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

Best can refer to longevity, attractiveness, cost or water and wind durability, as well as energy efficiency so let’s discuss all of them.

Longevity is simple because a metal roof is a permanent roof, not a temporary roof. Remember, asphalt shingle roofs are made to start deteriorating from the day they are installed. There were 9 rate increases last year alone due to the increase in price on all petroleum-based products. To keep the cost down manufacturers are decreasing. by as much as 30%. the amount of asphalt in their shingles with the result of a shorter lifetime. One of the filler materials being used is crushed limestone which promotes the growth of algae and reduces the effective lifetime by several years unless you pay for a fairly costly roof cleaning process every year. A “lifetime” asphalt shingle may only last 15 or 20 years. Our Galvalume coated shingles have a 40-year coating warranty from cracking or peeling. Recent tests on 50-year-old non painted Galvalume roofs have shown that at their current rate of corrosion they will last more than 100 years. Add 40 years for the coating warranty and you really do have a permanent roof.

When we talk about attractiveness metal roofs win hands down. They never grow algae or mold and they don’t discolor. Rain cleans them naturally and they stay looking new for years and years. Our metal shingles come in many attractive colors and they are all Energy Star rated so they save you energy as well.

As far as an affordable roof these roofs will outlast asphalt shingle roofs for many replacements so it is literally the cheapest roofing costs available. Buy one asphalt shingle roof today and another in 15 years and you have already paid twice what our metal shingle roof cost.

Asphalt shingle roofs all have warranty exclusions for 50 mph winds. Our roofs will withstand hurricane-force wind-driven rain with no problems and it won’t void the 40-year paint warranty. You won’t experience blown shingles or torn tabs with our metal shingles like you will with asphalt shingles.  You also don’t have to worry about your tar strip not adhering if you install in the winter or if the tar strips get dirty as you do with asphalt roofs.

Our metal shingles have an energy-saving benefit as well. Our Advanced Option can lower your asphalt shingle attic temperature in the middle of the summer from 170 to 130 degrees. Install our Platinum Option and we can reduce the temperature to the 105 range. These roofs will literally pay for themselves if you live in a house long enough so you can see why they are the best roof in every category.

Tailor Made Metal Roofing Middleburg VA

These particular results have actually never before been seen on a process in which is truly budget friendly. Our firm has been searching this kind of air flow system for around 11 years for Metal Roofing Middleburg VA.  The central question concerning the Ventilation systems from the past was without a doubt the expense needed installing them. Almost all of the preceding solutions use a counter batten wood system, which while it could obtain more or less some results the cost is usually way out of hand.  Also you are using a good deal of natural resources which with our new under metal roof ventilation system does not need to use. If you want techniques to turn your building much cooler in the warm weather and save you money on your AC bill then you need to at least consult with our business and understand precisely what your options are. Our direct numbers are listed below and we are a low stress organization, meaning we will not pressure you to buy something that you do not need.

For Metal Roofing Middleburg VA we have created a patented roof ventilation system. We tested the temperature and it was 96 degrees outside and 150 degrees in the attic, then once we installed the ventilation system it was 96 degrees outside and it was 103 degrees inside the attic.

Underneath we have our info, and also below I offer a web site to the Metal Roofing Alliance. This is the place you are able to search for contractors, in addition to just us Alpha Rain. We believe that competitors will certainly not be able to provide you items such as our improved Made to Order custom made solar energy ridge fans, or our new patented under roof ventilation system.  We leave it up to you the consumer to make your own decisions. Have a look at the online video listed below called Metal Roofing Middleburg VA,

We are a part of the Metal Roofing Alliance as listed above, which is a great place to get more metal roofing information. Please Contact us for more information or for a free estimate for Metal Roofing Middleburg VA, or if you live in or around, Hamilton, Fairfax, or any other part of Northern Virginia, Leesburg, or Round Hill.  Please contact us more information on your new tin roofing.