If you’re getting ready to build a home, purchase a premade home, or replace your roof, you should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of metal roofs and asphalt shingles. Which is better, a metal roof or shingles? Shingles are used most frequently, but that doesn’t mean they’re automatically the best.
If you look at each type of roofing from several different angles, you can get a better idea of how to make the best decision for your preferences and your own budget. And asphalt shingles might still be the right option for you. However, metal has become more popular and interesting in the last few years, and it’s worth revisiting.
We’ll start the analysis with cost.
1. Cost: Initial and Long-Term
Asphalt shingles have a lower initial price tag than metal roofing. Roofing costs are in a range because there are so many different brands, styles, and quality tiers. But the price difference is clear:
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Asphalt Shingles: $100 to $200 per one hundred square feet
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Metal Roofs: $120 to $900 per one hundred square feet
Metal roof initial prices can come down a little if your home insurance policy gives you a discount based on your metal roof. Also, you may be able to get a federal tax credit by switching to a metal roof on your primary home. An energy-efficient metal roof could lower your utility bill, too.
Metal roofs can be cheaper than asphalt in the long term, though. That’s because a single metal roof can last fifty to sixty years, whereas shingles may need two replacements in a thirty-year period, yielding a price comparison like this (adjusted for inflation):
Metal Roof:
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Initial Installation: $13,000 total cost
Asphalt Shingles:
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Initial Installation: $9,000
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Year Fifteen Tear-off Fees: $4,000
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Year Fifteen Replacement Shingles: $13,000
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Year Thirty Tear-off Fees: $5,000
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Year Thirty Replacement Shingles: $19,000
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Total: $50,000
By price, which is better—a metal roof or shingles? If you’re planning to stay in the same place for a long time, asphalt shingles become more of a hassle. Asphalt shingle figures above are adjusted for inflation too, showing that metal roofs lock in today’s prices.
2. Resale Value
Is a metal roof better than shingles if you’d like to sell your home soon? Does installing a metal roof pay for itself in resale value? It depends on the buyer, but many home buyers today don’t see much extra value in a metal roof. In fact, they may perceive that a new shingle roof is slightly more valuable than a new metal roof.
On the other hand, you may get lucky and find a buyer who values the long-term durability of a metal roof, along with potentially lower utility bills. You could try listing your home for a little bit more to try to find such a buyer, but you won’t know if you have recouped your costs until you get an offer.
3. Labor: Costs and Considerations
Currently, it will be easier and cheaper to find more installers for shingles than for metal roofing. Roofers need additional training to work with metal roofs. That adds to the cost of an initial installation. It also makes the repairs and replacement of a metal roof more expensive.
These costs are understandable. Shingles are easy to pull out of a package and nail to the roof. When they need to be repaired, you can pull one small shingle out and replace it. In contrast, metal panels sometimes need to be cut, maneuvered into place, and screwed down. (Of course, this all may be worth it for the right home and budget.)
4. Appearance
In the past, this was a deal-breaker for many homeowners. We expected metal roofing to look tacky. But that’s changed. Today, you can get different varieties of metal roofing:
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Colors: You can get basically any color you need today, created through the latest dedicated paint systems, which are tested and warrantied to hold their color for decades. Choose from earth tones, bright colors, and anything in between.
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Styles: Metal panels can come with exposed fasteners, panels with standing seams, and styles that give the appearance of tiles or shingles. You can also choose a non-metal look.
Of course, asphalt shingles are also available in many styles and colors, although their colors tend toward darker hues because of their gravel surfaces.
Which Is Better for Your Home: A Metal or Shingle Roof?
So, is a metal roof better than shingles? It depends on what value you’re pursuing. Do you need to save money in your immediate budget? Do you want to be more energy efficient? Do you want a certain style for your dream home? There are many possibilities to explore in the points above. Either material could come out on top for you.
If you want to know more, check out this guide to the Most Durable Roofing Materials by DMG Exteriors.