Summary
- A metal roof offers superior durability, energy efficiency, and longevity or as much maintenance compared to traditional asphalt shingles.
- Shingles are generally more affordable upfront but may have higher long-term maintenance costs.
- Metal roofs excel in extreme weather resistance and are fully recyclable, while shingles typically need more frequent replacement and contribute to landfill waste.
- Metal roofs come in a wide range of styles and colours, including custom options, whereas shingles offer a more traditional look with limited customization.
- Choosing the right roofing material depends on budget, climate, and long-term energy savings goals.
Introduction:
If you have found yourself asking the age old question: is a metal or asphalt roof better?, then you have come to the right place. Choosing the right roofing material is an essential decision that will affect your home’s longevity, curb appeal, and energy savings. While traditional asphalt shingles have been a popular choice for decades, metal roofs are gaining traction due to their durability, low maintenance, cost, appearance, as well as energy efficiency.
Durability and Longevity
Metal Roofs:
Metal roofs are well known for their exceptional durability, often lasting between 50 to 80 years. The durability in steel roofs is shown through their high resistance to snow, rain, wind, and even intense heat. This is especially important to homeowners in the Northern regions with harsher weather conditions. In addition, metal roofs require little to no maintenance, as they are designed to remain in top condition over time, requiring no more than occasional cleaning or inspections. For example, even in the winter, the metal shingles shed snow daily, allowing no snow or ice backup to begin to build. Snow guards are added to help break up falling snow so that no issues arise. If rust is a concern, have no fear as metal roofs are often rust resistant. This durability and longevity makes metal roofs a worthwhile investment, as they can provide a great deal of peace of mind to homeowners as they know they are covered for a lifetime.
Shingles:
In comparison, the lifespan of asphalt shingles typically ranges from 10 to 20 years, depending on the quality of the materials, installation process, and environmental conditions. For instance, under conditions such as snow, rain, wind, and heat, shingles often crack, curl, and break. This often requires repairs, replacements, and several patch jobs over the 10 to 15 years. With snow in mind, it tends to stick to asphalt in Northern regions which often requires homeowners to shovel off due to the added weight, and potential water, and ice backups.
It is important to note that as asphalt begins to deteriorate one of the first signs is the presence of asphalt granular’s in your eavestrough, possibly clogging your downspouts, as well as adding unneeded weight to the eavestrough which can cause them to separate from your house. Therefore in addition to continual roof maintenance, you must ensure you are cleaning your eavestroughs yearly.
Cost Considerations
Metal Roofs:
While metal roofing often has a higher initial cost, ranging roughly from $16,000 to $21,000 for an average sized home, the investment will more than pay itself off in the long run. Due to its long lasting quality and durability, a metal roof often does not need to be replaced within a lifetime. Therefore while it can be more costly up front, it is often the only cost associated.
Should anything happen to the roof, metal roofing also often come with 50 year life time warranty which provides homeowners with full coverage. It is important to note that not all metal roofs are the same, and it is important to do research into them as price and quality do differ. For example, some include standing seam roofs with exposed fasteners, and some include interlocking metal panels with no exposed fasteners.
Shingles:
Shingles tend to be more affordable upfront, ranging roughly from $13,000 to $18,000 for an average sized home. This makes them an appealing choice for budget-conscious homeowners, However, it is misleading. Not only do repairs and replacement patches add up cost over the duration of 10-15 year lifespan, but once the roof does need replacement, it will cost another $13,000-$18,000.
Due to worsening weather, and a new formula in recycled asphalt shingles they dramatically lowered the life expectancy, and insurance companies now require homeowners to replace asphalt shingles every 10 years. Therefore, the average homeowner has to replace their asphalt roof 3-6 times within their lifetime. This cost greatly outweighs the higher upfront cost of metal roofing.
Energy Efficiency
Metal Roofs:
For homeowners prioritizing a more energy efficient lifestyle, steel shingles are an excellent option. Steel shingles reflect solar heat, which helps maintain a cooler indoor temperature during the summer and helps save on air condition costs. For example, no matter the paint colour, a metal roof reduces your attic temperature by 22%. Oftentimes, some insurance companies will actually provide you with a reduction in home insurance for having installed a new roof, which helps homeowners save money all around.
Another key factor for homeowners looking to better their economical form, are solar panels. Solar panels are highly compatible to any type of metal roof, as the solar panel brackets are very similar to snow guard and snow stopper brackets. Oftentimes, solar panel companies will not install solar panels unless a type of metal roof is previously installed. Ontario also provides homeowners rebates for installing solar panels due to the energy efficient support it provides which greatly help homeowners save even more on energy bills.
Shingles:
Unlike most metal roofs, asphalt absorbs heat, as well as standing water. This increases homes temperature in the summer months, which greatly impacts the cost of bills as the heat absorption leads to increased energy consumption. While there are some energy-efficient shingle options available, they generally do not match the performance of aluminum shingles when it comes to maintaining a cooler home. It is important to note that these shingles cannot hold up to high winds, extreme weather conditions, and with blown off shingles, it will require much more maintenance than other roofing materials. This is an important factor to consider in energy efficiency as it will require regular maintenance on raw old roof.
Environmental Impact
Metal Roofs:
Whether it be standing seam metal roofing, steel roofing, galvanized steel, steel panels, or overlapping panels of metal, they can all be completely recycled. Metal roofing products installation method oftentimes mean metal shingles can go directly over asphalt shingles, which emulates the need to dispose of the old roofing materials and reduce landfill waste. This does not increase the weight of the roof as metal roofing systems do not absorb water as asphalt shingles do, therefore the asphalt shingles simply act as a form of insulation underneath. For example, when considering interlocking metal shingles, the process of installation includes cutting back and removing the old curling shingles, adding a water shield down such as a roofing underlayment directly to the roof deck, followed by the roofing material. This makes the metal roofing system an eco-friendly option for homeowners focused on reducing their environmental footprint.
Shingles:
Traditional shingles are generally not recycle and need to be replaced much more frequently than metals roofs. These asphalt shingles can take up to 400 years to fully decompose in a landfill, and are often a great source of landfills due to the heavy space they take up, chemicals when wet and left to breakdown, as well as volume due to the rapidity in which asphalt roofs must be replaced. While some asphalt shingles can now be recycled, the quality has greatly declined which has greatly impacted and shortened the lifespan, adding to the volume in which asphalt roofing materials still must be replaced. Therefore for homeowners concerned about sustainability, shingles may not be the most eco friendly choice.
Aesthetic Appeal and Style Options
Metal Roofs:
When choosing a metal roof, there are many styles and options to suite every homeowners needs. Whether you prefer more of a barn style, more modern style, or even styles to mimic the look of tiles or shingles a metal roof will have you covered. For instance, you can have tin standing seam metal roofs, which are long pieces of tin with exposed fasteners. This look often mimics the barn style. Another option is new steel roof looks, which are often smaller interlocking shingles made from galvalume steel that overlap and interlock on all four sides creating a seamless look without any exposed fasteners. Lastly, there are types of metal roofing that mimic clay tile, giving the charm and characteristics of old tile roofing materials.
While all are aesthetically pleasing, it is important to note that all styles come with their own pros and cons, and the roofing industry is always growing and evolving. Research into each style is essential in making the right choice, as well as ensuring your roofing contractor is knowledgable and informed on proper metal roof installation processes for the product they offer.
Not only are there several styles, but new metal roof systems often come in extensive range of colours and finishes, including options from trusted brands like Sherwin-Williams, providing homeowners with ample customization to suit their aesthetic preferences.
Shingles:
Asphalt offers a more transitional approach, which can appeal to homeowners with classic tastes or homes designed in conventional architectural styles. While shingles are available in various colours and textures, they are vernally more limited in customization compared to metal roofing as there is only one style. Shingles are also provide a simple and familiar aesthetic, but for those looking for more unique and tailored look to their liking, metal roofing may offer a broader range of options.
Conclusion
In summary, choosing between a metal roof and asphalt shingles depends on factors like durability, cost, energy efficiency, environmental impact, and aesthetic appeal. Metal roofing systems are ideal for homeowners looking for long-term, low maintenance alternative solutions. Shingles, on the other hand, provide a traditional option at a lower cost, although they require frequent maintenance and replacement. When selecting a roofing material, consider your budget, long term goals, and the specific climate in your area. Do you suffer from harsh weather conditions? Do you plan on living in your home long term? Do you want to increase resale value and curb appeal? If you are looking for some professional input from a member of our team, please contact us today to get started.
