Metal Roofing Vs. Asphalt: How It Compares to the Traditional Shingle

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in the United States, with most homeowners defaulting to this material for their roofing replacement. It may be the existing material on your home and continuing to use it seems like the obvious choice. Metal roofing is the next most common option, but it has the reputation of being more expensive. While metal roofing is slightly less common than asphalt shingles and slightly costlier up front, it could save you time and money in the long run. Let’s look at an in-depth comparison of asphalt vs. metal shingles.

Cost Vs. Lifespan of Materials

Asphalt shingles can cost, on average, as little as $1 per square foot in materials. The installation is typically somewhat labor intensive, but installers can put it on in large sheets that cover as much as 100 square feet at a time. Still, the installation is the bulk of the cost of replacing your roof with asphalt shingles. The job for an average family home of 2,000 square feet costs around $8,000. It could vary slightly, depending on materials, labor, and the architecture of the home. If weather or any other adverse scenario does not damage the roof, it could last up to 20 years.

Metal shingles vary widely in cost. Galvanized steel is one of the most affordable options, while copper is the most expensive commonly used material. The lower end of cost-per-square-foot for a metal shingle roof is about $7 per square foot. However, that includes installation. Additionally, this higher cost up front buys you another 30 years of roof-life on average compared to asphalt shingles. That’s 50-plus years compared with 20 years or less.

Eco-Friendliness

Traditionally, people have not recycled asphalt shingles and they often ended up in landfills, causing pollution. Now, however, you can recycle them for use as road asphalt. If you are looking to convert your roof to metal, you could opt to recycle your old roof beforehand.

Metal roofing is more eco-friendly, even though you can now recycle asphalt. That’s because manufacturers typically make it from metal materials that are 90% or more recycled already and can be recycled again. Also, it creates less pollution and fumes than asphalt does when it is improperly disposed of. Last, metal roofing is a leader in energy efficiency, helping you save money on power and in turn reducing your home’s energy footprint.

Learn more about the benefits of metal roofing today!