should i get a metal roof or a shingle roof?

i have to replace my roof but i dont know anything about metal roofs. quality? price? maintanance?

Public Comments

1. shingle because a metal one won't look right
2. Metal roofs are way better! But I think they are more money. I hope I helped!
3. go with a metal roof,, they are stronger and last longer,, no maintence...no one here is replacing their metal roofs because of katrina or rita,, most shingles are goners!!
4. definitely get architectural shingles they are better than metal and last 30 years . after seeing thousands of roof working on the blue roof program in new orleans after katrina that was the one roof type that held up bar none.
5. shingle would be better for two reasons. one, they are cheaper. and two, if there is a big storm with alot of lightening, the lightening could strike your roof and catch the house on fire if it is metal.
6. Shingle! If you get a metal roof and it rains at night, you won't be able to sleep from all the noise!
7. get a shingle roof it will last much longer than a metal one.
8. Metal roof will not catch your house on fire first of all. There are pro's and cons to both. A metal roof during storms can intensify the sound of hail and rain. Me personaly I love to hear the rain so that is not a bad thing. Where with shingles the rain and hail are cushioned some what so hearing it inside the home is harder. Metal roofs can last a long time and you can keep it even longer by adding a roof coating (a roof coating can be applied at any time) To insure the durability and keeping the roof from leaking. Where with a shingle roof if you get a leak you have to totally replace the shingles and find where the roof is leaking from. With the metal roof you cover the entire roof with metal roof coating and it stops leaks and seals them. Metal roofs do not look as nice as shingle roofs. And depending on where you go or who you go thru shingles can be a little cheaper. I can't tell you which one to go with you have to decide that but I hope some of my pros and cons are helpfull. I have a metal roof and put a roof coating on it once every 5 years and I have never had any leaks. And coating my roof cost about $150.00 I work for a home improvement company soknow the differences. Also check with the city to make sure you can have a metal roof in your neighborhood some ordinances do not allow metal roofs so make sure before doing it otherwise you can be made to take it off and redo it with shingles.
9. The metal roof will last you longest. If you are going to the expense of one make sure you buy quality metal. There are different thicknesses. Discount places usually have the thinest. I retired as an iron worker, we even had one custumer measure the thickness of the finish. What we did was for commercial mostly. Most of ours were a standing seam roof. We used a machine to actually fold the seam into something like what a tin can would be like.
10. do not get a metal roof. that's hillbilly! there is nothing that ruins the look of a neighbor hood worse than a junky metal roof. they cost more, are noisy when it rains and hails, and the worst thing about them is when is after snow starts melting and refreezes over night, you can get wiped out by the avalanche of solid ice coming off your roof! (that happened to an old lady down the street a few years back)
11. My next roof will be metal standing seam. Copper can last 100 years. Steel for 50 years.
12. The quality of "tin" roofs is not as good as it once was. Asphalt shingles come in varying weights........get the heavy ones. Labor is the same for light or heavy. I've got 4 buildings. One has a tin roof. One has a tin roof on the porch. The one with the entire roof of tin leaks and three sections blew off in high winds (flying Guilitines!) The porch had to be touched on each screw that held it in place with black roof cement. It started leaking the 2nd year it was up and took much time & labor to get all the leaks out!