Quick answer
Metal and asphalt shingles can both make a good roof. The better pick depends on your budget, how long you plan to stay, your roof's shape, how you feel about upkeep and what local crews do well. Neither is right for every home. Use this guide to sort out what matters most to you before you get bids.
Start with how long you will stay
This is the biggest question. A metal roof usually costs more at the start. Many people choose it because they expect it to last longer. If you plan to sell in a few years, you may not get that value back.
If you plan to stay a long time, compare what you pay now with how many roofs you might buy over that time. Use real bids for your home, not a chart from a website. Life spans vary by product, install and weather.
Compare real bids, not averages
Prices change with roof size, slope, number of openings, tear-off, deck repairs and the crew. National averages do not tell you much about your house.
Ask at least two crews to bid both options if they install both. Ask each to list the exact product, every system part and the warranties. Our bid checklist can help you line them up.
Roof shape matters
Simple roofs with long, open slopes suit metal panels well. Roofs with many valleys, dormers and short runs take more cutting and trim with metal. That adds cost and more places that need careful flashing.
Shingles handle complex shapes easily because each piece is small. If your roof is cut up, ask how each crew will handle the details.
| Question | Asphalt shingles | Metal (mostly standing seam) |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front price | Usually lower | Usually higher; get both bid |
| Repairs | Single shingles can often be swapped | Panel repairs can be harder and need matching metal |
| Hail | Can lose granules or crack | Can dent; no roof is hail-proof |
| Weight | Varies by product; premium lines are heavier | Varies by panel and metal; ask the crew |
| Look | Many colors and textures, the common choice | Clean lines; some HOAs have rules |
| Crews | Most roofers install them | Fewer crews specialize; ask about experience |
Hail and storms
Both materials can be damaged by hail. Shingles may lose granules, crack or bruise. Metal may dent even when it still keeps water out.
Some products of both types carry impact ratings. Those ratings come from lab tests and do not make a roof hail-proof. Ask your insurer how they treat dents on metal and whether rated products get a discount.
Wind
Both can hold up well in wind when installed right. Shingle wind ratings, like those from ASTM D7158, depend on proper nailing and sealing. That standard notes real wind varies more than a lab test can copy.
Metal wind strength depends on the panel, the seam and the clip spacing. The Metal Construction Association says clip spacing should come from a design for the field, edges and corners. Ask each crew how they meet the maker's wind rules.
Repairs over the years
A torn or missing shingle can often be replaced with a matching one. Most roofers can do it.
Metal repairs can be harder. A damaged panel may need to be removed from the seams, and matching color can be tricky years later. Fewer crews have the tools. Ask who would handle repairs and if spare panels can be kept.
Heat and color
The Energy Department's cool roof guide explains that roofs that reflect more sunlight stay cooler. That is true for light metal and for reflective shingles.
Color often matters more than material. A dark metal roof can get hot, and a light shingle can stay cooler. Savings depend on your attic and climate. Be careful with any bid that promises a set dollar savings.
Noise
Many people worry metal will be loud. How loud it sounds inside depends on the deck, underlayment, attic space and insulation. Metal on open framing over a barn sounds very different from metal on a solid deck over an insulated attic.
We cannot promise any roof will be quiet. If sound matters to you, ask the crew what goes under the panels and whether you can visit a home they finished.
Snow
Snow tends to slide off metal in sheets. That can be good for the roof, but risky over doors, walks and decks. Snow guards help.
Shingles hold snow longer. That can help ice dams form if the attic leaks warm air. Either way, good air sealing and insulation matter more than the roof material.
Looks, neighbors and HOA rules
Shingles are the common look in most neighborhoods. Metal gives clean lines and comes in many colors. Some homeowner groups limit roof types or colors.
Check any HOA rules before you choose. Ask the crew for photos of past jobs in the style you want.
Crew experience
Most roofers install shingles every week. Fewer crews put on standing seam often. A great product put on badly can leak.
Ask how many metal roofs the crew has installed, which systems and whether they follow the maker's install guide. Ask the same for shingles. In Nebraska, check that the contractor is registered with the state.
Warranties side by side
Both come with a product warranty from the maker and a workmanship warranty from the crew. Metal may also have a separate paint warranty.
The FTC says warranties should be available to read before you buy. Get each one in writing and compare what is covered, for how long and what voids it.
A simple way to decide
Answer these for your home, then talk with a crew.
- How many years do I plan to stay?
- What do real bids for both look like?
- Is my roof simple or full of valleys and dormers?
- How do I feel about dents versus granule loss after hail?
- Do local crews have strong experience with the option I like?
- What do my insurer and HOA say?
Selling your home later
A newer roof of any type can help when you sell. Buyers like to see records: the contract, the product names, the warranties and photos.
Some warranties can transfer to a new owner, and some cannot. Some need a form or a fee. Read the terms before you choose, if resale matters to you.
Solar panels
If you plan to add solar, think about the roof first. Solar panels can sit on a roof for many years. Putting a new roof under them later means taking them off and putting them back.
Standing seam often allows clamps that grip the seams. Shingle roofs need mounts that go through the shingles and get flashed. Ask both the roofer and the solar installer what works with your roof and its warranty.
Mixed roofs
Some homes use both. A shingle main roof with metal over a porch or a low-slope section is common. It can give you the look you want and use metal where it fits best.
Where the two meet, the flashing has to be done right. Ask the crew how they will join them so water runs past the seam.
Talking to your insurer first
Before you choose, call your insurer and ask a few questions. It is better to know now than after the roof is on.
- Does my policy treat metal and shingles differently?
- Are dents on metal covered, or only damage that lets water in?
- Is there a discount for impact-rated products?
- What proof do you need, like a product label or invoice?
Which one fits these common homes?
Every home is different, but these quick sketches show how the choice can play out.
- A simple ranch with long, open slopes: both work well. Metal panels fit easily, and shingles are quick.
- A two-story with many dormers and valleys: shingles handle the cuts easily. Metal is possible but adds trim and cost.
- A home you plan to sell soon: shingles often make more sense on price.
- A home you plan to keep for decades: metal may be worth pricing out.
- A low-slope section over an addition: neither may fit. It may need a membrane roof.
Upkeep over time
Shingle roofs need checks after storms and a look at flashing and pipe boots now and then. Lost or creased shingles can be swapped.
Standing seam needs checks at trim, boots, sealants and snow guards. Exposed-fastener metal needs screw checks over the years. Neither roof is truly no-care. Plan to look from the ground after big storms and have a crew check it every few years.
Why there is no one right answer
Websites love to name a winner. In real life, the right roof depends on your house, your budget, your plans and the crews near you.
A good crew will tell you when the option you like does not fit your roof. Be careful with anyone who only sells one type and says the other is always wrong.
Comparing time on the roof
A shingle roof often goes on faster because most crews do it every week and the parts are on hand. A standing seam roof may need panels made to length and custom trim, which can add lead time.
Ask each crew how long the job may take once it starts and what could delay it, like weather or waiting on panels. Ask how they will protect the open roof overnight. These answers help you plan, but no one can promise the weather.
How our request form works
We serve homes and businesses across the Omaha area. This website is a preview right now. The online form checks your answers, but it does not save or send them yet, so no roofer gets your request from it.
When online requests are turned on, this note will change. Until then, the form is a way to see what we will ask: your town or ZIP, what you see and what kind of help you need. We do not sell your details.
Common questions
Is metal always worth the extra cost?
Not always. It depends on how long you will stay, the bids you get and what you value. If you may move soon, the higher cost may not come back to you. If you plan to stay a long time, a longer-lasting roof may make more sense.
Is metal louder in the rain?
It depends on what is under the panels. Over solid decking, underlayment and an insulated attic, many people find it similar to other roofs. We cannot promise how it will sound on your house.
Which one saves more on energy?
Color and reflectance matter more than material alone. Light, reflective roofs of either type can stay cooler. Savings depend on your insulation and climate, so treat numbers as estimates.
Can I put metal over my old shingles?
Some metal systems allow it if code and the maker approve. It can hide deck damage. Ask what the maker allows and how the crew will check the deck first.
Will my insurance cost change?
It might. Some insurers treat metal, impact-rated shingles or cosmetic dents in special ways. Call your insurer before you choose.
Related help
Sources we checked
Official and standards pages we used to check facts on this page. Rules can change, so confirm with the source.