Metal Roof vs. Slate Roof: Comparing the Pros and Cons for Your Home

When choosing a roof for your home, two popular options are metal and slate. Both have advantages and disadvantages that are important to weigh. In this blog post, we’ll compare the pros and cons of metal roof vs. slate roofs to help you determine the best fit for your home. Key factors we’ll examine include durability, appearance, maintenance needs, environmental impact, and cost. 

By the end, you’ll better understand the main differences between these two roofing materials so you can decide on your next roof replacement or new construction project. Whether you value longevity, aesthetics, affordability, or eco-friendliness, understanding how metal and slate roofs stack up is an essential first step before moving forward with your roofing project.

Comparing Metal Roofs vs Slate Roofs

We will first start with durability. Both metal and slate roofs are incredibly durable. In terms of their ability to resist direct impact, metal handles it better than slate. Slate tiles can be cracked or broken if there is a direct impact from something large (like flying debris). Metal roofing can withstand a direct impact a bit better, and while it may be dented, it is very rare for the metal to be punctured by flying debris. 

Metal roofs can be walked on more easily without causing damage, too. Slate roofs need a roofer familiar with walking on slate tiles to inspect them without causing damage. Regarding durability and water damage resistance, slate wins out over metal. While some metals are resistant to rust, almost all of them can be damaged by water in the long term. 

Appearance

Appearance is a matter of personal preference. Both slate & metal have their place as architectural materials. Homeowners with more traditional homes may find a place for both slate & metal on the original styling of their home. Slate and copper, for instance, were widely used on the East Coast in homes that belonged to people of means.

If you had to choose whether one option looks better, it may be a question of original design style. If a home was initially built with a slate roof, it may not have the same appearance if you put a standing seam metal roof on it. Conversely, if you have a more modern home built with the lines of a metal roof in mind, a slate roof might look out of place. A reputable roofer will be able to help you navigate this decision and may even be able to render some drawings to help you envision it.   

Maintenance Needs

Both slate & metal roofs are relatively low maintenance. This is not the same as no maintenance, however. They will both need to be inspected periodically to ensure no minor issues could shorten the roofing system’s lifespan. 

Environmental Impact

Metal and slate roofs can rightfully claim environmental friendliness, although even that is measured in different ways. Metal requires mining and manufacturing to make the product. It is long-lasting, and once it has lived a full life on the roof of a home, it can be recycled.

Slate, on the other hand, requires very little in the way of manufacturing. It is mainly just dug up, cut to size & shipped. Once its usefulness as a roof tile has ended, it can be disposed of easily without harming the environment. It is simply a metamorphic rock that is returning to the ground.

Cost

Slate usually costs more than metal roofing, but that is not always the case. Some natural metals (like copper) can also be quite costly. The difference in cost would depend on the type of metal or slate chosen for the project & also the amount of cuts needed to cover the roof. If a roof has a basic rectangular shape, fewer cuts will be required & less labor cost is necessary. Intricate roofs with many gables and decorative features may incur a higher labor cost. The higher cost of slate is expected in most cases, though, since the lifespan of slate is usually double or more than that of a metal roof. Metal roof life expectancy is 50-70 years, whereas slate comes in at 150-200+ years.   

Considerations

The considerations for metal and slate roofing are many. Deciding between these two materials will necessitate that you first prioritize. Which attributes are most important to you before you move forward with making a choice? Letting your roofing contractor know why you’re making a choice can help them serve you better as they seek creative solutions to your roofing needs.

If you are looking for a reputable roofing contractor with expertise in slate & metal, plus many other types of roofing, please contact Stevens Roofing. We have served customers in the Norfolk & Richmond areas for generations and would love to help you tackle your roofing project.