Asphalt Shingle vs Metal Roofing for a Buffalo Home

Snow shedding, street by street

Snow shedding is where Buffalo's climate tips the scale. Metal's smooth, hard surface encourages snow to slide rather than pile, which reduces the standing snow load and the freeze-thaw cycle that drives ice dams. That advantage matters most in the snowbelt south of the city rather than at the airport. During the November 2022 lake-effect storm, the National Weather Service recorded about 82 inches at Orchard Park while the Buffalo airport measured only 36 inches, a gap that shows how uneven snow load can be within a few miles. Asphalt shingles hold snow longer, which is not automatically bad, but it puts more emphasis on attic ventilation, insulation, and ice-and-water shield at the eaves. When a metal roof sheds onto a walkway, doorway, or driveway, snow guards are added to control the release.

Wind, hail, and how the two age

Beyond snow, both materials must survive Western New York's wind, freeze-thaw swings, and the occasional summer hail. Metal panels are non-combustible and shrug off wind uplift and impact better than most shingles, and they do not curl, crack, or lose granules the way asphalt does as it ages. Asphalt has improved substantially, though. Architectural shingles carry strong wind ratings and Class A fire ratings, and quality lines from CertainTeed and Owens Corning are engineered for freeze-thaw durability. The practical difference is how the two age. Metal holds its performance nearly flat for decades, while asphalt degrades gradually and predictably, which is why the 22 to 25 year figure is an expectation, not a guarantee, when ventilation or ice damming is neglected.

The noise myth

Noise is the concern homeowners raise most about metal, and it is largely a myth for modern systems. A metal roof installed over solid decking with a synthetic underlayment is only marginally louder in heavy rain than asphalt, because the panels are not drumming over open framing the way a bare barn roof does. Asphalt shingles are slightly quieter by nature, so noise-sensitive owners sometimes lean that way, but it should rarely be the deciding factor once proper decking and underlayment are in place.

What resale gives back

Resale value favors both, with a caveat. According to the Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, a new asphalt shingle roof recoups roughly 60 percent of its cost at resale, one of the more reliable exterior returns a homeowner can make. Metal recoups a smaller share of its higher price at sale, so the metal premium is best justified by the years you plan to stay in the home rather than by an immediate appraisal bump. Buyers in Western New York recognize a newer roof as one less thing to worry about, and a documented, warrantied installation supports that perception with either material.

What the terms mean

Architectural shingle

A laminated, multi-layer asphalt shingle, also called a dimensional shingle, that mimics the look of wood shakes and typically lasts about 22 to 25 years, longer than flat 3-tab shingles. It is the most common mid-grade roofing choice on Buffalo homes.

Standing seam

A metal roofing system made of vertical panels joined by raised, interlocking seams that conceal the fasteners. The smooth, continuous surface sheds snow readily and can last 40 to 70 years, which makes it well suited to Buffalo's lake-effect climate.

Sources

• National Weather Service, Buffalo Monthly Snowfall
• Metal Roofing Alliance, Snow & Ice
• NerdWallet, Metal Roof vs. Asphalt Shingles: Cost, Lifespan and Installation
• This Old House, Shingles vs. Metal Roof Cost
• National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
• Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, roof ROI summary (Opendoor)