Metal roofs definitely have their perks, especially durability-wise, but I get the hesitation about noise. Honestly though, with proper insulation and underlayment, the sound isn't nearly as intense as people think. I've installed a few metal roofs where clients were pleasantly surprised by how quiet it turned out. Curious if anyone's looked into composite shingles or rubber roofing? They're quieter and still pretty durable—might be worth considering if noise is a big concern.
I've worked with composite shingles a few times, and clients have generally been pretty happy. They're definitely quieter than metal, and you can get some really nice looks that mimic slate or wood shakes without the maintenance headaches. Rubber roofing is great too, especially if your roof has a flatter pitch—it's durable and handles weather well. Might be worth checking out some samples in person to see what feels right for your house...
Composite shingles are definitely a solid choice—I remember working with a client who was dead-set on slate until she saw the price tag. We ended up going with composite shingles that mimicked slate, and honestly, from the street you'd never know the difference. Plus, she loved how quiet they were during heavy rains compared to her neighbor's metal roof.
Rubber roofing is interesting too; I've mostly seen it used commercially or on flat residential roofs. Had a friend who put it on his mid-century modern home with a low pitch, and it's held up really well through some nasty storms. He did mention it can get pretty hot in direct sun though, so insulation and ventilation became extra important.
Have you thought about how much sunlight your roof gets? That might influence your choice more than you'd think...
We had a similar issue with a client whose roof got tons of direct afternoon sun. Composite shingles worked great visually, but we had to carefully plan attic ventilation and insulation to manage the heat buildup... definitely don't skip that step.
"Composite shingles worked great visually, but we had to carefully plan attic ventilation and insulation to manage the heat buildup... definitely don't skip that step."
Totally agree on the ventilation and insulation points. A couple extra things we found helpful when we replaced ours:
- Considered lighter-colored shingles to reflect more sunlight—made a noticeable difference in attic temps.
- Installed radiant barrier sheathing underneath; wasn't too pricey and really helped cut down heat transfer.
- Added soffit vents along with ridge vents for better airflow.
Little details like these saved us money long-term on cooling bills... worth the extra planning upfront.
