I’ve seen a lot of folks get tripped up by poor attic ventilation—ice dams in winter, shingles curling in summer. Even the best shingles won’t save you if the airflow’s off. Flashing’s another sneaky trouble spot... leaks love bad flashing. Just my two cents.
Even the best shingles won’t save you if the airflow’s off.
That part really hits home. I manage a few rental properties, and one of them had brand new architectural shingles—looked great, but within two years, the edges started curling. Turns out, the attic vents were basically decorative... zero actual airflow. Had to get a ridge vent installed and add soffit vents after the fact, which was a pain (and not cheap).
If you’re set on asphalt, here’s how I’d break it down based on what I’ve seen:
1. Before you even pick a shingle, check your attic insulation and ventilation. If you see frost or dampness in winter, that’s a red flag.
2. When you get quotes, ask roofers about flashing details—especially around chimneys and valleys. I’ve had leaks pop up just because someone cut corners with step flashing.
3. After install, peek in the attic during a heavy rain. If you see any drips or wet spots, get it fixed before it turns into ceiling stains.
Asphalt’s fine if you stay on top of those details. Ignore them, and yeah... regret city.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’d never go asphalt again after switching to metal with a solar-reflective coating. Yeah, upfront cost is higher, but zero curling, less landfill waste, and my cooling bills dropped. Ventilation still matters, but the roof itself lasts way longer. Just something to consider if you’re planning to stay put.
I totally get the appeal of metal, especially with the crazy weather swings we get here. My hesitation is the price tag—when I got quotes, metal was almost double what asphalt would’ve cost. I’m planning to stay in this house a while, but that upfront cost still stings. I do like the idea of less waste and not having to worry about curling or granules everywhere. Honestly, my neighbor’s asphalt shingles look rough after just 8 years, so maybe I’ll regret going the cheaper route... but it’s hard to pull the trigger on metal when you’re already stretched from buying the place.
Honestly, my neighbor’s asphalt shingles look rough after just 8 years, so maybe I’ll regret going the cheaper route... but it’s hard to pull the trigger on metal when you’re already stretched from buying the place.
I hear you on that sticker shock. Metal isn’t cheap up front—no arguing there. But man, I’ve seen so many folks go with asphalt, only to end up replacing it in 10-12 years (sometimes less, with our wild weather). That’s a lot of money and hassle over time.
I get why people hesitate, though. When I first bought my place, I went with asphalt because my wallet was already crying. Fast forward 9 years, and a hailstorm trashed half my roof. Insurance helped, but it was still a pain. If you’re planning to stay put for a long haul, metal can actually save you money (and headaches) down the line. Less maintenance, no granules clogging up your gutters, and you don’t have to worry about those ugly curls or bald patches.
But yeah, if the budget’s tight after buying, sometimes you just have to do what you can. Maybe look into financing or see if any local programs help offset the cost? Just don’t let the upfront price be the only factor—think about how long you want to go before dealing with this again.
