Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material in the United States today. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to install and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. There are even asphalt shingles that look exactly like classical cedar shakes or red tile on the market today.
However, there are a number of disadvantages to asphalt shingles. One is the lifespan of asphalt shingle roofs. In a hot or very wet area, an asphalt shingle roof may need to be replaced after only 12 years, and asphalt roofs rarely last more than 20 years even in more moderate climates,. Having the roof replaced periodically is one of the biggest expenses a homeowner has to take on.
A typical metal roof will last for at least 50 years. However, metal roofs require a skilled Goose Creek roofing professional to properly install it. Roofers who only know how to install asphalt shingles can really mess up a metal roof and produce a leaky, ugly disaster. Older types of metal roofs were known to be very noisy in the rain and could get very hot and heat up the house below, but new metal roofs are insulated and are just as quiet as asphalt shingles. Due to their sun reflective ability, they actually keep houses cooler than asphalt shingles do and can produce significant savings on air conditioning bills.