Metal Roof vs Shingle Roof – Difference Between Metal Roof and Shingle Roof

Metal roof

Metal roofs and shingle roofs are different. Metal roof is simply a roof made of metal and tends to have very high purchase and installation costs. It is great for keeping a house cool during the summer. Also it is often the most environmentally-friendly roofing option.

metal roof
metal roof

 Related: Difference between Gable roof and Hip roof

Shingle roof

Shingle roofs are often cheaper to buy and install than other types of roofing. It can be environmentally-friendly in some cases. The problem is that shingle roofs are not able to last as long as metal roofs. It needs more maintenance than metal roofs.

shingle roof
shingle roof

Metal roof vs Shingle roof – What’s the difference

The pros and cons of each type of roof can be a stark contrast in some cases. For example, a metal roof is great during the summer and a shingle one is great during the winter.

metal roof vs shingle roof
metal roof vs shingle roof

The differences between metal roofs and shingle roofs are listed in the below metal vs shingle roof table.

Metal Roof

Shingle Roof

  • With good and proper insulation, you can achieve fairly good soundproofing.
  • On its own, it is more soundproof than a metal roof if neither were insulated in any way.
  • You may get very long and extended warranties on metal roofs because they tend to last a very long time.
  • The durability of the roof depends upon what the shingles consist of. Fiberglass and asphalt shingles tend to last longer than organic ones.
  • A metal roof is very good at keeping a home cool during the summer, though is not so good at keeping a house warm in winter.
  • It is difficult to keep a house cool during summer, but better than a metal roof at keeping the heat in during winter.
  • A metal roof is often very expensive. In some hot countries or hot parts of the country, there are energy saving rebates you can use.
  • A shingle roof is far less expensive to purchase and install than a shingle roof.
  • Over the long-term, a metal roof needs fewer repairs than a shingle roof.
  • A shingle roof will need far more maintenance and repairs than a metal roof, which may make it more experience in the long-term than a metal roof
  • Some forms of metal roof such as steel and copper are very fire resistant while some form such as aluminum are not very fire resistant.
  • Organic shingles are not fire resistant at all, but things such as fiberglass shingles are fire resistant.
  • Metal roofs are more common in hot areas where keeping a house or building cool is very difficult during the day.
  • They are the most commonly seen roofing variety.
  • It takes three times longer to install a metal roof.
  • Installing a shingle roof is relatively quick in construction terms and when compared with installing a metal roof.
  • Copper roofing is the most expensive type of commonly used metal roof.
  • Asphalt is the most commonly seen material for shingle roofing (may also be called bitumen shingles).

Leave a Comment