asphalt shingles vs metal roofing

[ejb]

Hi all.

Looking for the relative pros and cons of asphalt shingles over a metal roof for my barn/workshops.

I am just finisnhing up framing the very first part of the project, and need to cover a small area (3.5 squares), but ultimately the entire "complex" will need to be covered as it is built, or approximately 40+ squares of roofing material, more or less.

Seems to me that in a new construction, metal roofing works out cheaper, by my estimates it will cost roughly $1/square foot for the painted metal roofing w/miscellaneous screws, and has the benefit of not needing all that plywood under it, just firring strips.

An asphalt shingle roof by comparison, still costs about $80-$85/square for just the shingles, plus you need to put down plywood at an additional cost of almost another $75/square....

Also on the plus side of metal is the installation wiould likely be quicker...

So, besides cost and ease of installation, what other considerations are there? For example, will the condensations be non-existent on a wood roof? but horrible on metal? will one hold up better than the other? Does the plywood sheathing give you a much stronger structure when you are done?

Thanks all...need to decide this week!

 

[strokerduster]

metal roofs are very common here including on high end houses. almost all use plywood underlay. i have had several on homes and business properties. only thing i would consider now. every few years we have a major hail storm and the asphalt won't hold up but metal has very few problems. my homeowners policy (state farm) gives a discount for metal roof and additional if you agree to a cosmetic damage exclusion. only downside is after a period of time, it gets a fine layer of dust on it and is very slick if you have to walk on it. my suggustion is go for metal............

 

[gsxr1100]

I also live in western ma! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

My parents have a metal roof on there newer (1987) house.

I just redid mine with asphalt.

The problem I see with metal is higher upfront cost and I do not know if you make you $$$ back when selling. I also can do many roofing jobs on that house when it cost $20K to put metal on.

 

[riptides]

I have all metal roofs on all our farm buildings. They are in original condition. Dating back to the 1920's. I spent one w/e painting a 1000 square feet of roof on one building. Total cost under 50 bucks. Hmmm.

Having lived in a modern house with tiles, I cannot see me ever going back to them. Had storm damage, defective tiles, age, replacement.....

If properly insulated and vented, no condensation is present.

Plus the metal sounds nice in the rain.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowrev]

Mike,
One point, unless you get the really expensive metal roofing, it is a LOT thinner than the stuff you have on your buildings. The cheapest metal only has a 20 yr warranty. I don't know if that is like the 20 yr warranty on asphalt shingles or not, the 20 yr warranty stuff seems to only last 15 yrs or so.

I like metal roofs as well, but they don't make em like they used to.

Ben

 

[Glenn9643]

it is a LOT thinner than the stuff you have on your buildings.

That's a general, but probably accurate statement. If you elect to use metal check the thickness before you buy.
I roofed a house in 1990 with 26 guage galvalume and a shop in 1988 with 29 guage. There has been some color change and fading on the 26 guage painted roof. Other than that, both are as good today as when I put them on. They have seen several hailstorms that would have damaged asphalt roofs. Since then I've put 29 guage on 3 houses of mine, a friend, and my father and have had no leaks or damage. I currently have 29 guage ordered to roof the house I'm living in here. I believe that if it's installed properly it will last much longer than asphalt shingles. The right storm will get them all.

 

[heehaw]

if your installing the roof yourself, the speed and ease of doing it with metal should mean something?
i see a lot of metal put on, in a lot of different ways, sure would like to know the "right" way to put metal on an existing asphalt and a new construction roof.
i put some stuff called onduline, on my well house, 20 years ago, it had a lifetime warranty: it fell apart 10 years ago, andi have been patching it since: the co went out of business, and then came back with a similiar name: now sold at lowes.
heehaw

 

[dmccarty]

ejb,

We really wanted a metal roof when we built the new house. We have seen some houses where the metal was put on with screws. I just dont like the idea of putting thousands of holes in my roof. So that was out leaving us with a raised seam roof. That just was too much money. Another "issue" with metal roofs is hail. If I have hail damage then insurance will replace the roof if I have asphalt shingles. But if it is metal it will only be cosmetic damage, which I'm not sure they will replace and would we want to look at a really dinged up roof?

Years ago a major hail storm went through Orlando. All my relatives with asphalt roofs where replaced or given money to relfect the decreased lifespan. My cousin's car was outside in the storm. It looked like someone had hit the car with a hammer over every square inch or so. That image transposed on a metal roof did not make me happy. So we went with asphalt shingles.

Now for a roof on a barn/workshop I don't know. I have looked at metal but I still don't know what to do. The shingles we put up where 2/3 bundles per square vs the usual 5. I'm glad we put asphalt up though since we have had two major hail storms. No damage to cars or the house but I thought some windows where going to break.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I can't imagine what the Orlando storm was like.

Later,
Dan

 

[strokerduster]

insurance WILL replace a metal roof if damaged. they give cheaper rate for metal vs asphalt and will give an additional discount if YOU CHOOSE to exclude cosmetic. in over 20 years of service only hail damage iv'e had on several metal roofs i own was where the hail knocked the dirt off. pressure washer fixed that.

 

[Jagmandave]

Well, there's lots of different kinds of metal roofs. In our little part of the planet, they have steel coated with a kind of sand or something, in an epoxy coating. Fairly high dollar but comes with a lifetime warranty (they don't mention whose lifetime tho) and it looks just like ordinary asphalt roof shingles.........interesting stuff. Hailproof too, but they put it over sheathing, not furring strips...........

I've also seen some really good looking "slate" tiles, actually made out of recycled plastic (old milk jugs) and rubber - also lifetime warranty and hail proof, the stuff just bounces. VERY spendy tho, just like real slate.....................