Metal or shingle roof; which will it be? There are many good reasons for choosing either one. You must ask yourself exactly what you want in a roof for your home, what is most appropriate to your locality, and what your budget will allow you to spend on your roof.
A metal or shingle roof can come in a variety of styles and colors, and are very popular choices. Both are also suited to any style of architecture. They are also both cost effective solutions, each in their own way. Finally, both offer a green footprint, by using a certain amount of recycled materials in their manufacture. However, this is pretty much where the similarities between the two end.
Roof Facts
- Most shingles have a lifespan of 15 to 30 years depending on their quality. Metal can last 50 years and longer. These facts are reflected by the warranties that you get.
- Metal can be manufactured to resemble shingles, clay or stone in addition to its usual sheet form. It also comes in many different textures and patterns. Shingles do not have these capabilities.
- It does not crack, shrink or erode like shingles.
- Metal is able to withstand hail, high winds of around 140 mph and heavy loads of snow, where shingles would most certainly fail or sustain severe damage.
- It is fire resistant, sparks cannot catch it on fire.
- Metal roofs save as much as 40% and more per year on energy expenses. Shingles have no energy saving benefits.
- It roofing actually increases your home’s value, and shingles do not.
- The percentage of recycled materials in metal roofing is far greater than the percentage in shingles.
- Metal roofing does not contain petroleum products, the major ingredient in asphalt shingles.
- It roofing lasts so long that it is not overflowing the landfills like the tear-off waste from shingle roofs. This also means that the fuel usage to haul away shingles is not shared by metal roofs.
- Shingle roofs are twice as heavy as metal roofs.
- Metal roofs are initially more expensive to purchase, but their energy efficiency and long life actually make them less expensive in the long run.
- It roofs are easily applied on top of shingle roofs, which might have to be torn off and disposed of to accommodate a new shingle roof.
If you are currently checking out roofing options, or think that you may be in the near future, take these facts into consideration. While shingles may be cheaper to purchase, the advantages of metal roofing cannot be denied. The fact is that more and more people are choosing to replace shingles with metal roofs. It has also become more common than ever to find metal roofing on new construction houses. After all, people have been using metal for roofing for 2000 years, so when it comes to a metal or shingle roof, which will you choose?