Why Is Metal Your Best Roofing Option?
Metal Roofs vs. Asphalt Shingles
Metal roofs have for many years been out of the price range of many homeowners. Today, the metal roof is more affordable and technology has advanced so that a metal roof can appear the same as a roof finished in asphalt. Let's look at the advantages of a metal roof:
*Extreme longevity with much higher wind resistance.
*Comes in many colors and patterns.
*No longer needs to be soldered on installation.
*Works better against leakage than an asphalt roof.
*Metal roofing is recyclable.
*Saves the homeowner money on insurance.
*Is fireproof.
*Saves on roof maintenance.
*Available with "Cool Roof Technology" which saves money on utilities and will actually may for it's self.
*Long term warranties.
Comparing The Two
When it comes to longevity, a metal roof can't be beat. Most metal roofs are guaranteed by the manufacturer for 25 to 50 years. They will easily last the lifetime of the home. They add value to a house, making a metal roof a great investment in terms of sale-ability. Conklin Metal Industries manufactures metal shingles and they have records of homes with metal roofs installed dating back to the early 1900's. These are still in good shape today. Asphalt shingles last only 17 years on the average. They are cheaper and easier to install initially, but they provide no resale value to your home, do not provide any protection from the sun's heat rays, and are not recyclable. According to the National Association of Homebuilders Research Center, 20 billion pounds of asphalt shingles are dumped into U.S. landfills each year. To put that in perspective, if you filled 40,000 pound trucks with these shingles, each truck placed end to end would reach from New York to California and back, and then as far as Chicago. 56% of metal roofing can be recycled!
Some companies today are offering self-claimed "energy efficient" shingle roofs, but if you read the fine print you will see that they do not offer the same 30-40% energy savings that our roofs do. Realistically, you will only get 2 to 3 years of energy savings around 10% because the granulars used to produce these types of shingle roofs will break down over time and literally wash down your gutters.
Dollar for dollar a metal roof is a better choice than asphalt/shingle. You must consider cost into the equation and this is where metal really outshines shingles. In terms of longevity, better protection against leaks, and maintenance, a metal roof is still the best bet as well. If you want a roof that never needs replacement while adding energy savings, value, AND protection to your home, then a metal roof is the only way to go. | 
