Why Choose Metal Over Asphalt as Your Roofing Material?

When choosing a roof system for your home, many factors come into play. Aesthetics certainly drive many of our decisions. “Will it match or provide a color contrast to exterior surfaces?”, “How long will it last, before it needs replacing?”, and “What type of maintenance is required?” are questions that should be asked. Also understanding the economics of choice is an important topic to consider. There is not a perfect answer.

However recent trends are pointing homeowners away from traditional asphalt shingles towards metal roofing. Some of the significant benefits associated with metal roofing include:

• Awe inspiring color
  Metal panel roofing colors are vast and unmatched by asphalt shingles. From earth tones of sandstone, beige, and tan, that may be well suited for southwest climates; to black, bronze and gray that provide unmatched contrast to lighter colored exteriors, and to statement-making colors of various shades of red, burgundy, and green, are all common in metal roofing.
• Architectural dimension
  Standing seam, ribbed, and locking metal roofing panels provide a stylish three dimensional element that simply cannot be met with a shingle. When coupled with color, the architectural element of a metal panel, creates a roof that cause passers by to stop and appreciate.
• Environmentally friendly and energy efficient
  300+ years. What is 300+ years? It is the time for asphalt shingles to fully decompose. The EPA estimates that eleven (11) million tons of asphalt shingles are landfilled annually. Most metal roofing panels are made from recycled content, and metal roofing panels are recyclable at the end of their useful life.Shingle roofs do not contribute to a homeowner’s energy savings. By contrast, due to the reflective properties of coated metal panels which reduce heat absorption into the attic space, lower cooling costs often are seen.
• Durability and lifespan
  Metal panels have shown superior performance and durability in harsh environments of high heat, extreme temperature cycling, severe weather such as hail, and hurricane or tornadic winds when compared with shingled roofs.It is generally accepted that the lifespan of shingled roofs varies between fifteen (15) – thirty (30) years, whereas metal panel roof systems often exceed fifty (50) years.
• Life of roof cost
  Although the cost of a metal panel roof is a higher investment at the outset, the cost over time is generally considered to be equal or possibly less because of the cost avoidance of asphalt shingle re-roofing, as well as opportunities for energy and insurance savings.