Shingles vs. a Metal Roof
There are pros and cons for both shingles and metal roofs; read on to find out which is best for your home.
When it comes to choosing a roof material, you want something that will stand the test of time – but also look fantastic.
Shingles remain the most popular type of material being used today, and there are many reasons that people like them. But that doesn’t mean a shingle roof is right for you. One increasingly popular competing material that you might not have considered is metal roofing.
Don’t know much about metal roofing? No worries. Below you’ll find several important comparisons between metal roofing and shingles so you can make an informed decision.
What You Can Expect to Pay for Shingles vs. a Metal Roof?
Individual shingles are commonly priced around $30, making them one of the cheapest roofing materials available. Metal roofing material, on the other hand, is more expensive—it can cost up to $600 for every 100 square feet of metal.
That being said, there are benefits to metal roofing in the long run that can bring these two price points much closer together – in some cases, metal roofing may end up being cheaper over the life of a roof.
How Do Warranties Compare: Shingles vs. a Metal Roof?
Asphalt shingles usually have a warranty of around 30 years, although the roof shingles themselves could last longer. For most people, that’s plenty of time. Metal roofing usually comes from the manufacturer with a warranty covering around 50 to 60 years, reflecting how much longer a lifespan it has over shingles.
How Do Shingles and Metal Roofing Look?
These days, asphalt shingles are made in a wide variety of colors, allowing customers to choose the shingles that they think would look best for each specific property. By nature, shingle roofs tend to look cobbled together because they’re made from so many individual pieces, but most of us are so familiar with this look that we’ve become accustomed to it.
Metal roofing now comes in basically any color, and it can always be painted over with the end color that’s desired. Additionally, it can appear sleeker and smoother than shingle roofs or be designed to largely match their appearance.
Shingles vs. Metal Roof: How Much Maintenance Is Involved?
Asphalt roofing shingles are a popular choice due to their price and durability, with lifespans sometimes longer than 30 years. But even with this long life, periodic preventative maintenance is recommended. Shingles can also rot if inclement weather persists for a long period of time.
In contrast, metal roofing is so sturdy that you can pretty much forget about it once the roof is installed. It’s heavily resistant to rot and mildew, impervious to termites, has fire resistant properties, and may even help lower cooling costs in your home by up to 30%.
Moreover, as evidenced by the warranty information above, some metal roofing materials can actually double the lifespan of asphalt shingles.
Making Your Choice
Now that you have this information about shingles vs. metal roofing, you can make a more well-informed decision between the two when choosing the final roofing material for your home or other project. There’s no right or wrong decision, so think about what you want and talk with your contractor to get their advice.
