Any opinions on asphalt or metal roofing?

Raven

Raven

Senior Member
Location
eastern Canada
We contacted roofers in April to put a new roof on our house. They were backed up with work
and said it would be 2 or 3 months before they could get to us.
We have asphalt shingles but decided to get metal roofing this time.
Does any one know of any pros and cons about metal?
 

Our primary residence has an asphalt roof while our country cottage has a painted steel roof; both keep out the rain but the steel roof is better at shedding snow. There is a tremendous difference in the noise transmitted into the house during heavy rain and hail storms with the steel being much louder. If you get steel be sure the fasteners are self-sealing and installed through the peaks not the valleys and all the flashing is properly sealed with a good all-weather goop.
 

marinaio said:
Our primary residence has an asphalt roof while our country cottage has a painted steel roof; both keep out the rain but the steel roof is better at shedding snow. There is a tremendous difference in the noise transmitted into the house during heavy rain and hail storms with the steel being much louder. If you get steel be sure the fasteners are self-sealing and installed through the peaks not the valleys and all the flashing is properly sealed with a good all-weather goop.
Click to expand...

I was gonna say steel probably would be louder. I'd be worried about weight and trapping moisture as well. I don't how much breathability with asphalt compared to steel but it seems steel would trap moisture coming from underneath especially. Also they say worry about mixing materials because they do things like expand/contract at different rates, absorb water at different rates so basically your mixing steel and wood when it comes down to it. Also steel that would create larger and more rapid temperature swings which could lead to a moisture problems and/or movement no matter how slight.
 
Thanks for the information Bonnie, Marinaio and WhatInThe. A lot to consider and I never once
thought about metal attracting lightning.
Will have to ask more questions at the building supply store and also of the roofers.
 
We had a metal roof on our home in Upper Michigan. Lightning? Not likely. If you live in a place where there's sNOw, you definitely want to have sNOw stops installed, reason being that when there's a lot of sNOw, it'll slide off and compact itself when it hits the ground so that it takes 10 men and a horse to get through it. It'll slow up a sNOwblower and is next to impossible to shovel through. Also, if your roof slopes toward the driveway side of the house and you park outdoors, you definitely want sNOw stops so that it won't slide off and kill your car.

We never had any problem with our metal roof. The way the metal is made these days, the color is actually in the metal so that there's no problem with peeling. And best of all? You never have to replace it. They're more expensive, but if you look at from the standpoint of never having to replace (or repair) it, it's worth the money.

Oh...and they aren't "noisy" when it's raining. You won't hear the rain any more than if you had asphalt shingles.
 
WhatInThe said:
I was gonna say steel probably would be louder. I'd be worried about weight and trapping moisture as well. I don't how much breathability with asphalt compared to steel but it seems steel would trap moisture coming from underneath especially. Also they say worry about mixing materials because they do things like expand/contract at different rates, absorb water at different rates so basically your mixing steel and wood when it comes down to it. Also steel that would create larger and more rapid temperature swings which could lead to a moisture problems and/or movement no matter how slight.
Click to expand...

The roof we replaced had been there since around 1948 near as we could tell, no rot under it. Proper installation eliminates most of your concerns and steel often weighs less than asphalt.
You might read this: http://www.metalroofnet.com/metal-r...arison-Time-Asphalt-Shingles-vs-Metal-Roofing
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
We had a metal roof on our home in Upper Michigan. Lightning? Not likely. If you live in a place where there's sNOw, you definitely want to have sNOw stops installed, reason being that when there's a lot of sNOw, it'll slide off and compact itself when it hits the ground so that it takes 10 men and a horse to get through it. It'll slow up a sNOwblower and is next to impossible to shovel through. Also, if your roof slopes toward the driveway side of the house and you park outdoors, you definitely want sNOw stops so that it won't slide off and kill your car.

We never had any problem with our metal roof. The way the metal is made these days, the color is actually in the metal so that there's no problem with peeling. And best of all? You never have to replace it. They're more expensive, but if you look at from the standpoint of never having to replace (or repair) it, it's worth the money.

Oh...and they aren't "noisy" when it's raining. You won't hear the rain any more than if you had asphalt shingles.
Click to expand...



Thanks Georgia, We will ask about snow stops especially on the back roof where we do often park the car.
The roofers are still busy and have not got back to us yet. Our asphalt shingles are not bad but three or four
blew off and my husband had to go up on the roof and tar those places.
As a senior he should not have to be on the roof so we do want to get it done before long.
 
We're trying to build and downsize to a smaller, low maintenance home. We will go with a steel roof in a second if it fits in our budget. If you're worried about lightning that much, just have them ground it, but many, many commercial buildings use steel roofs, siding, framing, etc., with no hesitation at all. If you're near my age, it will outlive you.
 
(from Marinaio - The roof we replaced had been there since around 1948 near as we could tell, no rot under it. Proper installation eliminates most of your concerns and steel often weighs less than asphalt.
You might read this: http://www.metalroofnet.com/metal-ro...-Metal-Roofing


That is a good site Marinaio, thank you.
The roofers my husband spoke to have quite a lot of experience with metal as quite a few homes
near here have changed to metal. They do plan to strap over the asphalt shingles and then put the metal in place. It will be good to have it done, that will be one renovation off our minds.
We have had all windows replaced but it seems there is always renovation needed to keep a place in good
condition.
 
RCynic said:
We're trying to build and downsize to a smaller, low maintenance home. We will go with a steel roof in a second if it fits in our budget. If you're worried about lightning that much, just have them ground it, but many, many commercial buildings use steel roofs, siding, framing, etc., with no hesitation at all. If you're near my age, it will outlive you.
Click to expand...


Hello RCynic, I hope your new home goes well for you. We are seniors and low maintenance is important for us too.
The metal roofing my husband asked about is warranted for 40 years so it will certainly be okay long after we are gone.
We would like our home to be in good condition so when it's sold there will be some money to leave for our son and grandson.
That's our thoughts but who can tell what the future may bring. Thanks for your input.
 
We had the roof stripped down to the sheathing and new material installed because we didn't want the extra weight of the old stuff. Worried about snow loading more than anything.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top