Asphalt Shingles vs Metal Roofing: Which Is Right for New Jersey?
Both roofing materials have a place in NJ — but the right choice depends on your home, your budget, and how long you plan to stay. Here's an honest comparison.
When New Jersey homeowners ask us “should I get asphalt shingles or a metal roof?”, the honest answer is: it depends. Both materials are excellent. Both have trade-offs. And the right choice for your neighbor isn’t always the right choice for you.
Here’s how we walk customers through the decision after twenty years of installing both.
Cost: asphalt is roughly half the price
Architectural asphalt shingles for an average New Jersey home run $8,000 to $18,000 installed. A standing-seam metal roof for the same home is typically $18,000 to $40,000+.
That’s a real difference. For homeowners who plan to sell in 5–10 years, the math almost always favors asphalt — you won’t recoup the metal premium.
For homeowners staying long-term, the math gets more interesting because of lifespan.
Lifespan: metal lasts 2–3x longer
| Material | Typical NJ lifespan |
|---|---|
| 3-tab asphalt shingles | 15–20 years |
| Architectural asphalt shingles | 25–30 years |
| Standing-seam metal | 50–70 years |
| Stone-coated steel | 40–60 years |
If you’re 40 years old and plan to stay in your home, a metal roof might be the only roof you ever need to install. An asphalt roof you’ll likely replace once.
Weather performance in NJ
New Jersey throws three things at roofs: heavy snow, summer heat, and the occasional severe storm.
Snow & ice: Metal sheds snow naturally, which prevents ice dams — a major NJ winter problem. Asphalt holds snow longer, which can be a problem on lower-pitch roofs.
Wind: Both materials are rated for high winds when installed properly. Premium architectural shingles are warrantied for 110–130 mph. Standing-seam metal handles 140+ mph.
Hail: This is where metal struggles. Hail can dent metal panels, which is cosmetic but irreversible. Asphalt absorbs hail impact and usually shows damage only on inspection.
Summer heat: Metal reflects heat — homeowners often see lower cooling bills. Asphalt absorbs more heat, especially darker shingles.
Looks and curb appeal
Asphalt shingles are the dominant look in most New Jersey neighborhoods. They blend in. They look “right” on colonials, capes, ranches, and most traditional homes.
Metal roofs are growing fast in popularity, especially for modern, farmhouse, and craftsman-style homes. But on a traditional 1960s NJ ranch, a metal roof can look out of place to neighbors and buyers.
If resale matters and you’re in a traditional neighborhood, asphalt is usually the safer choice.
Noise
The “metal roof = loud in rain” myth comes from old, uninsulated barns. A modern metal roof installed over solid decking with proper underlayment is no louder than asphalt. We’ve installed dozens — homeowners almost never report noise complaints.
Installation complexity
Standing-seam metal requires specialized tools and crews trained on metal-specific techniques. Bad metal installations leak — and the leaks can be hard to find. Always verify a contractor’s metal experience before hiring for that material.
Asphalt is more forgiving. Almost every roofer can do it, which is good and bad: more options, but also more variation in quality.
So which one?
Asphalt is probably right for you if:
- You’re staying 5–15 years and want the best ROI
- Your home is traditional and your neighborhood is mostly asphalt
- Budget is the main constraint
- You want a safer choice with more contractor options
Metal is probably right for you if:
- You’re staying 20+ years (or forever)
- You’re in a high-snow, ice-dam-prone area
- You want lower long-term cost despite higher upfront
- You like the look on your home style
- Energy efficiency matters to you
There’s no universal right answer. We install both, we recommend both honestly, and we’ll tell you which is the better fit when we come look at your home.