Metal roof vs shingles: is metal better than shingles?
Metal vs shingle roofing - which one should you choose?There are a number of options to choose from when the time comes to replace your roof. Two of the most popular options are asphalt shingles and metal roofing. Both have their pros and cons so this post will walk you through a few of those pros and cons and then will give the Cenvar recommendation.Table of Contents: Pros and cons of metal. Pros and cons of shingles. Which is more expensive? Metal paint. Durability Neighborhood design and architecture Cenvar’s recommendation
Pros and cons of metal roofing.
- Pro: Metal is stronger and durable
- Pro: Long-lasting
- Pro: More sustainable
- Pro: Easily recyclable materials
- Con: Higher cost
- Con: Take longer to install
- Con: More difficult to repair
- Con: Paint only lasts 40 years
- Con: Really expensive to paint
Pros and cons of shingle roofing.
- Pro: Cost-effective
- Pro: Easier and quicker to install
- Pro: A larger variety of colors and styles
- Pro: Easy to repair
- Con: They don’t last long term
- Con: Not as environmentally friendly.
Metal roof vs shingles cost.
Metal is more expensive than shingles. If you’re looking for a lower cost to replace your roof then asphalt shingles are the better choice for your budget.If you start thinking about the cost per year of service, shingles still beat out metal. While metal is stronger and more durable, the painting is its undoing.Shingles are also cheaper upfront because of the ease of accessibility. Many of your home improvement stores will carry the exact shingles that you’re looking to install. They’re easy and quick to install making the cost of labor for your job efficient when considering what it would be for a metal roof.
Metal paint.
Most metal roof panels come with the same standard paint warranty: 40 years. You’ll find this to be very typical across the different metal options. They become really expensive to paint once the 40 years is up and the cost to do so is about half as much as a new shingle roof would cost.According to this post on repainting a metal roof, there are a few things you’ll need.
- Powerwash your roof with a PSI of 2500
- Paint specifically designed for metal roofs
- Paint rollers specifically designed for metal panels
And according to another post, there are mistakes to avoid when repainting a metal roof.
- Not removing old paint
- Ignoring rust patches
- Not priming beforehand
- Applying the paint incorrectly
- Not sealing the roof afterward
The costs add up when thinking about repainting a metal roof. So if you’re planning on being in your home for a while and you like the look of a metal roof, plan to repaint after the paint warranty expires and the paint begins to wear off.When looking for the benefits of metal vs shingle, many articles won’t talk about the headache of painting. Even trusted resources like Forbes or Bob Vila.
Roofing durability
Metal beats out shingles when it comes to strength and durability. While a hail storm may still damage a metal roof with a dent, that same hail storm could put a hole in an asphalt roof making metal the top choice for protection.Metal is stronger in that it won’t get damaged as quickly, metal roofs have a better wind rating too.Take a look at this video of simulated hail damage for asphalt, slate, and metal, and see how they last!
In the video, the 3-tab shingle sustained enough damage that would need a roof replacement. The architectural shingle sustained some damage but wouldn’t need to be replaced right away. The metal roof hardly had any damage and wouldn’t even be noticeable from the ground.
Neighborhood designs
Something to keep in mind when considering the question of metal vs shingle would be the architecture of the home and the neighborhood your home is in.Maybe you want your home to stand out and your neighbors all have shingle roofs. A metal roof would be the way to stand out. If you want to stay uniform with your neighbors then it’s important to consider what other people have for roofing materials.You’ll also want to keep in mind the architecture of the home itself. Typically, you’ll find metal on farmhouses. This would be the most typical metal structure. You’ll commonly find shingles on ranch homes.So a word of advice would be to look at the architecture of the home and of the neighborhood.
Conclusion
A shingle roof would be the Cenvar recommendation namely because of the cost per year of service.The only way metal makes a lot more sense and doesn’t look very good is if you do unpainted metal.Most homeowners care about how their homes look and metal does look good when installed properly.We believe that some companies might be over-selling metal roofing, with the technical jargon that it will last, and it will last. But it comes down to the painting.If you’re concerned about cost and don’t want to deal with high costs down the road, then asphalt shingles would be the top recommendation for your home. Architectural shingles come with a great 50-year warranty and can withstand winds and most hail. They don’t cost as much to install and they’re easier to repair if you do run into issues down the road.
