

Between materials and installation, you pay more for metal roofs than you would for installing premium asphalt shingles.Īluminum and copper roofs, which are much softer than steel, are also subject to denting in hail storms. One of the downsides to metal roofing vs asphalt shingle roofing is the initial cost. That’s not to say that they don’t turn color or form colored skins on exposed areas, but they will not develop structural damage as a result of corrosion.īecause of this, most builders use aluminum for any coastal environment due to its corrosion resistance. While manufacturers successfully implement metallic coatings, finishes, and aggregates to protect steel roofing materials from moisture, aluminum and copper simply do not rust, even over a long period of time. Aluminum weighs significantly less, and several aluminum roof profiles offer foam backing to deliver extra support where needed. Steel, including Galvalume, is the heaviest product of the bunch, followed by copper. It’s become one of the most popular materials used in roofing. Basically, a carbon steel base sheet is continuously hot-dipped with aluminum and zinc alloys until it reaches a coating consisting of 55% aluminum, 43.4% zinc, and 1.6% silicone. Galvalume combines steel, aluminum, and zinc. Bethlehem Steel, where my father worked for 27 years, first introduced the Galvalume coating to the construction industry in the early 1970s. Galvalume® and standard galvanized metal roofs both involve a coating applied to a steel core. Expect this rule of thumb to break down when you factor in metal products which mimic shake or slate roofs. Copper and more exotic metals fall into the realm of premium roofing materials. In general terms, galvanized steel comes in at the lowest cost. It can also be coated with acrylic to provide nearly any color. It has since infiltrated the home market as a 50-year durable roofing material. This type of metal roof is typically used for commercial buildings. For galvanized steel, a durable finish (typically zinc-based with a finish sealer coat) is applied by the manufacturer to protect it from corroding. You can use galvanized steel, aluminum, or copper for most metal roofing applications. They can even look like shingles-the designs are nearly endless. Now, however, a metal roof can be aluminum, steel, or copper. They can take the place of shingles or other roofing materials in modern homes or commercial buildings. Galvanized steel or galvalume metal roofing used to simply mean a standing seam or exposed fastener design. Metal Roofing (Galvalume, Galvanized Steel, Aluminum, etc) Often last 15-20 years max (regardless of warranty).
#Tin roofs vs shingle costs install#

They are actually more difficult to install than architectural shingles because they need to adhere to a strict pattern in order to look correct on the roof. 3-tab shingles are your most basic variety and typically carry a 20-25 year warranty. When we look at metal vs shingle roofs compared, asphalt clearly costs less.Ĭomposite shingles are most commonly referred to in terms of being either “3-tab” or “architectural”. Shingles are fairly fire-resistant, inexpensive to purchase and install, and come in a variety of designs and colors. The composite shingle is the most common residential roofing material used in the United States. Depending on how long you plan to stay in the home, a higher up-front cost may actually result in long-term savings. Material prices have only ever gone up-particularly over the past decade. Installing a new roof is no small task or expenditure. We’ll outline some of the pros and cons of each. To help you decide which material is right for you, we decided to put together a brief overview of the most common choices available to consumers. In the tile vs metal vs shingle equation, you have many choices when deciding on a roofing material. However, more and more homeowners are turning to metal (galvalume steel) roofs and tile to top off their structural design. Nearly everyone is familiar with composite shingles.
