There’s no denying that the roof is an essential part of your house. It stands between the interior of your house and the outside world, safeguarding you, your family, and your possessions from harsh weather elements every day.
With your roof serving at the ‘frontline’ it’s constantly exposed to the sun, rain, and other compounds in the air. Ultimately, your roof will sustain some damage with time, which means it won’t protect you and everything inside your house as well as when it was new.
Even the slightest damage can cause you a world of trouble in costly repairs and inconveniences.
For this reason, you should invest in the best roof possible for your home such as aluminum and asphalt roofs. But which of the two should you choose for your house?
Below is a comprehensive comparison of the two residential roofing materials to help you make the right decision.
What Exactly Is an Aluminum Roof?
Aluminum roofs are a type of metal roofing that is relatively soft and lightweight. Compared to steel, they are remarkably less rigid and are highly resistant to rust corrosion thanks to the steel coating.
These metal roofs are especially convenient if you live along the coastal area since the steel coating will prevent rusting from the saline humidity in the air.
There are two types of aluminum roof systems; standing-seam and screw-down panels. Standing seams are a sequence of aluminum panels locked onto each other at the seams. Alternatively, you can choose to let your roofing company seam them mechanically. Doing this allows the free expansion and contraction of the metal panels as weather temperatures rise and drop.
As for the screw-down system, screws hold down the aluminum panel, leaving no room for contraction or expansion.
What Exactly Is an Asphalt Roofing?
The asphalt shingle roof remains to be the most popular roofing material in the US and it’s no surprise why. They are very affordable and are available in various colors and textures, which means that you are almost guaranteed to find different options that will tick all your boxes.
The asphalt shingle roof is quite durable, thanks to its fiberglass core and asphalt coating. Another thing contributing to the durability is its stone granulated or ceramic surface, which safeguards the shingles from weather elements and UV rays.
You should expect to find these three types of asphalt shingles in the market in Denver, CO today:
3-Tab Asphalt Shingles
The exposed layer on these roofs is notched into three tabs, hence the name. Also known as strip shingles, they give off a more decorative appearance and make an excellent choice if you have a tight budget. Only one layer of asphalt is used on this roof, making it significantly lighter. However, the popularity of this type of roof has waned over the past few years.
Dimensional Asphalt Roofs
Also known as laminate or architectural shingles, these roofs have a stunning random pattern that gives off the appearance of a wood shake roof. They have more layers of asphalt fixed together to attain a dimensional effect. Compared to 3-tab shingles, dimensional asphalt roofs are a lot heavier and more durable.
Luxury Asphalt Roofs
These are the top-tier asphalt shingles. They come in several premium designs, are very durable, and provide a great level of protection from weather elements. Expect genuine value for your money.
Core Differences Between Aluminum and Asphalt Roofs
We will now pit these two roofing styles against each other based on six important considerations to help you know which one is the best for you:
-
Cost
Aluminum roofing will surely cost you more than an asphalt one. It costs significantly more per square foot, so if you are on a budget, you are better off buying asphalt shingles.
-
Longevity
Aluminum roofing material takes the day here as well, given they have a lifespan of anywhere between 30-50 years. As for asphalt roofs, the lifespan is around 15-20 years, with the heavier options maxing at 25 years.
-
Roof Installation Price
Asphalt roof shingles are cheaper to install compared to aluminum ones since they require less skill and labor to set up.
-
Maintenance
It goes without saying that you need to check your roof from time to time to ensure that it is in tip-top condition. All the same, due to their rigidity, aluminum roofing is less prone to damage and needs less maintenance compared to asphalt roofing.
-
Durability
Aluminum roofs are more durable since they are water-resistant and not prone to destruction by weather elements. For this reason, they tend to have a longer lifespan while being in excellent condition all through.
As for asphalt shingles, especially the standard options, you can expect more damage from the weather, growth of moss and algae, and damage from hail and UV rays from the sun.
-
Accessorizing
There are tons of accessories you can add to your aluminum roof to make it more functional. For example, if you live in areas prone to snowfall, you can install metal roof snow bars to avoid roof avalanches. Asphalt roofs have less flexibility in terms of accessorizing. However, you can still install ice melt systems to prevent ice dams from forming.
So Which One is better between Aluminum or Asphalt for Your Roof in Denver, CO
Choosing between an aluminum and asphalt roof can prove challenging at first glance. Luckily, this comprehensive guide eliminates any guesswork from the process by providing you with all the information you need to pick the right roofing material for you. While both have their pros and cons, you need to pick the roof that meets most of your needs.
That said, you want to make sure your used or new roof holds up to the elements and lasts you as long as possible. Hot Edge provides safe, effective, energy efficient, and easy to install ice dam prevention systems in Denver, CO.
With the best roof ice melt systems reviews in the market, you can be sure that we provide our clients with nothing but high quality. Get in touch with us for a free quote at +1 (877) 220-5066 or send us an email at support@hotedge.com.
