Metal or Architectural Shingle for an Eastern Washington Home

Homeowners in the Tri-Cities and across Eastern Washington often reach a point where the decision is not whether to replace the roof but what to replace it with. Architectural asphalt shingles and metal panels are the two choices that come up most. Neither is the winner in every case. The right answer depends on your house, the wind and snow your area sees, how long you expect to stay and how you feel about the upfront budget. Here is how the two compare on the things that actually matter here.

Wind: the rating matters, and so does the installation

Eastern Washington gets real wind, and plenty of Tri-Cities roofs have lost shingles to it. Both materials are made in wind-rated versions, and you should ask to see the rating on the product data sheet for the exact line you are considering instead of trusting a general claim that one material beats the other. The rating only holds when the installation follows the manufacturer's instructions, including the right nailing pattern, starter course, underlayment and edge detail. A well-rated product installed carelessly will not perform like one installed to spec.

One West Richland customer, Andres Montero, wrote in a Google review that after countless wind storms and paying people to spot-fix missing shingles, the wind rating and warranty on a CertainTeed shingle system were selling factors in choosing a full replacement. A rating is worth asking about for exactly that reason.

Snow and ice: how each material behaves

Snow loads vary a great deal across the region. The Tri-Cities see far less than Leavenworth, Chelan or the mountain towns to the west, so what matters on your roof depends on where you live. Metal is slick, and snow tends to slide off in sheets, sometimes all at once. That can be useful for keeping load down, and a hazard over a doorway, a walkway or a lower roof. Snow guards are a common answer where sliding snow would land somewhere it should not.

Shingles hold snow where it falls, which means it melts gradually and drains through the gutters. Ice dams are tied more to attic heat and ventilation than to the roofing material itself, so a well-ventilated, well-insulated attic helps either roof.

Summer heat and UV

Tri-Cities summers are hot and sunny, and roofs take the UV all season. Metal with a reflective finish can shed some of that heat, while dark shingles absorb it. The roof surface is only part of what governs how hot the house gets. Attic insulation and ventilation do a great deal of the work, and they are worth checking whichever material you pick. Shingle manufacturers also offer lighter and cooler-toned colors if heat is a concern for you.

Noise, looks and feel

People worry that metal is loud in the rain. Over solid decking with underlayment and attic insulation, a modern metal roof is usually quieter than the worry suggests, though it will sound different from shingles and some homeowners notice it more in heavy rain or hail. Shingles are quiet and familiar.

Looks are personal. Architectural shingles have a dimensional, layered profile that suits most ranch, two-story and traditional homes. Standing-seam metal has clean vertical lines that can look striking on modern and farmhouse styles. Some homes combine both, using metal over a porch or an accent section and shingles elsewhere. The photo above shows exactly that, dark architectural shingles meeting a standing-seam metal section on a finished Tri-Cities roof.

Budget in general terms

Metal generally costs more upfront than architectural shingles, and it is often chosen by owners who plan to stay in the home for a long time and want the longer expected service life. Shingles usually cost less to install and are easier to repair in small sections. Neither is automatically the better value. The real comparison is the total cost over the years you will own the house, plus the quality of the installation, which affects both. Any number you see online should be treated as a rough starting point. The only price that counts is a written estimate for your roof.

A short list for deciding

• How long do you plan to stay in the house?
• How much wind and snow does your exact location see?
• Is sliding snow a hazard over a door, walkway or lower roof?
• What does your roof deck and attic ventilation look like today?
• Do you prefer a layered look or clean metal lines?
• What does your homeowners insurer say about your choice of material?

What A&A installs

A&A Roofing Services installs asphalt shingle, metal, tile and slate roofs. The company is credentialed with CertainTeed as a ShingleMaster PRO and is an IKO ROOFPRO Craftsman Premier, so both of those shingle lines are part of its regular work.

If you are weighing the two options, ask for a free roof inspection first. A&A Roofing Services in Kennewick will look at your deck, flashing and ventilation, then explain what each material would mean for your house. Call 509-440-2428.