There are many factors that impact the price of putting a new roof on your home, and a metal roof may at first seem more expensive than asphalt shingles. But when you consider how much longer metal lasts than inferior roofing materials, the price starts to seem pretty good. There are other factors in favor of metal too.
You see, your new roof is about much more than just materials and installation. There’s energy savings to consider as well insurance, resale value and more.
Here are some of the factors you must consider when choosing between a metal roof and old-fashioned asphalt shingles:
Costs across the life of the roof. With metal roofing, longevity is built right in. While asphalt shingles can last 10 to 15 years if there isn’t a wind storm or hail, metal roofing can last 50 years or longer – with almost no maintenance at all. If you consider that asphalt must be replaced as much as four times more often than metal, you must multiply the asphalt roofing quote you get by two, three or four to see how it compares with the price of long-lasting metal roofing.
Energy savings from cool metal. When choosing materials for renovating your home, it makes sense to choose the most energy-efficient choices. Metal roofing keeps sunlight from being absorbed by your home, so installing it can lead to a savings of up to 40 percent over asphalt shingles, depending on how much sun your home gets. With the right metal roofing, the sun’s rays are reflected away. That means you stay comfortable inside without your air conditioner having to work so hard.
What your insurance company thinks. Because metal roofing lasts for decades and resists weather damage, insurance companies are usually in favor of metal roofs. Hail and high winds are no match for most metal roofing. Plus, a metal roof resists flying embers from a forest fire or nearby house fire better than asphalt and much better than wood shakes, lowering your risk of losing your home. That means less risk for your insurance company. All of these factors lead to homeowner’s insurance discounts in many cases.
Impact on resale value. If you don’t plan to sell your home, resale value won’t matter much to you. But if you won’t be living in your home for the rest of your life, you need to consider how resale is impacted with every remodeling project. Because of metal roofing’s longevity, it has a positive impact on resale value. You could recoup as much as 95 percent of the cost of your metal roof when you sell your home. Since asphalt roofing must be replaced often, you won’t recoup much of its cost when selling.
You must take all these factors into consideration when calculating the true cost of purchasing a metal roof versus purchasing asphalt shingles. While the cost of a metal roof may be more upfront, you save in the long run in many ways.
As with many things in life, the price of metal roofing versus asphalt shingles isn’t simple to understand. That’s because comparing asphalt to metal isn’t exactly comparing apples to apples.
When deciding whether you should go with the slightly lower upfront cost of asphalt or composition shingles or the lower long-term cost of metal roofing, take the factors mentioned above into consideration to help you make an informed decision. If you plan to dump the house soon anyway, maybe it doesn’t make too much difference. But if you plan to live in your home for many years, why not invest in it?