When it comes to the installation of a new roof for your home or other properties, you have several options that you can choose from. Some of these options are shingles and metal roofing. But which of these two options should you go for? Is metal roofing better than a shingle roof? To answer these questions, we will compare these two types of roofing materials.
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Suitability for different housing styles
Primarily, both asphalt shingles and metal roofing come with numerous finish options. Whether your property is a Victorian home, a Mediterranean home, or a modern house, you can choose either of these two types of roofing materials for it.
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Durability
As long as the durability is concerned, metal roofs are the clear winner. When maintained properly, you can use your metal roofing for about 50 years. High-quality ones can even last for up to 70 years.
Shingles are highly susceptible to damages by pooling water as well as the growth of unwanted houseplants. As a consequence, their lifespan ranges from 15 to 30 years. However, the climate and region of the property can increase or decrease the lifespan.
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Eco-friendliness
Since recycled materials are usually used for creating metal roofing, they are believed to be more environmentally friendly than shingles. Their reflective abilities also ensure that they are more energy-efficient than shingles.
Besides, you need to replace shingles more frequently than their metal counterparts. Resultantly, shingles will cause more pollution to the environment than metal roofs.
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Weight
Metal roofing is also known to be lighter than asphalt shingles. Because of the weight, a metal roof will not put too much weight on your property. Also, it tends to be easier and quicker to carry for the roof contractors when installing it.
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Cost
In most cases, shingles are more affordable to buy than metal roofs. Besides, more contractors are into their installation than metal roofing. Consequently, the installation of shingles is usually cheaper. Therefore, if the one-time cost of the roof is your concern, shingles are better than metals.
However, there is a caveat to the cost of these two roofing options. While shingles are more economical in the short-term value, metals seem to be more affordable in the long run. This is because metals last longer than shingles. Hence, you would have replaced shingles two or three times before replacing your metal roofing.
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Repairs
After using your roof for a few years, you need to replace or repair some of its parts. The parts of shingles are not only easier to repair, but they are also more affordable. So, in this regard, shingles are the better option for you.
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Home value
Last but not least, let’s compare the added home value of these two options. Due to the durability and long-term cost of metal roofing, they will add more value to your home than shingles. Therefore, if you want to sell your property, metal roofs can help you to make more money from it.
Verdict
As shown above, metal roofing beats shingles in the most important areas such as durability, eco-friendliness, home value, and long-term cost. Therefore, metal roofs are better than shingles.