At Homeowner Funding, we make it our business to be experts in the home improvement industry. After all, we are more than just the company that provides remodeling financing to customers throughout the Northeastern United States. We are also the installers who know how to do it all.
When it comes to roofing, everybody knows you can’t skimp. Roofing is too important to go cheap with materials or labor. The wrong kind of roofing will allow gaps to form and rain to come pouring inside your home.
Many customers who come to us seeking roof funding ask us which material is best. You certainly have options to consider on the type of roofing you get.
We are comparing a metal roof to an asphalt shingle roof in this post. You probably have heard things about each, maybe about the durability of metal or the affordability of asphalt shingles.
We are going to set the record straight here by showing you how, when you’re looking to get a new roof on your house, asphalt shingles win out every time.
The Cost
Pretty much everything you can buy has different levels and price points. The same applies to roofing.
You can roof your house with anything you want, but when it comes to metal vs. asphalt shingle roofs, shingles win from a pricing perspective.
Metal roofs tend to be about three times as expensive as asphalt shingles. Consider the fact that shingle roofs can cost several thousand dollars, and then triple that for metal. In that case, metal roofs suddenly seem out of reach and unnecessary for the average homeowner.
In the interest of explaining things as comprehensively as we can, you should know that homeowners do get something back for the cost of a metal roof. In this case, that is longevity, as metal roofs are estimated to last between 40 and 70 years based on the metal type and proper installation (more on that later).
Compare that to shingle roofs, which last between 20 and 25 years. However, we still fully support asphalt shingles at Homeowner Funding because we know that most homeowners today would not remain in their current homes long enough to reap the 40-to-70-year benefits of metal roofs. That makes the cost simply not worth it.
Color Fading
This one is a no-brainer. Roofing fades over time due to the sun and the UV rays it produces. This fact applies to shingles and metal.
You can attempt to slow the faded look of your roof by choosing lighter colors for the materials, but the truth is this: dark metal fades quite easily over time. Metal roofing materials are dyed with colors that simply can’t last against the power of the sun. For instance, a navy blue roof will look quite different in five to ten years.
When you pick out lighter-colored shingles for your roof, you can delay the inevitable fading process by a long time while also saving a lot of money. It just makes more sense.
The Construction
When it comes to assembling your roofing, shingles come out on top by sheer simplicity and effectiveness. Shingles are laid down in straight lines, and the excess is cut off when the roofer reaches the edge of the house. Shingles are a much more precise method of roofing for this reason.
Metal roofing comes in seams that have to be screwed and fastened together. Therefore, the chances of exposing an opening are greater and make a leak more likely. Furthermore, over time, the sun’s UV rays can affect the roof’s washers and screws. This can wear down any existing openings and eventually create a hole.
The problem is compounded by the fact that metal expands and contracts over time, particularly with ice and water. This fluctuation further exposes those seams and gaps in the roof.
None of this is an issue with asphalt shingle roofs.
Labor Pool
Because asphalt shingle roofs are much more common on houses today, you will find the labor pool for installing them is much larger than it is for metal roofs. Any roofers worth their weight will know how to select and install shingles on your roof.
This is not so with metal roofs. The margin of error is quite high, since it is so difficult to find a true expert in metal roof installation. You will likely find many roofers who claim to be knowledgeable in metal roofing but who actually install the pieces incorrectly.
With a roof, you want peace of mind, knowing that your home is protected from the elements. Shingle roofs are popular for a reason.
Installation Time
Finally, we come to installation time. Whereas shingle roofs take just a few days to install, metal roofs can take up to a few weeks.
Not only does this extend the inconvenience for you, the homeowner, but it also leaves your home exposed to the elements for much longer.
Asphalt shingles are a tried-and-true roofing material, and roofing contractors everywhere should know how to install them. You can speed up the process by going with shingles every time.
We hope you’ve learned a bit from this listicle on metal roofs vs. asphalt shingle roofs. Shingles are what we install when customers come to us looking for roof funding. They’re reliable, affordable, and don’t take too long to install. They’re a win all around.
