If you're building a brand-new home or replacing your roof, one of the first things you’re likely considering is whether to use metal or asphalt shingles. It's one of the biggest dilemmas homeowners have when it comes to roof repairs and construction. The great news is you can't make a bad decision because both offer great options for your roof. When it comes to making the decision between either asphalt or metal shingles, there are a few factors you can consider to help you with your choice:
Budget
Timeline
Local weather patterns
Style & architectural preferences
Taking these factors into account, you'll then need to decide what the perfect match is for your roof and home.
Costs Upfront Versus a Long-term Return on Investment
Cost-Effective and Classic: Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles tend to be more cost-effective to start, fitting into many homeowners' budgets easily. They also offer options to match any aesthetic, so you can choose asphalt shingles that complement the perfect look you want for your home. Asphalt shingles also provide excellent resale appeal when it’s time to sell your home and can provide a fast return on your investment. They also deliver sturdy and reliable weather protection through the years, and a fast install.
Sleek, Heavy-Duty Protection: Modern Metal
Metal shingles may require a higher initial investment but over time, they can lower your lifetime cost per year. Today's modern metal shingle systems like GAF TimberSteel™ offer extreme storm resistance to withstand the elements. If a homeowner is looking to capitalize more on long-term investment value or perhaps is living in a climate prone to severe storms, metal shingles would be a superior choice. It’s important to note that with systems like the TimberSteel™ premium metal roofing system, you’ll want a professional install for safety purposes and to guarantee that your warranty is honored.
As a homeowner, it’s also important to look at your budget and decide if it allows you to pay out more first and get your return later, or if it fits your finances better to pay out less to start. Understanding your budget will truly help you make the best decision in the long run.
Architectural Styles from Classic to Sleek
When it comes to choosing between asphalt or metal shingles, aesthetics play an integral role in many homeowners' decision process. After all, the roof creates an important part of the look of a home and can really translate a particular style or look.
A Warm Classic Aesthetic:
Asphalt shingles deliver that quintessential American neighborhood home feel with a classic, warm and dimensional style that works for many homes and pairs well with traditional home designs. Consider asphalt shingles an almost no-fail "accessory" to make your home look inviting. Products like GAF Timberline Ultra High Definition® Shingles feature dimensional shadow lines that enhance curb appeal throughout the day. In addition, many homeowners like GAF Timberline UHDZ® Shingles because they are thicker, which adds an enhanced dimensionality to your roof's look. Asphalt shingles really do give that "home is where the heart is" feel that many people love.
A Modern Vision:
Many homeowners may first associate metal shingles with industrial-looking vertical standing seam panels, but that's simply a common misconception surrounding modern metal shingle technology.
The TimberSteel™ premium metal roofing system by GAF has a beautiful and modern look with the strength of 24-gauge Galvalume® steel and an embossed vertical wood-grain texture that mimics the beauty of wood shake/shingle aesthetics. Coming in a variety of colors, these metal shingles elevate your home’s exterior aesthetics and never look industrial or cold. A homeowner that wants a more updated aesthetic should consider metal shingles as a great option.
A key take away is to consider the larger picture: how do you want your home to look? This is purely an aesthetic call whether a homeowner leans towards a more traditional look, or a more modern feel.
Weather Resistance and Lifespan
Asphalt shingles offer great protection against those everyday weather elements for any home. A lot of homeowners who want asphalt shingles, buy either GAF Timberline HDZ® or Timberline UHDZ® Shingles because these shingles are eligible for a 15-Year WindProven™ Limited Wind Warranty* with infinite wind speed protection if they're installed with the required combination of four qualifying GAF accessories.
What Is a Wind Warranty and Why Is It Important?
A wind warranty guarantees protection for your shingles against damage caused by strong winds, up to a certain speed limit. Wind warranties cover issues such as uplift, shingle blow-off or loosening due to high winds. While many companies offer wind warranties, GAF offers LayerLock® Technology, which enables the industry's largest nailing zone - the StrikeZone® nailing area. LayerLock® Technology mechanically fuses the shingle layers together, significantly strengthening the bond between shingles and optimizing wind uplift resistance. To qualify for WindProven™—the industry's first wind warranty with no maximum wind speed limitation — your roof must feature GAF shingles built with LayerLock® Technology and be installed with the required combination of four qualifying accessories.
Metal Shingles Can Be The Answer for Homes In Storm-Zones
A homeowner may want to choose metal shingles if their home is located in an area that is prone to severe storms for a few reasons:
Metal shingles offer Class 4 Impact Resistance: this is the highest impact rating and means that these shingles can handle a lot of debris. Just to achieve a Class 4 Impact rating, a shingle or metal panel must be able to withstand a two-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet above without cracking, splitting or fracturing. This impact rating will offer exceptional defense for your roof against severe hail and wind-borne debris.
The Timbersteel™ premium metal roofing system shingles have natural corrosion resistance thanks to GALVALUME steel, an advanced aluminum-zinc coating, offering superior protection for your roof.
Our TimberSteel™ ArmorPledge™ Limited Warranty** is available for purchase when your TimberSteel™ system is installed by a GAF Metal Certified Contractor - it includes coverage for manufacturing defects and 30-years of workmanship coverage, as well as the following:
No Max Wind Speed Coverage: Select TimberSteel™ system components are eligible for a 15-year Limited Wind Warranty with no maximum wind speed limitation.***
Consider your home's location and climate when picking the shingles for your roof. If you are living in an area frequently hit by storms, you may want to choose metal shingles even if you desire a more traditional look and feel that asphalt shingles bring.
A Decision Guide to Help You Make The Call
Now that you know more about the different features of asphalt and metal shingles, here is a quick decision guide to help you decide which will work best for your home.
If these factors matter to you, asphalt shingles will be a wise investment:
You're looking for immediate budget flexibility and want to keep your material costs down to start.
You love a classically gorgeous home that is more traditional with a warm feel.
You're hoping to keep the installation quick or have a short timeline for when you want the roof to be finished.
If you answered yes to all or most of these questions, asphalt may be the best choice for your new roof or roof repair.
If these features appeal to you, go with metal shingles:
You're looking to shingle a roof that has to withstand stormy climates, and severe weather conditions like hail, high winds and other severe weather.
You're eager to have lower lifetime maintenance for your roof and energy-reflective performance.
When it comes to aesthetics, you prefer a less classical look, and want the aesthetics of wood shake or architectural shingles with good ol' steel toughness.
Ready to see how shingles can transform your home's exterior? Reach out to a GAF certified contractor**** today to pick out the perfect metal or asphalt shingles for your home.
*15-year WindProven™ limited wind warranty covers GAF Shingles with LayerLock® Technology only and requires the use of GAF Starter Strips, Roof Deck Protection, Ridge Cap Shingles, and Leak Barrier or Attic Ventilation. See GAF Roofing System Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions. Visit gaf.com/LRS for qualifying GAF products. For installations not eligible for the WindProven™ limited wind warranty, see GAF Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty for complete coverage and restrictions.
**The TimberSteel™ ArmorPledge™ Limited Warranty may only be purchased from a GAF Metal Certified contractor. Additional requirements may apply. See limited warranty available at gaf.com for complete coverage and restrictions.
***15-year limited wind warranty with no maximum wind speed limitation requires purchase of ArmorPledge™ Limited Warranty and covers the following TimberSteel branded components only: field shingles, hip & ridge cap shingles, eave drip edge flashing, rake edge flashing and ridge vents. See TimberSteel™ ArmorPledge™ Limited Warranty, available at gaf.com, for complete coverage and restrictions.
****Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of a minimum amount of GAF products. Your dealings with a Contractor, and any services they provide to you, are subject to the GAF Contractor Terms of Use.
