There are many reasons to choose a metal roof vs. shingle roof for your home. There are many options, benefits, colors, styles, and more!
Why Choose a Metal Roof vs. Shingle Roof?
These days you have so much choice when it comes to roofing options. Many homeowners will choose to go with regular shingles, as they often cost effective. However, it’s always worth looking at the other options you have. Why not check out a metal roof? There are so many reasons why a metal roof is the best option, when compared to shingle roofs. Here are some of the benefits you’ll get from a metal roof vs. shingle roof when you have one installed.
1. Metal Roof vs. Shingle Roof: Lifespan
When it comes down to the metal roof vs. shingle roof, the longevity of any roofing material is important to you as a home owner. You want to be able to have the roof installed and stay in good condition for as long as possible. After all, getting a roof installed is a pricey endeavor, you don’t want to have to do it again in just a few years. That’s why many are choosing to have metal roofs installed, as they last much longer than a shingle roof.
Depending on the shingle type you use, you’re looking at around 12 to 20 years on your roof before you need to replace it again. If you have a metal roof installed though, you can get up to 70 years on it when it is well cared for. That’s a big jump, and once you’ve had it installed you don’t need to worry about installation again for decades.
With such a long lifespan, it’s easy to see why metal roofs are becoming so popular when it comes to home roof replacement.
2. Excellent Fire Resistance
Another big reason people go with a metal roof vs. shingle roof is because they have some of the best fire resistance of any roofing material out there. Most metal roofs have a class A fire rating, which is the highest rating a roof can get. By comparison, some shingles have a class C rating. Because of this, if a fire were to break out your roof will see minimal damage.
A non-combustible roof not only protects your home from further damage, but also keeps you and your family safe. It’s something that will give you great peace of mind.
3. Metal Reflects Heat
Do you live in an area that sees a lot of heat from the sun? Then you may want to look into a metal roof vs. shingle roof. A lot of shingle types actually absorb heat from the sun, which then gets trapped in your home. You then need to run your air conditioner more often in order to cool your home. That’s less than ideal for the environment, and will cost you a lot more in energy costs.
A metal roof, on the other hand, will actually help reflect heat back into the atmosphere, rather than bringing it into your home. As there’s less heat to deal with, you’ll be able to spend less cooling your home. It helps you become much more energy efficient and saves you money, too.
4. Metal Allows For Snow Shedding
What about if you live in a colder climate? Then a metal roof will be able to benefit you here, too. Metal as a material is hard and slippery, which means it is the best place for snow to pile up. You’ll see that snow often simply sheds off the roof, so it can’t sit and cause problems. The same goes for rain, as it easily runs right off.
Because of this, you won’t have to deal with snow and rain related issues like ice dams and extra weight sitting on your roof. These are common problems with shingle roofs, and you can eliminate them in a single stroke here.
5. Interlocking Panels Vs. Shingles
On the subject of rain and snow, it’s worth looking at how a metal roof vs. shingle roof is installed. They come in flat sheets that interlock together, creating a water tight barrier. This is better for your roof in several ways. As there’s less pieces, there’s less places that water could make its way in. Plus, as the pieces interlock it’s hard for water to get in between them.
With a shingle roof, you’ll find that bad weather can easily pull shingles off or break them. Once there’s a breach in the roof, it’s so easy for water to get in and start causing havoc. A metal roof will ensure that this won’t happen to you.
6. Less Maintenance Needed
All roofs need some amount of maintenance, to keep them in good condition. With a shingle roof, you need to do a lot of work. You’ll need to check for missing shingles and replace them as soon as possible. You’ll also need to look for algae or moss growth, and remove it too to keep the roof watertight. Then there’s snow fall and storm damage, which cause all kinds of issues.
With a metal roof, you don’t need to worry about any of these things. When you have a metal roof vs. shingle roof installed, you don’t need to think about replacement parts as it uses larger panels rather than shingles. Plus, it’s much harder for them to sustain storm damage.
7. Metal Roofs Are Highly Stylish
Are you thinking that these are all great benefits, but you won’t be able to have a good looking roof when you choose a metal option? Think again! Many metal roofs now come in almost any style or color that you can imagine. There are plenty of metal options you can use, such as zinc, copper and steel. You can choose from up to 100 colors too, so whatever color you want you’re sure to find it here.
As well as this, the style of the roof can be almost anything you want. Classic metal roofs have standing seams that give it a ribbed look. If you want though, you can have metal sheets that look like shingles, wooden shakes, slate and more. You can get all the benefits of a metal roof with the look of any roof you want.
There’s so many reasons to choose a metal roof vs. shingle roof for your home roof replacement. With a metal roof, you’ll have a long lasting option that’s a lot easier to care for.
