With summer being right around the corner, existing and soon-to-be homeowners are concerned about the best roofs for this season.
Currently, there are two popular roofing options: metal roofs and shingles. If you’re confused about which one can serve you best, this comparison blog on metal roofs vs shingles in hot climates will help you out!
Comparing Metal Roof Vs. Shingles in Hot Climate
Metal roofs are made from large metal sheets, usually built from aluminum, copper, steel, and tin. They are ideal for homeowners who don’t have time for roof maintenance, want to elevate home resale value, and wish to increase energy efficiency.
On the other hand, asphalt roof shingles are made from asphalt, wood, fiberglass, and other materials. It’s a top favorite among homeowners with a low budget but who want the classic aesthetics of shingles. This is best for moderately sloped roofs.
Let’s compare them in terms of different aspects.
Durability and Lifespan
Winner: Metal Roof
Metal roofs are way more durable than shingles, making them the most desired in hotter climates. Besides heat, metal roofs can also resist rain, wind, snow, and fire, making them suitable for most climates.
This is because metal roofs are made with select materials with the highest melting points. Thus, they can withstand scorching heat without going ablaze. Moreover, without any incident, metal roofs can last up to 50 years or beyond.
Shingles, on the flip side, can’t withstand excess heat. With time, they break down, curl, and crack from sun exposure. When degraded, shingles also fail to protect the indoors from other weather elements, such as snow, wind, and rain. Shingles last only around 25-50 years at most.
Heat Reflection
Winner: Metal Roof
Many homeowners ask, “Do metal roofs attract heat?”
Well, the answer is NO!
They don’t attract excess heat or make the home hotter. Rather, they are amazing in deflecting most of the sun’s rays and heat and keeping the indoors cooler. In fact, metal roofs can be about 100 degrees less hot than asphalt roofs in the same environment.
However, the case is quite different for shingles.
Asphalt shingles are known to absorb excessive heat and reflect hardly any of it. Then, it transfers the heat to the indoors, making the building extremely hot. The heat transfer from a shingle on the roof to the indoors increases the indoor temperature by around 20 degrees.
So, in this comparison of metal roof vs shingles in hot climate, the metal roof wins!
Energy Efficiency
Winner: Metal Roof
Metal roofs don’t just keep your home cool but also offer high-grade energy efficiency. It can reduce the need for indoor cooling to considerable amounts and reduce energy bills. Research shows specific types of metal roofs can reduce cooling expenses by 25%.
Moreover, if you install metal roofs in lighter colors, you can enhance their energy efficiency to a considerable extent. This is because dark colors absorb heat much more than light ones.
Compared to metal roofs, shingles’ energy efficiency abilities are negligible. Shingles easily absorb heat (more in the case of dark ones). They make the structure extremely hot, making HVAC systems overwork to maintain ideal temperatures. Thus, they make the system consume more energy, skyrocketing energy bills.
Maintenance & Repair Frequency
Winner: Metal Roof
In the comparison of metal roofs vs shingles in hot climates, this is the most important factor.
Metal roofs need minimal maintenance and repairs.
Shingles, however, are extremely vulnerable to mold, mildew, cracking, peeling, and loss. Moreover, nobody can tell when a specific type of shingle might go out of stock.
So, it’s suggested to stock up on similar looking replacement roofing shingles for future repairs. Otherwise, you’d have to make do with mismatching options.
Resale Value
Winner: Metal Roof
Potential homebuyers are willing to pay more for homes with metal roofs than those with shingles. This is due to the metal roof’s longevity. Especially while selling, if the metal roof is as good as new, you’ll get an outstanding valuation.
On the other hand, shingles don’t impact the resale value much.
Sustainability
Winner: Metal Roof
Metal roofs are generally crafted from mined materials. They take minimal production energy, and you can even find metal roofs using recycled materials. If you want to switch to another roof, you can also recycle your metal roof.
Asphalt shingles are non-biodegradable, petroleum products. They are usually not recycled and are sent to the landfill at the end of their lifespan. Thus, they’re the least sustainable of the two.
Aesthetics
Winner: Depends on Personal Preference
Metal roofs are versatile and can be used in a wide range of colors and styles. You can even find metal shingles that mimic asphalt, cedar shakes, and even clay. It offers a sleek, minimalist, urban, and expensive look.
Shingles suit almost all kinds of structures, as they’re available in diverse styles and colors. They are classics and a safe choice for most.
Ultimately, they are unique, and comparing their aesthetics is unfair.
Material Cost
Winner: Shingles
The greatest drawback that prevents homeowners from getting a metal roof is its expenses. Since it is quite pricey, most are not open to the idea of spending so much.
Shingles are one of the most economical roofing options, costing $6000-9800 for 2000 square feet. Thus, people with limited budgets often choose it.
Ease of Repair/Replacement
Winner: Shingles
Metal roofs aren’t easy to repair or replace as they’re cut out from large metal sheets. They need to cut out pieces from an entire new sheet of metal matching your current roof’s style and material for repairs, making it more expensive.
Shingles repairs are easier and less expensive as they’re available in small, easy-to-change pieces.
Weight Considerations
Winner: Shingles
Metal roofs are extremely heavy, so if your home has a low load-bearing capacity, you will need an upgrade. Again, this means you would have to splurge more for metal roof installation.
Shingles are light, so the structure doesn’t need additional reinforcement.
So, What Is The Best Roof Material For Hot Climates?
Ultimately, a metal roof is always a better choice for hot climates, even if it’s expensive and needs additional reinforcements. It offers great cooling, reduces energy consumption, and even offers sustainability!
So, if you’re looking for high-grade metal roof materials or reliable contractors, contact us at LA Roofing Materials. From roofing materials to connections with industry-leading expert roofers, we have it all!