Metal roof vs shingles: Which one should you choose? Let's take a look at some of the top pros and cons for each roof, so you can make a smart decision for your home.
If you're impatient, scroll to the bottom for the summary.
Let’s take a look at shingles first.
Shingles Are Cheap to Install
The labor and materials cost of shingles are usually lower than metal. For basic 3 tab shingles, the cost of the shingles themselves are less expensive than the cost of metal panels.
Shingles are also very fast to install. Crews can often tear off and replace a shingle roof in a single day. Even on more complex roofs, installing shingles is pretty straightforward.
Another reason why shingle roofs are relatively cheap is that there are lots of roofing crews with shingle roof experience, while there are not as many roofing crews with extensive metal roofing experience.
Your HOA Likes Shingles
Your neighborhood dictator, also known as your homeowners association, typically requires roofs to have shingles. HOA’s want every home to look similar, with nothing too out of the box or interesting. If it’s not cookie cutter, your HOA probably won’t allow it.
For that reason, your HOA may not allow a metal roof. They want your home to blend in with all the other homes in the neighborhood. While a metal roof is both beautiful and practical, it may not be ‘vanilla’ enough for your HOA.
Shingles are Less Durable
Shingle quality can vary a lot. At the low end you have cheap 3 tab shingles that are very prone to hail damage. At the high end, you have class 4 shingles that purport to last a long time. While it’s possible to get high quality shingles with some degree of wind and hail resistance, asphalt shingles are almost universally less durable than metal panels.
Shingles are Not High End or Unique
If you’re looking for a roof that will make a statement, you’ll have to find something besides your normal shingle roof. As we discussed in the HOA section above, shingles are very bland from a design standpoint. While they’re fine for most people, some homeowners find them to be too plain jain.
Now that we've looked at some of the pros and cons of shingles, let's take a look at metal roofs and see how they compare. First, some metal roof cons:
Metal Roofs Are More Expensive in the Short Term
Metal roofs are more expensive to install than shingle roofs for several reasons. Number one, the panels themselves are more expensive than your typical shingle. While we recommend an affordable panel for many of our customers, it still costs more than a cheap shingle roof.
Secondly, metal roofs take longer to install than shingle roofs, so the cost of labor is higher. This is especially true on more elaborate homes.
In addition, metal roof installation is a more specialized skill. There are fewer crews available with the necessary expertise and experience needed to install metal roofs, especially on more complex roof lines.
Your HOA May Not Allow Metal Roofs
While you can try arguing with your HOA, there’s probably not a lot you can do about the “no metal roof” rule that many homeowners associations have in their rulebook. If you're in an HOA, a metal roof is probably not in your future.
Metal Roofs Last Longer
If there’s a single thing that metal roofs are known for, it’s their durability. Metal roofs can easily last several decades. Installed correctly, a high quality metal is typically the last roof you ever need to install on your home. That’s why we can offer a roof panel with a lifetime warranty–they are designed to last for the rest of your life.
Our metal roof panels carry a class 4 impact rating, the highest rating available in the industry. Storm damage is a rarity with our metal roof. We even had one of our roofs survive a tornado in Burleson, TX with no apparent damage.
With insurance deductibles going up, the out of pocket cost to replace your roof has doubled or tripled for many homeowners. For that reason alone, it makes a lot of sense to install a roof you won’t need to replace every 5 or 10 years.
Metal Roofs Make a Statement
Metal roofs can really improve the look of your home. There are a lot of different metal roof styles available to match the aesthetic of your home. For instance, if you live on a rural property with a hobby farm or a working ranch, a small rib panel looks really sharp. If your home has modern architecture, a standing seam roof looks amazing.
Metal Roofs Save Electricity
Your metal roof could pay for itself in 5 or 10 years by being more energy efficient. Shingles tend to absorb a lot of heat from the sun and transmit that heat into your attic. Metal panels, on the other hand, are much more reflective. That reflectivity means that when the sun’s rays hit the surface of the metal roof, they bounce off the roof, reducing the amount of heat that transfers into your attic. Depending on how your home is insulated, this can translate into significant energy savings during our hot Texas summers.
Conclusion
A Shingle Roof Might Be Right for You If…
- You need a roof that’s as cheap as possible to install
- You’re in an HOA
- You don’t mind replacing your roof from time to time
- You’re not concerned about energy efficiency
A Metal Roof Might Be Right for You If…
- You’re willing to pay a bit more upfront
- You want a roof that improves the look of your home
- Long term energy savings are important to you
- You never want to replace your roof again
If you’d like to learn more about the metal roof colors we offer, you can check out this article.
How to Choose a Metal Roof Color in Texas
Here at Texas Metal Master, we install both shingle and metal roofs.
If you’d like to get a free quote for your home, you can contact us here, or hit the Get a Quote button below.