Shingles need to be replaced every 10-30 year depending on wear and their type. It just seems so uneconomical and such a pain.
I get that metal conducts heat more easily, but couldn’t you just let a thin layer of moss grow on your metal roof and call it a day? Even if they dry out in the summer, I doubt metal + thin layer of dirt would conduct heat more than black shingles
In: 15
My 1927 house (Midwest US) came with a slate roof, original timber. I’ve lived there 8 years, have had to replace 5 of the slate tiles after a storm. Our home inspector said we’d likely never need a new roof all at once. The slate tiles last an extremely long time, can be replaced singularly as needed, and the roof construction is super solid. Plus, I looove how it looks.
To be fair, I have no idea how much a slate roof runs from scratch, but highly recommend if it’s an option.
I don’t like the way metal looks. I live in the Midwest and they make the house look like a unfinished Morton pole barn. Plus lots of inexperienced homeowners try it themselves and don’t install them right. My hillbilly in-laws did there own and it looks awful. All wavy and doesn’t lay evenly.
If they are poor, why don’t they eat cake?
It’s all about the money (dum dum da da da tum).
California here. I have an aluminum roof (looks like shingles). I get absolutely no cell reception in the house, it’s like I have a built-in tin foil hat. I use WIFI to use my phone in the house.
Also, no company will install Solar Panels on an aluminum roof. I’m not sure why, but nobody will do it.
Cost.
You are looking into a long lasting metal plate, that needs no paint (erosion will kill the paint and give it an awful rusty look. Adding the cost of repaint). So you are left with: aluminum, copper, stainless steel. Not cheap at all.
However, in places with a lot of snow, they are common and very appreciated. It’s really waterproof, meaning you can have a wet snow layer on it for 6 months without a single drop entering and rotting your insulation and structure.
It’s just that most places don’t get wet that often, so some crappy shingles would do the job and cost way less.
Shingles are pretty durable since they deal with sun, wind and rain for 10-20 years. they are also quite cheap. Metal roofs of course can last much longer but they can have much higher upfront costs and are more expensive to repair when they do get damaged.
I’m Norwegian, I grew up in a house with metal roofing, the sheets are wavey. I fell on one of them (at a friend’s house) when I was a child, and I still have that scar on my shin.
The neighbours have tiles of some sort. They constantly have damage to them, while in 35 years we only once had something on the edge blow off in a storm. A nail had come out. The roof has probably been maintained a little bit, but no major work ever needed done. In a harsh climate (heavy winds, crazy cold, insane amounts of snow), it is much easier to work with. Then you add some good insulation underneath, and you’re good to go for a long time!
Cost. My current house has an composition shingle roof that I purchased 22 years ago. It has held up with no leaks through three hurricanes. Yes, direct eye wall hits. I am now looking at a roof replacement as a maintenance item. 3,000 SF under roof. Shingle at $22,000 USD, 5V Crimp metal at $33,000 USD, or standing seam metal at $38,000 USD. The shingle and standing seam roofs have minimal to no maintenance costs, while the 5V crimp has to have fastener replacements every 5 to 10 years. Shingle for me, thanks.
Latest Answers