Metal roof vs shingles

The choice between metal and asphalt shingles is mostly a question of time horizon. Asphalt costs less to install and has to be replaced sooner; metal costs more and can outlast the house. Neither is cheaper in the abstract, and the comparison only becomes meaningful when you put a lifespan against the installed price.

What the two materials are

Asphalt shingles are the default in most of North America. They are inexpensive, widely installed and easy to repair, and they come in two broad grades: the basic three-tab and the heavier architectural or dimensional shingle. The heavier product lasts longer and costs more, and a quote that does not name the grade is incomplete.

Metal roofing covers several different products, including exposed-fastener corrugated panels and concealed-fastener standing seam. Standing seam is the more durable and more expensive option, and the two are not interchangeable. A metal quote should name the profile, the gauge, the coating and the finish warranty.

The two materials also differ in what they need underneath. Both require underlayment and flashing, and metal sometimes requires a solid deck and a different fastening system. Ask for those items as separate lines so the quotes can be compared on scope rather than on the headline number.

Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, as published at freddiemac.com/pmms. National averages for conforming loans; your rate depends on credit, points, loan size and property.

Cost structure and the published context

The installed price of either material is made up of the covering, the underlayment, the flashing, the labour, the disposal of the old roof and any decking repair. Metal adds the cost of the panels themselves and the specialised labour to form and fasten them, which is why the gap between the two is largest on a complex roof with many penetrations.

If you own the home with equity, the comparison is often financed. Freddie Mac publishes the national average mortgage rates that secured home equity products are priced against, and the table below is that survey. It is a national average rather than your rate.

The difference in lifespan is the number that decides the comparison. If asphalt lasts roughly half as long as metal, then over a long ownership period the metal roof may be replaced once while asphalt is replaced twice, and the second installation carries its own labour and disposal cost. State your own assumption about how long you will own the home.

Lifespan and maintenance

Asphalt shingles lose granules, curl and crack, and their service life depends on the grade, the climate, the roof pitch and the attic ventilation. Metal resists that kind of wear, but it can be dented by large hail, and a failed fastener or a scratched coating can lead to corrosion if it is not addressed.

Maintenance differs as well. Asphalt needs little beyond occasional repair; metal needs fasteners checked and coatings maintained over a long horizon. Ask each contractor what maintenance the product requires and what voids the warranty, because those terms vary by manufacturer and by installer.

Ask for the warranty in two parts: the manufacturer's warranty on the material and the contractor's workmanship warranty. A strong material warranty with a one-year workmanship warranty is weaker than it sounds, because most early failures are installation failures rather than material failures.

Performance and practical differences

Metal reflects heat and can reduce cooling load, and it sheds snow and rain well. It is also noisier in rain unless it is installed over a solid deck with insulation, and it can be slippery to walk on. Asphalt is quieter and more forgiving underfoot, and it is easier for a local contractor to repair.

Weight matters to the structure. Metal is often lighter than asphalt per square, which can matter on an older roof, but some products require a solid deck that adds weight back. Ask the contractor to confirm the roof structure can carry the product proposed.

Fire rating, wind rating and impact rating are published for both materials and should be compared on the same scale. A product rated for high wind is a genuine benefit in a storm-prone area, and the rating should be stated in the quote rather than described loosely.

Financing the difference

The example below uses the Federal Reserve H.15 bank prime loan rate and a standard amortising schedule. It is arithmetic from a published rate, not a quote, and it shows what financing a metal roof adds to the installed price.

Worked example, with the assumption stated: $18,000 borrowed at the Federal Reserve H.15 bank prime loan rate of 6.75% (published 2026-09-16) repaid over 60 months on a standard amortising schedule. That gives a monthly payment of $354.30, total interest of $3,258.14 and a total repayment of $21,258.14. This is arithmetic from a published rate, not a quote: a real APR includes fees and is set by the lender from your credit, so your figures will differ. A home equity product is often cheaper per dollar because it is secured, but it puts the home at risk on default. Compare both over the same term.

If you are choosing metal partly for the lifespan, remember that financing costs run for the term of the loan while the lifespan benefit runs for the life of the roof. A long term with a high rate can consume a large share of the advantage, so run the arithmetic before deciding.

Insurance, resale and the decision

Some insurers offer a premium discount for a hail-resistant or impact-rated roof, and the discount varies by state and by product. Ask your insurer whether the specific product qualifies before you buy, because a discount you never claim is a benefit you paid for.

Resale value is a judgment rather than a published figure, and no official series isolates the effect of a roof. A new roof of either material removes a known defect from the transaction, and metal can be a selling point in some markets, but treat the resale argument as a secondary reason rather than the deciding one.

The defensible way to choose is to write down the installed price, the expected lifespan and the maintenance cost for each option, then divide the total cost by the expected years of service. That gives a cost per year of roof, which is the comparison that accounts for the different lifespans.

Where these figures come from

Related pages

• Roofing costs by state and province
• Financing a roof replacement
• Roof repair vs replacement
• Loan payment calculator

Frequently asked questions