Is a metal roof better than shingles in Texas?
Metal costs roughly twice as much as architectural shingles up front, and in return it can last 40 years or more and holds up better to wind and many hailstorms. Shingles cost less, are easier to repair and suit a homeowner who expects to move within 10 or 15 years. The right answer depends on how long you plan to stay and how much hail your roof sees.
Metal costs about double and lasts about twice as long
In North Texas, architectural shingles installed with tear-off run roughly $400 to $650 per square. Stone-coated metal runs roughly $800 to $1,300 and standing seam roughly $900 to $1,500. Exposed-fastener panels, the ribbed style common on barns and shops, can come in lower.
Shingles in Texas heat commonly last 15 to 25 years. A properly installed metal roof commonly lasts 40 to 70. If you plan to stay in the house past one shingle roof's life, metal often costs less over the years you own it.
Hail is where the two differ most in Texas
Metal does not crack or lose granules the way asphalt does, and many metal and stone-coated panels carry a Class 4 impact rating, the highest under the UL 2218 test. Large hail can still dent metal, and those dents are usually cosmetic. Some policies exclude cosmetic damage to metal roofs, so read yours before you choose.
Several Texas insurers offer a premium discount for a Class 4 roof. Impact-resistant shingles qualify too, so ask your agent what discount applies to each option before you compare prices.
Metal reflects more summer heat
Metal panels, especially in lighter colors or with reflective coatings, send back more sunlight than dark asphalt. That keeps the attic cooler and can lower cooling bills in a Texas summer. Shingles also come in reflective lines, though the difference is usually smaller.
Rain noise is a common worry. Over solid decking and underlayment, a metal roof on a house sounds much like a shingle roof. The loud metal roofs people remember are usually on open-frame barns.
Stone-coated metal gives you metal with a shingle look
Some homeowners and HOAs do not want the look of panels. Stone-coated steel such as TILCOR is pressed to look like shingle, shake or tile and coated with stone granules, so it keeps the durability of metal with a traditional look. Standing seam metal like Mueller suits farmhouse and modern styles.
We install both, along with Owens Corning and CertainTeed shingles, so a free inspection can put the options for your house side by side.
Related questions
Can a metal roof go over my existing shingles?
Some metal systems can be installed over one layer of shingles where code and the manufacturer allow it. A tear-off is often still the better choice because it lets the decking be checked, and it keeps the roof system within the manufacturer's installation requirements.
Does a metal roof attract lightning?
No. Metal does not make a strike more likely, and if lightning does hit, a metal roof is noncombustible and spreads the charge.
Will my HOA allow a metal roof?
Many do, and some require a specific look. Check your deed restrictions first. Stone-coated metal that resembles shingles or tile often passes where exposed panels would not.
