Whether you’re building a house or facing a roof replacement, you’ve probably come across several different roofing options during your quest to find the best roof installation company in Shreveport/Bossier City. Two highly durable and attractive roofing options are the metal roof and asphalt shingle options. In recent years, homeowners have begun exploring roofing options aside from the highly popular asphalt shingles. Each roofing type has its own advantages and disadvantages, but how does a metal roof compare to asphalt shingles?
At Quality Exteriors Roofing in Bossier City, we serve the Shreveport-Bossier area with quality, professionalism, and a workmanship guarantee. From roofing and siding to window installation in Bossier, we do it all at Quality Exteriors. If you’re looking to upgrade the look of your home or repair damages, our team of home improvement contractors is here for you. To request a free home inspection, call our office at 318-747-1254, and we’ll set up an appointment that works for you.
How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost?
The cost for a metal roof varies greatly, with metal roof installation in Bossier City going for a low-end cost sitting under $10k, and a high-end cost sitting around $44k. This price range depends almost entirely on the type of metal used for the roof, as well as the square footage. The cost per square foot for aluminum roofs ranges up to $5.75, while copper roofs run up to $22 per square foot.
How Much Does a Shingle Roof Cost?
Asphalt shingle roofs almost always cost less than metal roofs. Expect to pay somewhere between $1.50 and $5.50 per square foot, depending on the quality of the material and the roof itself.
We provide more helpful information here: Cost of Shingle Roof in Bossier City
Metal Roof vs. Shingle Roof: Which is Best For My Climate?
Each climate type has its own concerns when it comes to roofing materials. Rain, snow, hail, heat, and wind are all things to consider when choosing a roofing material for your home. Below, our experts at Quality Exteriors explain which roofing materials work best for different climates.
Tropical Climates: Humid Climate With High Precipitation
- Asphalt shingles remain a highly popular roofing material choice all over the United States. However, for areas with regularly high humidity and precipitation, we recommend an asphalt shingle with built-in algicides.
- A metal roof is an excellent choice for tropical climates. Newer metal roofs tend to resist rust, and they’re waterproof. They also resist algae and extreme winds, such as those encountered in a hurricane.
Desert: Dry Climate With Hot Temperatures
- It is possible to find asphalt shingles in lighter colors, but they still generally come in darker colors than metal roofs. They also absorb more heat.
- Metal roofs may be hot to the touch, but most metal roofs reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it.
How Long Does a Metal Roof Last?
To justify the higher price of a metal roof, you might wonder how long it will last in comparison to asphalt shingles. In general, a metal roof should last at least double the amount of time an asphalt roof lasts. However, thicker and higher-grade metals could outlast an asphalt shingle roof by up to 4 times as long. One metal roof will last, depending on specific metal materials, anywhere from 40-70 years. This means you’ll likely encounter only one metal roof replacement in your lifetime, if at all.
Is a Metal Roof More Energy Efficient?
In general, yes. One of the best parts of installing a metal roof is saving on electricity bills. If you live somewhere with high heat and few trees to shade your home, a metal roof is a great option. Rather than absorbing heat and energy from the sun and heating your home, metal roofs reflect heat and light back toward the source. Metal dissipates heat extremely quickly, cooling within minutes of being in the shade. Asphalt, however, retains heat for a much longer time. Because of this, you could save as much as 40% in energy costs with a metal roof.
Does Having a Metal Roof Lower Insurance?
Generally, yes. Insurance companies like metal roofs for multiple reasons. These roofs are flame-resistant and do not catch fire from lightning strikes. Research also shows that metal roof materials take less damage from storms and other types of severe weather. For these reasons, your home insurance company is less likely to have to pay a claim, and they may reward you.
If you want to learn more about how your roof’s condition affects your insurance rates, check out our post here: Roof Age and Insurance Premiums
What are the Pros and Cons of a Metal Roof?
Each roofing material has its own pros and cons. At Quality Exteriors, we know what each roofing material has to offer, as well as what its drawbacks are. Below, we’ve included a handy list of pros and cons for a metal roof.
Pros:
- Metal is durable. We regularly see metal roofing outlast asphalt shingles by 2-4 times the duration. Also, they carry no risk of catching fire after a lightning strike.
- As a homeowner, roof replacements are an annoying, yet necessary part of life. Luckily, a metal roof will likely only require one replacement during your lifetime, as opposed to several for asphalt shingles.
- Whenever your area experiences hail or other types of severe weather, metal roofing outperforms shingles every time.
- If you’re looking for a roof that will help you save on electricity bills, metal is the way to go. Due to its reflective surface, a metal roof brings anywhere from 20-30% in savings on electricity bills.
- Asphalt shingles add to landfill waste. A metal roof is recyclable, and thus better for the environment.
- Lastly, a metal roof looks great. Its crisp, sharp lines increase the curb appeal of your home, and can even imitate the look of other roofing materials.
Cons:
- Metal roof materials are expensive. Especially if you choose a high-end metal product, your roof might cost up to 10 times more than asphalt shingles.
- Large branches or pieces of hail risk denting your metal roof. This depends largely on the material you choose but is still a possibility under the right conditions. Metals such as steel tend to outperform softer metals, such as copper or aluminum.
- During heavy rains or hail storms, a metal roof tends to produce more sound than asphalt shingles.
- Certain lower-quality metals run the risk of rusting in certain climate types.
Why Choose Quality Exteriors Roofing as My Bossier City Roofing Contractor?
For all your roofing needs in the Shreveport-Bossier area, Quality Exteriors Roofing is here for you. Not only do we offer full roof replacements, but we also offer routine roof maintenance. In addition, our highly-trained contractors have extensive experience in window installation and siding installation in Shreveport. If any of these specialties meet your needs, or if you want to know the metal roof cost for your home, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 318-747-1254 to set up a free inspection for your home.