Metal or Asphalt Shingles: What’s Best for Your Home?

Re-roofing is homeowners’ daunting cost, and choosing to put metal or asphalt shingles on is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. Both have their pros and cons, so the “best” will depend on your needs, budget, climate, and personal taste. This definitive guide will walk you through the all-time highs to remember when looking at the future of metal roofing vs. asphalt so that you make a smart, informed decision that will work for your house in the long run.

Learning the Basics: Asphalt Shingles

The most widely used material for North American roofs, and for good reason. They are not overly expensive to begin with, fairly common, and they are available in an incredibly wide variety of color and pattern designs to fit almost any decor. Asphalt shingles are typically a fiber or organic mat that is surfaced with mineral granules and asphalt. They are applied to shield the material from the sun and to harden the shingles along with making the shingle very pleasing to the eye. There are two general types of asphalt shingles: three-tab shingles, less sophisticated and cheaper, and architectural shingles (dimensional or laminated shingles), more textured and attractive with longer lifespan. Finding the Strength and Durability of Asphalt

An asphalt shingle roof’s life typically ranges from 15 to 30 years based on weather, quality of shingles, installation, and maintenance. It can also be shortened by weather, windstorms, or sun. Constant upkeep, such as clearing away loose debris and replacing or repairing lost or broken shingles prior to further damage, needs to be performed if an asphalt roof is going to achieve its potential life.

Though typically resilient, asphalt shingles are the most susceptible of any metal-reinforced roofing material to hail and windstorm damage. They also take a long time to degrade with the loss of the granules, which are not as strong and not as attractive. Under the category of the Initial Cost and Installation of Asphalt

Among the benefits of why asphalt shingles are so widely utilized is that their initial cost is lower than metal roofing. The product itself is less expensive, and it is easier and faster to install, saving overall project cost.

Asphalt shingles are low budget for people on a tight budget. Do not forget the cost in the long run, though, because the reason asphalt is cheaper is that you will probably be replacing your asphalt roof earlier, and that will cost you more down the road for the life of the home. Revealing the Empire of Metal Roofing Metal roofing is becoming increasingly popular today with increased strength, durability, and energy efficiency. Metal roofs are typically made of steel (galvanized or galvalume), aluminum, copper, or zinc.

Metal roofs can be in the form of standing seam panels, shingles, shakes, and tiles, and can be produced in a wide range of architectural styles ranging from traditional to contemporary.

While the upfront cost of a metal roof will generally be higher than an asphalt roof, its long-term benefits will more than repay themselves over the long haul for the majority of homeowners. With The Unmatched Longevity and Durability of Metal Quite possibly the most surprising benefit of metal roofing is its record-breaking longevity and durability.

A properly installed metal roof of this type would endure 40 to 70 years or more in contrast to asphalt shingles. Metal would also resist strong wind, heavy snow, hail, or fire which are all characteristics of severe weather. It would also be less susceptible to bug infestation or rot as a result of damage.Metal’s longer life translates to less long-term expense in the way of fewer replacements and zero man hours of maintenance over the course of your home’s lifespan.

The Initial Cost and Installation Metal Roofing The upfront cost of a metal roof will, in most cases, exceed that of an asphalt shingle roof because, among other factors, it takes more material and skilled labor to install. The installation of metal roofing is usually carried out by professional roofers using specialty equipment and technique in an attempt to achieve a watertight, tight seal. However, low upkeep cost and durability of metal roofing may be worth the investment over time. And, greater resale value and greater energy efficiency of a house may be synonymous with return on investment in general. Energy efficiency as priority number one

Metal and asphalt roofs are both individually energy efficient, but metal would hardly edge them out. Metal roofs, especially coated, light-colored metal roofs, have the ability to reflect very high percentages of solar radiation and prohibit the passage of heat into the attic and thus reduce summer cooling bills during hot weather periods. Even newly developed energy-efficiency coated asphalt shingles, however, won’t even come close to metals’ heat reflection factor. The savings the metal roof generates will be paying for itself in coming years of reduced cost of ownership. Aesthetic Possibilities and Curb Appeal

Both metal roofs and asphalt roofs offer ample aesthetic possibilities to fit an equally large variety of architectural looks. They come in a multitude of styles, textures, and colors, including replicating slate tile or wood shakes.

Metal roofing also comes in just as broad style and color, ranging from high-end, contemporary standing seam panels to shingles and shakes that are made to look old. Either of these is your home’s personal style and appearance choice. Either of these products potentially can also add curb appeal if placed and chosen correctly. Maintenance Requirements for Longevity Preparation for metal roofing overall is less than asphalt shingles.

Metal won’t mold and algae and doesn’t need to be cleaned annually.

Still, it is not a bad idea to check your metal roof from time to time for loose fasteners or for damage. Asphalt shingles do require periodic cleaning in order to have moss or algae cleared from them and damaged and missing shingles replaced in order to prevent leaks and other types of damage. Final Decision: Your Needs The ideal roofing solution that your whole house is the result of hundreds of thousands of personalized considerations based on your unique set of variables. Your biggest concern in such a scenario might be having low upfront cost and whether or not you receive level weather with balance extremes. Asphalt shingles might be the answer in such situations. Or, alternatively, if you want durability, longevity, energy efficiency, and don’t mind spending a little more upfront, metal roofing is definitely worth it.

Conclusion

Do not neglect your budget, your local weather condition where you reside, your home appearance, and your future course of action on your home while choosing finally. Metal and asphalt roofings’ experience-based argument by roof engineers will be helpful to you and lead you to what is best in your own interest.