal performance implications with every homeowner. Which colors in your shortlist are cool-roof rated? What's the estimated reflectivity difference? What does that mean in practical terms for your attic temperature and cooling costs? This isn't meant to push you toward a particular color — it's meant to make sure you're making a fully informed decision.
Step 4: Custom Color Option (When Needed)
If nothing in the standard Englert catalog quite fits — whether because of HOA requirements, a very specific architectural match, or personal vision — we walk you through the custom color process, including lead time, minimum quantities, and cost premium. In our experience, custom color is needed less often than homeowners initially expect, because Englert's standard palette is genuinely extensive. But the option exists, and we're experienced with the process.
Frequently Asked Questions: Englert Color and Finish Selection
Ready to Find the Right Color for Your Miami Home?
Zen Metal Roofs is a certified Englert installer serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. We carry physical Englert color samples to every consultation and guide every homeowner through the full selection process — including HOA submissions, energy performance data, and custom color options when needed.
When you're ready to explore your options, here's what to expect from a Zen consultation:
1) Eduardo or a senior installer meets with you on-site
2) We bring physical coated Englert samples you can review in real sunlight against your home's existing palette
3) We review HOA requirements if applicable and prepare any necessary documentation
4) We walk through energy performance data for your shortlisted colors
5) No pressure, no commitment — just informed guidance
Explore related resources:
📞 Call or text us to schedule your color consultation
