If it’s taking you a while to decide on which material to put on your roof, it’s OK. It’s a big decision and whichever product you choose, you’ll have to live with for many years. Two of the most popular roofing materials in Canada are shingles and metal roofing—and we know them both well. To help you decide between the two, we wanted to give you some questions to consider. We’ll also discuss the pros and cons of metal roofs and shingles, so you have as much information as possible.
Questions to Ask Yourself When Deciding on Metal Vs Shingle Roofing
What’s the Climate Like Around Here?
Looking at the climate in your area can help determine the best roofing material for your house. For example, if you’re considering a metal roof and you live somewhere that gets high amounts of rainfall, you better enjoy the sound of rain on a tin roof.
If you’re considering shingles and you live somewhere that’s exceptionally windy (yes, like here in Lethbridge) then we recommend you go with a quality product no lower than the standard 30-year shingle. Having said this metal roofing tends to hold up better than shingles in high winds.
How Long Will You Be Living In This House?
If you plan to sell this home in five years, you don’t necessarily need to go with a premium product. It would add value to your home but you won’t see the long term benefit from it, personally. Generally speaking, metal roofs qualify as premium products. Shingles are a more economical option if you aren’t looking to invest a lot of money into the house.
If this is your forever home, you’ll benefit from a premium product that requires low maintenance, like a metal roof with hidden fasteners. Putting in the initial investment now will save you money in repair and maintenance costs in later years, and you won’t have to worry about a roof replacement for a longer time period.
What’s Your Neighbourhood Like?
Houses in the same neighbourhood often mirror each other’s styles either by preference or from architectural guidelines. If you have guidelines to follow, check to see if one type of roof is preferred over another. We’re not saying you can’t be original, but it may help you make a decision.
How Long of A Warranty Would You Like?
When choosing your roofing products, you get to choose the length of warranty as part of the process. If you know you’d like a long warranty, metal roofs will be very attractive since they start with 50-year warranties. If you’re deterred by the lower warranties but are still leaning towards shingles, look into the 50-year shingles. They’re also great products and often come with hail and fire resistance.
What’s Your Budget?
The range of costs for a new roof can be anywhere from $5,500 to $12,000. Keep this in mind when requesting a quote, because the material you choose will make a difference. While there’s some factors you can’t control (like the size of your roof that needs coverage) you do get to choose the general price range by choosing a product range.
Shingles tend to be more economical, while metal roofs tend to be more expensive. This is because metal roofs are labour intensive to install, but having them installed by a professional roofing company cuts down on labour costs significantly.
How Comfortable Are You With Roof Maintenance?
Metal roofs are popular choices for couples who’ve dealt with shingle maintenance for years and are looking for something more carefree. Having said this, some metal roofs still require some maintenance if they have exposed fasteners as opposed to hidden fasteners.
Still, metal roofs will need less upkeep than shingles. Shingles are more easily damaged by winds and they should be checked for curling, missing patches, and other issues. We recommend letting a professional assess your roof for any repair needs.
Pros & Cons of Metal Roofs
Metal roofs have high life expectancies, long warranties, and are quite durable. You can choose a thicker metal for an even more durable roof. They can be installed quickly (by an experienced crew) and they add a whole new look to your home. They’re low maintenance and can even speed up snow and ice melt in winter and spring.
Having said this, they’re generally more expensive than shingles. If an inexperienced crew installs your metal roof you risk significant damage that’s costly to repair. Make sure you choose an experienced team, like us. Although they’re durable, it is always possible for metal roofs to get dented, although you can get thicker products that hold up better to hail and other damage to prepare for this.
Pros & Cons of Shingles
Shingles are the most economical roofing material and also the most versatile. They can be installed on the majority of roofs, excluding ones with slopes that are incompatible. You can also choose from a range of products, from lower cost options to premium shingles that have hail and fire resistance.
With these lower cost options though, they won’t last as long which means you’ll be dealing with repair costs sooner and will eventually have to get your roof replaced again. Shingles require more maintenance than metal roofs, generally speaking. You’ll need to keep an eye out for curling shingles, missing patches, a loss of granules, and other issues.
If you’re still unsure whether you’d like a metal roof or shingles, give us a call and we can delve into your situation even further.
