If your roof is due for replacement, you have probably wondered whether to go with metal this time instead of shingles. We install both, so we have no reason to push one over the other. Here is how they compare on a typical New Jersey house, and how to decide which is right for yours.
The short answer
- Choose metal if you plan to stay in the house a long time, want the longest-lasting roof you can buy and are fine paying more up front.
- Choose architectural shingles if you may sell within about 10 years, want the lowest cost per year of ownership in the near term, or want a look that matches the rest of the street.
Cost
A metal roof usually costs more up front than an architectural shingle roof, often around two to three times as much. The exact gap depends on the type of metal, the size and pitch of the roof, and how many chimneys, skylights and valleys it has. The only way to know your real numbers is to price your roof both ways. For shingle pricing, see how much a new roof costs in NJ.
How long each one lasts
On a well-ventilated roof, architectural shingles commonly last 20 to 30 years. A metal roof often lasts 40 years or more. Over a long time in the same house, that can mean one metal roof instead of two shingle roofs, which is where metal starts to pay for itself.
Looks
Standing seam metal has long vertical panels and a clean, modern look. If that does not suit your house, metal shingles and stone-coated steel are made to look like shingles, slate or shake. Architectural shingles from GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed come in a wide range of colors and blend in on almost any New Jersey street.
How they handle New Jersey weather
- Snow: metal sheds snow, which is good for the roof, but snow can slide off in sheets over doors and walkways. Snow guards solve that. Shingles hold snow, so good ice and water barrier at the eaves matters.
- Wind: both hold up well when installed correctly. With shingles, the nailing pattern and sealed starter strips at the edges make the difference. With metal, it is the fastening and the trim.
- Hail: heavy hail can dent thinner metal panels. On shingles, hail knocks granules loose and bruises the mat, which shortens the roof’s life.
- Rain noise: on a house, metal goes over solid decking and underlayment, so most homeowners say it is not much louder than shingles.
Maintenance and repairs
Both need little maintenance if they are installed well. Shingle repairs are simple and inexpensive. Metal repairs need someone who works on metal, especially at seams, flashing and fasteners. On either roof, the most common leak points are the same: chimneys, skylights, vents, valleys and walls.
So which should you choose?
Ask yourself three questions: How long will you stay in the house? What does your budget allow today? What look do you want? If the answers are “a long time”, “we can stretch” and “we like metal”, go metal. Otherwise, a quality architectural shingle roof installed properly is the better value.
Not sure? We can inspect your roof and give you a written price for both, so you can compare real numbers for your house. See our metal roofing and roof replacement pages, call 908-206-4240 or request a free estimate.