I went through this same debate a few years back. The noise thing with metal roofs really depends on how much insulation and decking you’ve got underneath. Standing seam is definitely quieter than the old-school corrugated panels, but if your neighbor’s place sounds like a drumline, I’d bet they skipped adding any sound-deadening layers. If you go metal, make sure there’s solid sheathing (like plywood) and a good underlayment between the panels and your attic—makes a world of difference in noise.
Midwest freeze-thaw cycles are brutal. I had asphalt shingles for years and got tired of replacing blown-off tabs and dealing with ice dams. Metal sheds snow better, and standing seam especially doesn’t have exposed fasteners to leak or back out over time. That said, it’s pricey up front. I did the math and figured with the longer lifespan and less hassle, metal would pay off in the long run—especially since I don’t plan on moving.
If I had to do it over, I’d still go with standing seam, but only if you can swing the cost and make sure it’s installed right. Otherwise, high-quality architectural shingles aren’t a bad fallback.
