While both metal and tile are excellent choices for residential roofing, depending on your specific requirements, one may be preferable. In order to assist you in making the best choice for your roof, we compared metal roofs with asphalt shingles, examining everything from aesthetics to eco-friendliness.
Finishes are available for both materials to suit a variety of home styles.
Shingle roofs have a traditional appearance, but they are now available in materials like slate, wood shakes, and tile to give them a more realistic appearance. You can have them with Victorian-style scalloped edges or with a terracotta hue that goes well with a Mediterranean-style house. While the color palette is broad, the finish options are also diverse, with options ranging from aged (to match older homes) to subtly multicolored.
Choosing between metal and asphalt shingle isn’t a matter of aesthetics; instead, focus on which material will provide the best value for your money.
Metal roofers have a longer lifespan than other types of roofing materials.
Because metal roofs can withstand practically anything Mother Nature can dish out, you’ll find warranties ranging from 30 to 50 years on them, with lifespans ranging from 40 to 70 years. However, metal roofs have several drawbacks: Metal roofs can be dented by large hail, fallen branches, and even stumbling on them incorrectly. Talk to the manufacturer about security issues. For example, you’ll discover that steel is more durable than copper.
Shingles have a shorter life expectancy than other types of roofs because of their particular collection of flaws. Ice dams can cause cracks in your roof, and temperature swings between day and night can shorten the life of your shingle roof due to algae and fungus growth. A shingle roof’s warranty period ranges from 15 to 30 years, based on factors such as location, environment, and climate.
Metal roofs are better for the environment since they use less energy.
Metal roofs are preferred over asphalt shingles because they are more environmentally friendly due to their use of recycled materials and ability to be renewed indefinitely. Because of its reflecting characteristics, metal roofs can help keep a home cooler by reducing the amount of heat that reaches the inside of the building. The use of special paint coatings can help you save even more money on your cooling expenses. It is estimated that the US landfills collect roughly 20 billion pounds of old asphalt shingles each year since they wear out faster than metal roofs. In addition, because asphalt shingles are made from petroleum, they increase the world’s reliance on foreign oil.
In general, installing and repairing an asphalt shingle roof is less difficult.
Professionals can complete the job with only a basic understanding of specialist expertise and basic equipment. In certain circumstances, shingles can be installed in as little as a day or two, even over an existing roof layer. A more experienced and qualified worker is often required for metal roofing installation. Because the work is more exact and leaves less room for error, it will take longer than installing shingles. Some lightweight metal products, on the other hand, may be able to be put directly over an existing, sound roof, saving time and money by avoiding the need to tear the old one down.
