Shingles cost less up front. Metal costs more and often lasts much longer. For most people the choice comes down to one question: how long do you plan to stay in the house? If the answer is "a long time," metal is worth a look. If you may move in a few years, shingles often make more sense.
Side by side
- Cost. Shingles are the lower-cost roof. Metal costs more for both the material and the labor. Ask for a written price on each so you can compare real numbers for your house.
- How long it lasts. Asphalt shingles in North Texas often last 15 to 25 years. Metal can last 40 years or more.
- Hail. Many metal roofs carry the top hail rating, called Class 4. Standard shingles do not. You can also buy Class 4 shingles, which sit in between.
- Fire. Metal roofs can carry the top fire rating, Class A. Many shingles do too.
- Heat. Metal reflects more of the sun than dark shingles do. That can help the attic run cooler in a Texas summer.
- Repairs. A few shingles are quick and cheap to swap. Metal needs fixing less often, but a damaged panel is a bigger job.
Common worries about metal
"Is it loud in the rain?" On a house, metal goes over a solid wood deck with insulation below. Most people find the sound close to a shingle roof. An open barn roof is a different thing.
"Will hail dent it?" It can. A Class 4 rating means the roof passed a test for cracking and breaking. It does not mean hail will never leave a mark. Thicker steel and textured finishes hide small dents better.
"Will it look like a barn?" Not unless you want it to. Standing seam is the clean look with tall ribs running up the roof. Stone-coated steel is steel pressed into the shape of shingles, shake or tile, with stone grit bonded on top. From the street, most people cannot tell it is metal.
"Will my HOA allow it?" Ask before you get far. Many HOAs in Mansfield, Aledo and Keller have rules on roof type and color.
When shingles are the better pick
- You may sell in the next several years.
- Your budget is tight and the roof must be done now.
- Your street is all shingle roofs and you want to match.
If hail is your main worry, ask about Class 4 shingles as a middle path.
When metal is the better pick
- You plan to stay for many years and do not want to re-roof again.
- You have replaced a shingle roof after hail before and are tired of it.
- You like the look.
Ask your agent what a Class 4 (impact-rated) roof does to your premium. Get that answer for your own house before you count on it.
What to do next
Ask for two written prices on the same roof: one for shingles, one for metal. Then weigh the gap against how long you plan to stay. Legacy Roofing, based in Crowley, installs both. Start with our page on metal roof installation to see the styles.
