Metal Roofing Vs Asphalt Shingles – Which Is Better?

Metal roofs may cost more than their shingle counterparts to install, but they provide superior energy efficiency and will add significant resale value to your home.

Asphalt shingles tend to be more durable and resistant to extreme weather than their metal counterparts, making them the better choice in coastal or wet climates. But how do the two compare in terms of cost, lifespan, warranties, maintenance requirements and aesthetic appeal?

Cost

Roof replacement is an investment worth making and can add significant resale value to your home. There are various residential roofing options available and it’s essential that you understand all of them before beginning cost analysis.

Metal roofs tend to be more costly than asphalt shingles; however, their longer lifespan could save on repair and replacement expenses in the future. Furthermore, metal can increase energy efficiency by reflecting sunlight rather than absorbing it like asphalt shingles do.

Not to be overlooked is that while shingles require less maintenance than metal roofs can be replaced quickly. If you want an economical roof solution with unique character that will add long-term value to your property, metal could be worth its upfront investment.

Durability

Metal roofs, unlike their asphalt counterparts, are constructed to withstand extreme weather. Furthermore, they’re more resistant to leaks and severe damage; however they may still be dented by hailstones; any raindrops falling upon a metal roof tend to produce louder sounds than on asphalt ones.

Asphalt shingles are familiar to most homeowners and come in various colors, shapes and sizes to complement any home design. Asphalt shingles may even make an attractive budget-conscious option.

Metal roofs are more resilient than shingle roofs and can often outlive you as the owner of your home. Additionally, they’re energy efficient compared to their shingle counterparts by reflecting sunlight away from homes, keeping homes cooler during hotter times of the year and being fireproof – qualifying them for Energy Star tax credits as well as increasing your resale value and returning high returns on investment. Unfortunately, installation times tend to take longer due to having exposed fasteners or standing seam locking fasteners attached onto metal panels requiring screws/locking seam locking into place compared with just fasteners/fasteners/shingle panels being attached.

Appearance

Your choice of roofing material for your home can significantly alter its aesthetics. Metal roofs offer numerous styles and profiles that mimic slate, cedar wood shake and architectural shingle roofs; in addition, their colors can be tailored specifically to complement its architecture.

Asphalt shingle roofs may be an economical choice for many homeowners, but metal roofing offers more aesthetic appeal and holds up well during extreme weather events like wildfire, hurricane, tornado or hail storms.

Metal roofs offer many energy efficiency advantages over their asphalt counterparts, as the reflective properties of their material help reflect more sunlight during summer and decrease cooling costs. Unfortunately, hail damage may require repair; to prevent this possibility choosing one with concealed fasteners that can expand and contract freely may help.

Maintenance

Metal roofs typically outlast asphalt shingle roofing and are less susceptible to being damaged by extreme weather, decreasing repair needs while increasing resale values of homes.

Metal roofs offer several distinct advantages when compared to their shingle counterparts: durability, longevity, lower utility bills due to energy efficient technology certification, minimal maintenance requirements (merely removal of leaves/twigs/etc from roof surface) and reduced utility bills. Additionally, many are certified ENERGY STAR(r).

Asphalt shingles are one of the most popular residential roof materials in the US and can come in three styles: traditional 3-tab, dimensional and luxury. Each style possesses an asphalt-saturated base covered by UV blocking granules to protect from UV light rays; their wide selection of colors and designs enables homeowners to select one that complements their homes’ aesthetic while being relatively straightforward and simple to install – most roofers have experience working with asphalt roofing types as well. As with all forms of roofing material maintenance must be performed periodically to keep its peak performance.