Metal Roof or Shingles? How to Decide

Metal roof or shingles?

Published October 13, 2026 · John Beal, Owner, John Beal Roofing

Decide on three things: your budget, how long you'll stay in the house, and the look you want. Both metal and shingles protect your home when they're installed right. The install matters most.

Metal roofs have gotten a lot of attention lately, and plenty of homeowners in St. Louis and Kansas City are asking whether they should skip shingles this time around. There isn't one right answer for every house. There is a simple way to decide, though, and it starts with three questions about you, not the roof.

Question one: what's your budget?

Be honest with yourself here. Metal usually costs more up front than an asphalt shingle roof. For some families that's an easy trade. For others, it's the difference between getting the roof done this year or putting it off. A roof you can afford now, installed right, beats a roof you can't afford that never gets done. Get written quotes for both, measured on your actual roof, so you're comparing real numbers.

Question two: how long will you stay in the house?

If this is the house you plan to stay in for a long time, it's worth looking hard at your options and thinking about the long run. If you're likely to sell in a few years, most people put their money where it makes sense for the time they'll actually be there. Neither answer is wrong. It just changes the math.

Question three: what look do you want?

This one matters more than people admit. Your roof is a big part of what your house looks like from the street. Metal has a clean, distinct look that suits some homes beautifully. Shingles come in a wide range of colors and styles and fit right in on most Midwest neighborhoods. Drive around, look at houses like yours, and notice which ones catch your eye.

Both protect your home when they're installed right

Here's the part that gets lost in the metal-versus-shingles debate. Either one will keep the weather out if it goes on correctly. Either one will leak if it doesn't. The material gets the headlines, but water doesn't care what the roof is made of. It finds the bad flashing, the poorly fastened panel, the missed nail.

The install matters most

That's why the most important choice isn't metal or shingles. It's who puts it on. Ask any roofer how they handle flashing at walls, chimneys and valleys. Ask what workmanship warranty they offer and get it in writing. Ask who actually does the work. Those answers will tell you more about how your roof will hold up than the material ever will.

Talk it through with us

We'll look at your house, listen to your budget and plans, and tell you straight what we'd do if it were our roof. We're family-run, we've been at this since 1947, and our own crews do the work, backed by our limited lifetime workmanship warranty.

What John says in the video

Transcript: Metal roof or shingles? Here's how I'd decide. One: your budget. Two: how long you'll stay in the house. Three: the look you want. Both protect your home when they're installed right. The install matters most. Call me. 1-800-JOHN-BEAL.

Frequently asked questions

Is a metal roof better than shingles?

Neither one is better for every house. Both protect your home when they are installed right. The better choice for you depends on your budget, how long you plan to stay, and the look you want.

Does a metal roof cost more than shingles?

Metal usually costs more up front. Get written quotes for both on your actual roof, measured, so you are comparing real numbers instead of averages.

Should I get a metal roof if I'm selling soon?

If you are moving in a few years, most homeowners put their budget where it pays off for them now. If you plan to stay a long time, it is worth weighing the options more carefully.

What matters more, the material or the installer?

The installer. A great material put on badly will leak. A roof installed right, with proper flashing and fastening, is what keeps water out, whichever material you choose.

Can John Beal Roofing help me decide?

Yes. We will look at your house, talk through your budget and plans, and give you a straight answer in writing. Call 1-800-JOHN-BEAL for a free inspection.