When you are choosing a new roofing material for your home, you need to weigh your options carefully. To save money, you might be tempted to choose the roofing material that comes with the lowest initial costs, but you also need to look at which material will allow you to save the most money down the road. For example, asphalt roofing might look promising initially, but you will likely get a better value from metal roofing in the long run. 

An Analysis of Asphalt Roofing

One of the main appeals of asphalt roofing is that it is the least expensive roofing material on the market. Shingles are made from a fiberglass or tarpaper base to which asphalt and then granules of metal or stone are bonded. Anything from foot traffic to falling limbs to hailstones can scrape these granules off of your roof. From there, the UV rays of the sun can dry out the asphalt, leaving the shingles brittle and prone to cracking. A high wind can catch the bottom edge of the shingles and rip them right off your roof. In other words, asphalt shingles are susceptible to weather damage. Furthermore, they will absorb the sun's rays and allow some of that heat to leak into and heat up your home. 

An Analysis of Metal Roofing

Metal roofing will cost more to install than asphalt roofing, but metal roofing has a longer lifespan than asphalt shingles and is less prone to damage. Galvanized steel, for example, can last for sixty years or more while copper can last almost indefinitely. Thus, when you use metal roofing, you minimize repair costs and greatly reduce replacement costs. As a further advantage, metal roofing is naturally reflective and when treated with an emissive coating, it can reduce your cooling costs by up to 40%. A final advantage of metal roofing is that it is nonflammable, so if you live in a forested area or use a wood-burning stove to heat your home, you don't have to worry that a stray spark will ignite your roof. 

In some cases, you have to spend money to save money. This definitely applies to purchasing roofing for your home. Asphalt roofing is a good, economical roofing, but it can leave you exposed to higher costs down the road. To minimize long-term costs, purchase a light-colored asphalt shingle. However, if you live in an area that gets a lot of extreme weather, or you want to really limit your maintenance and cooling costs, metal roofing is the better choice.

For more information, contact roofing experts, like those at Alpen Roofing.