So, you’re shopping for a new roof in Northern Colorado and don’t know if you want traditional asphalt shingles or a metal roof. When comparing asphalt shingles vs metal roofing, it’s best to consider the long term. Asphalt shingles are cheaper initially, but because metal roofs last longer, they often cost less in the long run. Also, metal roofs are recyclable while traditional asphalt shingles aren’t.
There are more metal roofing options to consider today, such as stone-coated metal shingles and standing seam metal roofing panels. Maybe you’re tired of replacing your traditional asphalt shingle roof every 15-25 years and would like something that lasts longer. In this article, we compare traditional asphalt roofing shingles to stone-coated steel shingles and standing seam, and in the end, we pick our favorite roof.
Short Answer: If you’re interested in a lower initial cost, stick with asphalt shingles. If you’re more interested in longevity and low long-term cost, go with any metal roof. If you want a roof that helps lower your utility bill, you want standing seam.
Asphalt shingles have been around since the early 1900s. Since then, they’ve seen some changes of their own. Today, they use a fiberglass base instead of felt or asbestos, making them more fire-resistant. There are more color options available today, and more resistance to hail.
Metal roofing has been around a lot longer than asphalt shingles. It dates back to the 200s when copper shingles were used in South Asia. Metal roofing has changed a lot since then. Today, there is stone-coated metal roofing, which emerged in the early 1940s in the UK. These stone-coated metal shingles look quite a bit different from the original copper shingles. There are also metal panels, such as standing seam. These panels are made from galvanized and galvalume steel. We unroll, form, and cut these on location. These, too, are quite unlike the original copper shingles from the 3rd century.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Cost
Traditional asphalt shingles cost less upfront, but metal roofing costs less over time. Asphalt shingles cost more over time, while metal roofing costs less. When you consider that metal roofing often lasts 70 years or more, a traditional asphalt shingle roof will have been replaced at least twice, if not three times, over the life of one metal roof.
Winner: Metal. Lower cost in the long term.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Durability
Metal is more durable than fiberglass, which is what traditional asphalt shingles are made of. Even rubber-modified asphalt shingles aren’t as durable as metal roofing. Metal is more durable than asphalt shingles against pounding hail, driving rain, strong winds, insects, and more.
Winner: Metal. More durable.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Maintenance
Metal roofing requires less maintenance than traditional asphalt shingles, especially standing seam. Metal roofing uses screws during installation. Nails are used to install traditional asphalt shingles. Screws provide better holding power than nails. Therefore, metal roofs stay down better during strong winds. Asphalt shingles often tear during strong winds. Asphalt shingles also require resealing occasionally. That’s because they’re flexible. Metal roofing does not.
Winner: Metal. Lower maintenance.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Longevity
Traditional asphalt shingles often only last between 15 and 25 years. Even so-called ’50-year shingles’ don’t last that long. ’50-year shingles’ are called that because of the warranty. That’s not an expected lifespan. Metal roofing, on the other hand, often lasts 70 years or more.
Winner: Metal. Lasts 3x as long.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Appearance
Because metal holds a shape better, it can be molded to resemble other roof coverings, such as real wood shake. Traditional asphalt shingles try to resemble natural wood shake, but stone-coated steel shake more closely resembles wood. If you like the appearance of traditional asphalt shingles but want the longevity of metal, consider stone-coated steel shingles.
Winner: Metal. Looks better.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Reroofs
Given the fact that traditional asphalt shingles have to be replaced at least every 20 years on average, you’re going through the reroofing hassle every 20 years or so. Since metal roofs last 70 years or more, you’re not being inconvenienced by the reroofing process nearly as often.
Winner: Metal. Fewer re-roofs.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Resale Value
There’s no argument that a new asphalt shingle roof increases a home’s resale value. However, a new metal roof increases it more. That’s because prospective buyers know they won’t have to worry about that metal roof for decades.
Winner: Metal. Higher resale value.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Eco-Friendlyness
We’ve contacted every recycling facility in Colorado and neighboring states. No one accepts old asphalt shingles for recycling. However, we’ve identified metal recycling facilities in Fort Collins, Greeley, Denver, Longmont, and beyond that accept worn-out metal roofs for recycling.
Winner: Metal. More recycling centers nearby.
Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Energy-Efficiency
All roof coverings release absorbed heat at about the same rate. However, metal roofing reflects more heat from the sun, especially standing seam. In fact, no other roof covering is as energy-efficient as standing seam. Want a roof that helps lower your utility bill? You want standing seam.
Winner: Metal. Better energy efficiency.
Asphalt Shingle Types and Features
Your general options for asphalt shingles come down to these:
3-Tab/Strip, Architectural/Designer, or Luxury Shingles
25-Year or Limited Lifetime Limited Warranty
Less or More Wind Resistance
Less or More Impact Resistance
Energy Star Rated or Not
3-Tab Shingles
3-tab, also known as strip shingles, are the least expensive. See Owens Corning’s Supreme or CertainTeed’s XT-25. These often come with the shortest warranty and the least protection, such as from hail and high winds. 3-tab shingles offer a very flat look to your roof. You can expect around 15 years out of these shingles.
3-tab/strip shingles are hard to get today. What’s more, some cities won’t allow us to install them since they require Class-4 impact-rated shingles, and 3-tab/strip shingles aren’t rated as such.
Dimensional/Architectural Shingles
Dimensional or Architectural shingles, such as Owens Corning’s TruDefinition Duration or Tamko’s Titan, are more expensive than 3-tab, but often come with better protection, such as from high winds, and longer warranties. Dimensional shingles, as the name implies, give your roof a little more depth. You can expect around 25 years out of these shingles.
Luxury/Designer Shingles
Luxury shingles, such as Owens Corning’s Woodmoor or CertainTeed’s Grand Manor, are often the most expensive asphalt shingles. Oddly enough, most of these high-end shingles lack some of the best features and protections, such as impact resistance or solar reflectance, and some don’t last as long as architectural shingles do.
Metal Roofing Options
With metal roofing, your options are standing seam and stone-coated metal shingles or tiles. Both of these products last a lot longer than even the longest-lasting asphalt shingles. This makes the question of asphalt shingles vs. metal roofing a no-brainer for many. You can expect at least 70 years out of a new metal roof.
Standing Seam
With standing seam panels, you have two gauges (thicknesses) to choose from. The thicker the gauge, the heavier, longer-lasting, more durable, and the more expensive it is. You also have dozens of colors to consider. Dozens! All are more impact-resistant and high-wind resistant than the most durable asphalt shingle, so you don’t have to worry about these features. Although there are multiple profiles available for standing seam, we usually determine which profile is best based on the building’s location and orientation relative to the prevailing wind and the pitch of your roof.
Stone-Coated Metal Shingles and Tiles
Stone-coated metal shingles, such as Westlake Royal Roofing’s Pine Crest Shake, are visually similar to traditional asphalt shingles, except that instead of a fiberglass foundation, they have a metal foundation. On top of that, there’s asphalt and granules, just like regular asphalt shingles. With these metal shingles, you get the appearance of traditional shingles, yet a roof that lasts 3x longer. Stone-coated metal shingles are among the least energy-efficient; however, unless you get white, they’re still not even close to being as energy-efficient as metal panels.
Metal shingle profiles include wood shake, shingle, and tile. If you want to replace your asphalt shingle roof with something that looks similar to traditional shingles, you can do that. If you’re replacing your old wood shake roof and want something that looks similar to real wood, you can do that, too, with stone-coated metal shingles. Or if you want a southwestern, Italian, or Mediterranean look, you can have it with stone-coated metal tiles.
Steel Shingles
Steel Shake
Steel Tiles
Advantages of Traditional Asphalt Roofing Shingles
Most folks choose traditional asphalt shingles because they are the least expensive, initially. They come in a decent number of colors to choose from. Most asphalt shingle manufacturers offer any one line of shingles in a dozen or so colors.
There are also several asphalt shingle manufacturers to choose from, including Owens Corning, CertainTeed, GAF, Tamko, and Malarkey. Because asphalt shingles are made from fiberglass and asphalt, they’re relatively easy to cut with a utility knife, making them flexible and quick to install.
Most Affordable, Initially
Flexible
Quick to Install
Decent Number of Color Choices
Disadvantages of Asphalt Shingles
Non-Recyclable
Short-Lived
Low Solar Reflectivity
High Long-Term Cost
The disadvantages of asphalt shingles are that they are relatively short-lived compared to metal roofing. On average, asphalt shingles last between 15 and 30 years, here in Colorado, with our high winds and large hail. As a result, they often cost more in the long term than metal roofing. Asphalt shingles are not recyclable in our area. This means they’re getting buried in our backyards. Asphalt shingles have a low solar reflectivity score. This means they are not as energy-efficient as metal roofing panels.
Advantages of Metal Roofing
The advantages of metal roofing are great. Namely longevity. Any metal roofing product typically lasts at least 3 times longer than the longest-lasting asphalt shingles. This means it also costs less in the long run.
Any metal roofing product is also much more resistant to high winds and hailstorms. All metal roofing products are also recyclable, unlike asphalt shingles. Metal panels are the ‘coolest’ roofing material, meaning they help to lower your Summer utility bill.
Lastly, standing seam metal panels come in dozens of colors.
Long-lasting at 70+ Years
Less Expensive in the Long Run
Resemble Other Roofing Materials Better, Such as Wood Shake
Recyclable
Energy-Efficient
Metal Roofing Panels Offer More Color Choices
Disadvantages of Metal Roofing
Prone to Dents from Large Hail Stones
More Expensive, Initially
Takes Longer to Install
The disadvantages of metal roofing are few. The biggest being that they are more expensive initially. You can expect to pay as much as 3 times as much to install a metal roof compared to asphalt shingles. This is partly because metal roofing takes longer to install. Metal panels are prone to dents from large hailstones, such as 2″ or greater. This is purely an aesthetic disadvantage.
Which is Right For You – Asphalt Shingles or Metal Roofing
When comparing asphalt shingles vs metal roofing, be sure to keep in mind what’s important to you. Although asphalt shingles are initially less expensive than metal roofing, we think you’ll find metal roofing, especially standing seam, superior in every way – they last longer, are recyclable, are more durable, cooler, and cost less in the long run. In addition, a metal roof fits right in here in Colorado 🙂
If your concerns are low initial cost, go with traditional asphalt shingles. If you can spend more initially, and you’re more interested in low long-term cost, longevity, durability, recyclability, and resistance to hail, fire, and wind, choose any metal roofing product mentioned above. However, if you’re also interested in the coolest or most energy-efficient roof, go with standing seam metal roofing panels, as this roof will help to cool your home the most. When comparing traditional asphalt shingles vs stone-coated metal shingles or shake, metal shingles or shake resemble traditional shingles, so your HOA won’t even notice. When your neighbors are replacing their old shingle roof for the 2nd or 3rd time, you won’t have to.
The Bottom Line
Traditional Asphalt Shingles vs Standing Seam
- Traditional shingles cost less short-term.
- Standing seam costs less long-term.
- Traditional shingles are quicker to install.
- Standing seam lasts 3x longer.
- Standing seam is more resistant hail and high-winds.
Traditional Asphalt Shingles vs Stone-Coated Steel
- Traditional shingles cost less short-term.
- Stone-coated steel costs less long-term.
- Stone-coated steel lasts 3x as long as traditional asphalt shingles.
- Stone-coated metal is recyclable while traditional asphalt shingles are not.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding asphalt shingles vs metal roofing products, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’re happy to discuss whether traditional asphalt shingles, standing seam, or stone-coated steel shingles or shake are right for you.
