Which Is the Right Choice for Your Home?
Maybe you have gotten some hurricane damage and need to replace your roof, are building a new home, or your roof is just getting older, and it’s ready for an update. But you need to know if metal or traditional asphalt shingles would be better. Keep reading to find out which will be best for your home.
Appearance
The appearance will be entirely up to you. A traditional metal roof has a distinct style that is always recognizable. If that’s not your style, new metal roof materials are being produced in many different types, including ones that look similar to shingle roofing.
Asphalt shingle companies are consistently coming out with various new colors and styles, so picking the right product to match your home has never been easier. It is hard to go wrong with the classic look of a shingled roof.
Durability
Shingles are probably the most common roofing material that you will see. But metal will win if it comes to durability. Asphalt shingles are typically expected to last around twenty to twenty-five years after being installed. Shingles will expand and contract with the weather as the years go by and will eventually begin to wear out.
Metal roofs will depend on which product you buy. There are metal roofing materials that advertise their durability to last fifty, seven, or even a hundred years.
Maintenance
When you think of having a new roof installed, maintenance will not be the first thing you think of. But maintenance will need to be done as your roof begins to age. The sealants, adhesives, and rubber boots used for roof penetrations will eventually need to be replaced. This will involve resealing around the flashing on the edges and replacing the rubber boots when they become worn out on both roofs.
It is generally accepted that metal roofs are less maintenance than asphalt shingles, but this will partially depend on the roof’s slope. Shingled roofs are still reasonably accessible when steep, but metal roofs can get quite hazardous when doing maintenance.
The maintenance level will also depend on other things, such as the weather in your area, if trees are towering over your home if you are prone to hurricanes, and more.
Installation
Installation of a metal roof will have to be done by a professional roofing crew. Due to the way it is installed, it is more likely to leak if not installed correctly. If you plan to install a metal roof on a new construction home, you will need to consult with your builder as certain building aspects may need to be addressed to install the roof correctly. For example, you may not have to have roof decking installed before the roofing, like shingles with a metal roof.
However, you will have to have that plywood decking with asphalt shingles. Shingles are the more common roofing material, and therefore the roofing contractors will most likely have far more experience with the shingles and will be more comfortable with the installation. This means that the installation will probably go quicker and with fewer incidents. Once installed, the shingles will hide the nails that hold them in place, implying shingle roofs are less likely to have a leaking issue. This is much better when comparing them to the metal roof screws that are exposed.
Asphalt shingles and metal both have plenty of benefits to them. But they also have some things that may not fit perfectly with your plans. Whichever you choose, it is a significant investment, so make sure that you choose a quality product and a quality installer.
