The 3 types of asphalt shingles are 3 tab, Architectural, and Premium. The 3 tab is the least expensive and therefore the most popular. It generally costs between $2.50 to $3.50 an sq. ft. installed by a roofing company depending on location. The Architectural shingle (also called a Dimensional shingle) is in the $4 to $6 range installed and the Premium will sell for in the $6 to $9 installed range. Even though they have 25, 30, and 50-year warranties they typically will only last 15, 20, and 25 years depending on weather, sun direction, and winds. I have seen an Architectural shingle only last 7 years and I just had a roofer call me to say his lasted 2 years.

Why are these asphalt shingles not lasting as long as they used to? According to Roof Revivers of Columbus Ohio, “There are more algae on roofs today because manufacturers use crushed limestone within the shingle as a filler so they don’t have to use as much asphalt. Since asphalt is an expensive, petroleum-based product, they try to minimize it by using more crushed limestone.”

They go on to say that,” The truth is, a 30-year shingle will not really last 30 years.  The expected service life of a 30-year product, if properly cared for, is approximately 25 years. If it’s not cared for properly, that 30-year shingle will only last 12 to 15 years.  That’s one of the big misconceptions in the roofing marketplace. And the manufacturers know that their warranties are so watered down, they have very little callback.”

If an Architectural shingle averages 25 years and it’s the cost to install is $5 an sq. ft. then the cost per year of this shingle on a 2000 sq. ft. the roof is $400 per year. If we compare that to the 4Ever metal shingle that installs for about $6.50 per sq. ft and lasts 100 years (How long do metal roofs last and why do they last so long) then the average cost per year of the 4Ever metal shingle is $130 per Year. Add the fact that homes with metal roofs sell for more and you can see why the 4Ever metal shingle is becoming very popular.

If you would like to see this beautiful 4Ever Metal Shingle please visit us at AlphaRain.com or call us at 540-222-1642

Written By: Brandy Dysart
Owner and Founder of Alpha Rain Metal Roofing

The first difference is that the 4Ever metal shingles were actually designed to compete with asphalt shingles price-wise. The high labor costs and difficult installation issues were the two greatest obstacles. The labor costs to install all other metal shingles on the market were high because of the highly trained installers as well as the very slow installation rate. Roofers measure the square footage of a roof by the square. One square equals 100 square feet. The average squares a 4 man crew can install a standing seam metal roof is about 4 squares a day. An asphalt shingle crew of 4 men can install about 10 square on the average. Most metal shingle profiles on the market average about 4 square as well with about 3 times the labor cost of Asphalt due to the high skill level needed.

    The 4Ever metal shingle can keep pace with the asphalt shingle installer in both skill level and labor cost. A good installer can learn in two or three days how to install the 4Ever metal shingle. These crews also like the fact that the 4Ever metal shingle weighs a third less and nails in place with a coil nail gun. Since it interlocks on all four sides it is hard to misalign but is also adjustable. The plastic that protects the paint during the manufacturing, packaging, and installation process only takes about less than two hours on an average 25 square job to remove so every roof looks pristine once completed.

    As we noted in a recent blog (How long do metal roofs last and why do they last so long?) the 4Ever metal shingle has over a 150-year life expectancy. I was once asked as a teenager what was the least expensive car you could by. Imagine my amazement when the answer was a Rolls Royce, not the VW bug I was currently driving. The math is easy so instead of a Rolls Royce let’s do the same math with the 4Ever metal roof versus asphalt and let’s use a real example.

    Not too long ago an owner of a large riding arena called and asked for an estimate. The arena was 12 years old and had a low slope roof, about a 2.5/12 pitch (for every 12 feet it dropped 2.5 feet). The asphalt shingles were a 30-year Dimensional asphalt shingle. We believe part of the reason this roof deteriorated so quickly is that asphalt shingles aren’t warrantied for a slope less than 4/12.  An Ice & Water Shield is recommended for these slopes. Our estimate was based on a low slope simple installation. When I spoke to the owner after he took some other estimates he complained that we were too expensive. My price was $1 a square foot more. If you do the same thing over again and expect different result then some people say that’s the definition of insanity. The arena owner was choosing to install the same shingle that failed because the Rolls Royce of roofing cost 2% more. For 2% he was getting a beautiful permanent roof with a 150-year life expectancy versus the identical roof that failed in 12 years.

    You must ask yourself when buying an asphalt roof do you want a temporary roof that you will have to replace in 12 years or a permanent roof that will cost the same or a little more as you’re the temporary roof?

    If you would like to look at the 4Ever metal shingle please visit us : AlphaRain.com  If you live in the Northern Virginia area and would like an estimate please fill out a quick contact form and we will set up an appointment with you.

Written By: Brandy Dysart
Owner and Founder of Alpha Rain Metal Roofing