Seven things separate metal from asphalt on an Oklahoma house: what it costs to install, how complex the roof is, wind, hail, noise, how it looks on your street, and repairs later on. Here they are in that order.
Cost
Asphalt is less expensive to install, in most cases significantly. Metal costs more up front, particularly on a complex roof where a large amount of custom flashing work is required.
The counter argument is service life, and it is a real one: a properly installed metal roof should outlast an asphalt roof. Whether that matters depends entirely on how long you intend to own the house. On a property you plan to sell in five years, the longer life is a benefit you are paying for and somebody else collects.
| Asphalt shingle | Metal |
|---|---|
| Less expensive to install, in most cases significantly | Costs more up front, and a properly installed metal roof should outlast it |
Roof complexity, which decides more than people expect
This is the factor that gets underweighted in nearly every comparison. Asphalt shingle is forgiving of complicated geometry: hips, valleys, dormers and penetrations are all routine.
Metal is not. Every one of those features requires custom flashing work, and the cost and the risk both scale with how many there are. On a simple gable roof, metal is close to ideal. On a roof with six dormers, four valleys and a cluster of penetrations, metal becomes both expensive and demanding of a contractor who knows the material well.
| Asphalt shingle | Metal |
|---|---|
| Forgiving: hips, valleys, dormers and penetrations are routine | Every one of those needs custom flashing; close to ideal on a simple gable |
Wind
Advantage metal, when it is fastened correctly. Standing seam systems in particular handle high wind very well, which matters in this state.
Asphalt shingle relies on the seal strip bonding each course to the one below. Wind damage to shingle roofs is usually lifted or creased shingles where that seal has broken, and it is one of the most common storm claims we see.
| Asphalt shingle | Metal |
|---|---|
| Relies on the seal strip; lifted or creased shingles are a common claim | The advantage, when it is fastened correctly |
Hail
This one is more nuanced than either side usually admits.
Hail here can be very large. The National Weather Service recorded 4.6 inch hail in Moore on May 10, 2010, and 2.75 inch hail in Mustang on May 17, 2025.
Hail damages asphalt shingles by bruising: the impact fractures the mat and knocks the protective granules loose. It is invisible from the ground and the shingle degrades from those points afterwards. This is genuine damage with a real consequence for the life of the roof.
Hail damages metal by denting. A dented panel is frequently still perfectly functional, and the roof continues doing its job. Whether that matters to you is largely aesthetic, but it is not nothing, particularly on a highly visible roof plane.
The practical answer for asphalt is a Class 4 impact rated shingle, which is designed to handle hail considerably better than a standard product. It is worth asking your insurance carrier how they treat impact rated roofing, because some treat it differently on premiums.
| Asphalt shingle | Metal |
|---|---|
| Bruises, which shortens its life; a Class 4 shingle handles hail better | Dents; a dented panel is often still perfectly functional |
Noise
Metal is far quieter than its reputation. That reputation comes from metal panels over open framing on barns and outbuildings, which is loud. A metal roof over decking and underlayment on a house with an insulated attic behaves very differently.
Call this a draw for practical purposes, and treat anyone who tells you metal roofs are unbearably noisy as working from a different building type.
| Asphalt shingle | Metal |
|---|---|
| A draw | A draw, over decking, underlayment and an insulated attic |
Appearance and neighborhood fit
Entirely dependent on the house and the street. Standing seam suits contemporary architecture and certain traditional forms extremely well. On some Oklahoma City streets it will look exactly right; on others it will read as out of place in a way that affects resale.
Designer asphalt shingles have also improved substantially, and a good architectural or designer profile looks considerably more expensive from the street than people expect.
Worth knowing: metal shingle systems exist that read as shingle, tile or shake from the ground while behaving like metal. If you want metal performance without a metal appearance, that is the route.
| Asphalt shingle | Metal |
|---|---|
| Designer profiles look more expensive from the street than people expect | Right on some streets, out of place on others; metal shingle reads as shingle, tile or shake |
Repair and future work
Asphalt is easier and cheaper to repair, and matching an existing shingle is usually straightforward while the product is still in production.
Metal repairs are more specialized. Panel replacement in the middle of a run is a more involved job than replacing a few shingles, and matching a finish years later can be difficult.
| Asphalt shingle | Metal |
|---|---|
| Easier and cheaper, and usually simple to match while the product is made | More specialized, and a finish can be hard to match years later |
So which one
Choose asphalt when: your roof is complex, you want predictable cost, you may sell within ten years, or you want the widest range of colors and styles. Ask about Class 4 impact rated products.
Choose metal when: your roof has long simple runs, the architecture suits it, you intend to stay long term, or wind performance is a priority for the building.
Consider metal shingle when: you want metal performance but a traditional appearance.
We install both, which means we have no particular reason to push you toward either. If you want a straight opinion about your specific roof, our assessment is free.
