Metal roofing is one of the best options for a homeowner’s roof. It has many pros, but just like anything it also has its cons. Metal roofing is often compared to shingle roofing as shingle roofing is the most common roofing in the United States. Hennessy Roofing has put together this comparison to help our customers make their roofing decision, as well as answer questions like how loud is metal roofing? and is metal roofing more fire-resistant than shingle roofing? Find out all the answers right here!
Metal Roofing vs Shingle Roofing
Durability
Metal roofings are by far one of the most durable roofing options on the market. They can take a beating, and typically come with a warranty that’s good for around 30-50 years. However, they can easily last 40-70 years in the right conditions. Shingles, on the other hand, have warranties that usually last around 15-30 years. They have many more weaknesses and must be replaced much sooner than metal roofing. In general, metal roofing is much stronger and lasts much longer than shingle roofing.
Fire Resistance
Metal roofing is known for its fire resistance. It has a class A fire resistance, which means it has the best rating possible for roofing material. It also isn’t combustible, which means it won’t just catch fire even when struck by lightning. There are specialty shingles that have high fire resistance, but they don’t typically have as good fire resistance as metal roofing. If embers fall upon shingle roofing, it also might catch on fire if the embers are there long enough. Whereas, with metal roofing, it can’t catch on fire.
Noise Levels During Weather
Metal roofing is notorious for being loud during the rain, but how loud is metal roofing? Well, during a rainstorm asphalt shingles make about 46 decibels of noise. That’s similar to the sound of a bird call. Metal roofing over a solid roof decking is only around 52 decibels, which is about as noisy as a refrigerator. That’s not much noisier than a shingle roof. Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story. A metal roof that’s over an open framing is about 61 decibels. That is much louder than shingles, comparable to the noise of an air conditioner. However, that’s still not overall that loud. While metal roofing is noisier than shingles, it’s not enough to matter too much.
