If it’s time for a roof replacement on your New England home, you might wonder whether a composite or metal roof is the best roofing material to go with. While asphalt shingles are the standard and most popular option with homeowners because of their affordability and curb appeal, there are other roofing options—including composite and metal roofing—that cost more initially but deliver many more years of reliable performance. If you’re considering both roof types but aren’t sure which direction is right for your home, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s start by comparing the two roofing options:
Metal Roofing
Once thought of as a good option for commercial buildings but too unattractive for residential roofing, metal roofing has come a long way in the past few decades. Today’s metal roofs come in a variety of options. Some metal roofing materials include:
- Steel (galvanized, galvalume, or weathering)
- Aluminum
- Copper
- Tin
- Zinc
The metal roofing style choices used to be limited to options like standing seam or exposed fastener panels, which provide great protection but aren’t known for their aesthetic beauty. New products have emerged more recently, however, and now you can choose metal roofing shingles that mimic the look of slate, tile, asphalt shingles, and even wood shakes.
The performance benefits of metal roofing are unquestioned, as it is renowned for its:
- Durability – Unlike with a shingle roof, you don’t have to worry about a metal roof blowing off, as it can stand up to winds of 140 miles per hour. Damage from hail and wind-borne debris is also not a concern.
- Longevity – Most metal roofs can be expected to perform reliably for 50+ years.
- Energy efficiency – While some erroneously believe that metal roofs heat a home up, they actually reflect much of the sun’s energy, which will help lower your home’s attic temperatures and can save you energy.
- Eco-friendliness – Metal roofs are often made from recycled materials, and they’re 100% recyclable at the end of their lifespan so they don’t end up in landfills.
What’s more, metal roofs are completely fire-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about lightning strikes.
Composite Roofing
One of the newer players in the game—and one that is rapidly gaining popularity with homeowners and roofers—is composite roofing. Made from recycled rubber, plastics, and other materials, composite roofing is a light and durable option that offers a level of adaptability that other roofing materials can’t. For example, composite roofing can be manufactured to mimic other types of roofing with surprising accuracy. Options include:
- Asphalt shingles
- Slate
- Clay tiles
- Cedar shakes
Composite roofs also offer outstanding performance when compared to asphalt shingles, as they:
- Are engineered to last longer than the materials they mimic, including asphalt shingles, wood shakes, and slate
- Resist intense winds and impacts from hail and flying debris, so you won’t have to worry about roof maintenance every time extreme weather comes your way
- Offer excellent fire resistance to add to your peace of mind
- Are designed to resist the sun’s harmful effects, so you won’t have to worry about fading
- Are usually made from recycled materials, so they can be recycled when their useful life is over
Costs of Metal & Composite Roofs
Metal and composite roofs are pricier to install than asphalt shingles, but they provide more longevity for that additional cost. This means that you can receive greater value for the initial cost since your home’s roof will last much longer. What’s more, if you decide to sell, a metal or composite roof may qualify your home for a higher resale value, so they come with a potential return on investment (ROI).
When it comes to roof installation costs, there are a variety of factors—including the product style and the manufacturer—that will influence what you end up paying. Composite roof tiles have an average cost between $7 to $14 per square foot while stainless steel can be $10 to $16 per square foot. However, there are less sturdy types of metal roofing, such as aluminum shingles, which are comparable in price to composite tiles. There are also options like corrugated metal and a standing seam metal roof, which are typically less expensive but will likely detract from your home’s curb appeal.
Offering an Exceptional Composite Roofing Product
If you’d like the new roof for your New England home to check all the boxes in terms of durability, longevity, and curb appeal, NEWPRO’s Max-Composite Roofing might be exactly what you’re looking for to replace your existing roof. Engineered to mimic natural slate, this state-of-the-art product offers outstanding protection against heavy rains, hail, snow, fire, extreme weather, and the sun’s UV rays. What’s more, our roof installations are performed by factory-trained technicians, and we stand behind our composite roofs with a 50-year Gold Star Warranty or a 50-Year Limited Material Warranty to give you added peace of mind.
Contact NEWPRO today to learn more.
