Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing - Which is Better? - North Twin Builders

Asphalt shingles vs Metal Roofing – Which is Better?

As a homeowner, you want to pay attention to your roof. It is one of the most important parts of your home because it serves to protect everything beneath it. It is also one of the most common parts of a new home build that many people want to skimp on even though it’s one of the most cost-effective parts of a home. We hope that after reading this article, you realize just how important your roof is to the overall health and longevity of your home.

Why do some consider a metal roof?

A topic that comes up a lot during our many site visits is the question of whether to go with asphalt shingles vs metal roofing. Due to our location in the Upper Midwest, there is quite a bit of difficult weather which in some cases creates ice dams. This makes metal roofing sound like a more attractive option, but you should be careful that whomever you hire to do the project knows what they are doing.

If you are considering a metal roof because you are experiencing ice dams it is often because of poor insulation or lack of insulation. So, changing the roofing material would not fix that issue, only cover it up, and your heating bills would likely not change much if at all.

Heating Costs are Impacted by Insulation Values

We receive multiple calls to come out to see why heating bills are still high after they hired someone else to install a new roof and unfortunately it is quite a bit more costly to try to insulate after a new roof is installed instead of improving the situation during the new roof installation. To fix things after the fact you would need to either open up the new roof for access or access the area from inside the home. Both involve taking apart work that was already done and also patching after the insulation issues are corrected.

Cost is Another Important Part to Consider

A good metal roof is about twice the cost of an architectural shingle roof. Because of this, expense can play a factor when considering your budget. Another thing to consider is that a metal roof sheds snow while an asphalt roof does not. The falling snow will shed on decks, walkways, in front of garage doors, etc. The weight and force of all that snow coming off your roof is immense. It can tear off decks, porches, awnings, and can also potentially harm someone if they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Any time snow breaks are installed, there should be equal amounts of them on both sides of your roof. Your trusses were not designed or built to hold an uneven load.

New Roofs over Old Materials

Another issue with roofs that we are witnessing is contractors that install new roofing over old roofing. We see this being done with metal roofing as well as asphalt shingles. This is not good for your home in many ways. It’s more weight that your house must support and it decreases the life of the new roofing. There is less leak protection and it can impact inspections if selling your home. It also impacts your home insurance and makes for bumpy and uneven surfaces.

Get a Professional Opinion

Call a license and insured contractor to evaluate your specific situation. They will determine if you need your insulation addressed and/or a new roof. They will then make suggestions as to the best path forward given your selection of shingles or metal roofing. With advances in technology and materials, there are even more options to choose from including composite shingles, stone shingles, etc. These materials are also always being improved so do your research when determining what is right for your specific situation.

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