Asphalt vs Metal Roofs

Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofs in Colorado 

Two of the most common roofing choices for Colorado homes are asphalt shingles and metal. Each has clear strengths, and the right pick depends on your budget, your location, and how long you plan to stay. Here is how they compare. 

Price

Asphalt almost always wins on upfront cost and gives you the most bang for your buck. Metal costs more to install. If the budget is the deciding factor, asphalt is the practical choice.

Durability and Lifespan

Metal pulls ahead here by a wide margin. A quality metal roof lasts far longer than asphalt, which is part of what justifies the higher price over time.

Insurance

This is where it gets interesting. Insurers often charge more to cover asphalt and may not offer a discount for it. Metal roofs, which frequently carry a Class 4 impact rating, are a different story. Colorado law requires insurers to offer a premium discount for Class 4 roofs, and those discounts can run up to roughly thirty percent or more depending on the carrier and whether you qualify. One trade off worth knowing: metal can suffer cosmetic denting from hail even when it does not leak.

Resale and Appraisal

Value Metal tends to appraise higher and adds curb appeal, which can boost your home's value. It is aesthetically striking and, combined with its longevity, is often seen as a premium upgrade.

What Works Best in the Mountains

Mountain homes have their own considerations:

• A stone coated steel system installed on battens creates a small cold roof, which helps prevent ice dams. The granular surface also helps hold snow, and snow itself acts as insulation.
  
  

• Standing seam or snap lock metal is a strong mountain option, in part because higher elevations often see less hail. These smooth panels shed snow readily, which is why we recommend snow retention over entryways and walkways so sliding snow does not hurt anyone. Some homeowners are happy to let snow slide off the back of the house where it drops harmlessly down a slope.
  
  

• Mountain homes also tend to use fewer gutters, since the terrain often drains water away from the house on its own.

The Bottom Line

Asphalt is the value choice with the best upfront price. Metal costs more but lasts longer, can earn insurance discounts, and adds resale value. Where you live, especially if you are in the mountains, shapes the decision too.

At Excel Roofing, we install both asphalt and metal systems across the Denver metro, Colorado Springs, Casper, and Sheridan, and we have been doing it since 1993. We're On Top Of It. You Don't Pay A Cent Until You're Content.

 SOURCES

• Excel Roofing, Homeowners Insurance Discounts With Impact-Resistant Roofing: Insurance Discounts With Impact Resistant Roofing
  
  

• Colorado Roofing Solutions, The Latest Impact-Resistant Materials for Colorado Homes: https://coloradoroofingsolutions.com/impact-resistant-materials/