Why are metal roofs better?
Short answer. Metal roofs are considered better mainly because steel does not break down in sun and heat the way asphalt does, so a well installed metal roof often lasts about twice as long as shingles or more. Long interlocking panels shed water and wind well, metal does not burn, and reflective finishes keep attics cooler, but those advantages come at a higher price and only with skilled installation.
The physical reasons
- No asphalt to cook. Shingles age as Georgia sun drives the oils out of the asphalt and rain washes granules off. Coated steel does not dry out, so it keeps performing for decades.
- Fewer seams. A panel runs from eave to ridge in one piece, so there are fewer joints for water to find.
- Wind resistance. Interlocked, clipped panels tested to high wind ratings have no tabs to peel up.
- Fire. Metal is noncombustible, so embers from a brush or chimney fire will not ignite it.
- Heat. Reflective coatings bounce sunlight, and metal cools quickly at night, easing attic heat.
- Debris shedding. Pine needles and leaves slide off smooth panels more easily than off textured shingles.
- Weight. Metal is light and easy on the framing.
Better is not the same as better for you
Those advantages only pay off if you own the house long enough to collect them. Metal dents in large hail, and some policies treat dents as cosmetic and exclude them. Exposed fastener panels need periodic screw maintenance. A shingle roof is easier to repair and match, and it is usually the better value if you may sell within the next decade or two. See metal roofing in Georgia and how long a roof lasts in Georgia.