To an outsider, it may not matter. You just want a roof over yourself, right? But it is worth making a thoughtful decision on considering what each can bring. Here, asphalt shingles and metal roofing are up against each other to see which is better.

The Advantages of Metal Roofing

The benefits of metal roofing is as big as a laundry list, but they can be condensed into three most important parts: longevity, cost, and performance.

The Cost and Longevity of Metal Roofing

Cost has several moving parts. The problem many people see is the up front cost to install a metal roof. There is no way to skirt around it: metal roofs cost more at first. It scares potential buyers. Let’s break that fear down into manageable bits. The trade off to a higher up front cost is that the roof lasts way longer than asphalt shingles could, an entire lifetime, to be specific. Asphalt shingles are in need of asphalt roof replacement every 10, maybe 20 years. Asphalt roof replacement can get costly because they are more susceptible to damage than a metal roof. You know what goes into maintaining a metal roof? Keeping it clean. That’s it. It’s highly efficient against weather, where as, asphalt shingles may need asphalt roof replacement after a bad storm.

The Performance of Metal Roofing

Second, you can purchase metal roofing that has energy efficiency advantages. For example, trapping heat better during the winter and better heat dissipation during the summer, saving you as much as 25 percent on your energy bill. Speaking of heat, metal roofs usually fall under a class of fire resistance noncombustibles. Which means, incredibly fire resistant.

And lastly, you will see a nice increase in your property value; great for any homeowner looking to eventually sell their house. Not to mention, if you live in Texas (and a few other states), your homeowner’s insurance costs can plummet by up to 35 percent.

A Few Drawbacks

Certain HOAs (Home Owners Association) will not allow you to install a metal roof. You need to consider this and get in touch with someone who can answer your question.

The up front cost can be scary. It scares people away, which is unfortunate. Asphalt shingles are good for short term use, but metal roofs are for life. Not to mention asphalt shingles tend to end up in landfills, where as metal roofs, at the very least, are 25 percent recyclable. And that is just the minimum.

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