Last reviewed October 31, 2026.
The roofer leaves two samples on the kitchen table, a strip of architectural shingle and a short piece of standing seam panel, along with two quotes that are far apart. Both roofs will keep the rain out. They differ in what they cost now, how often you pay again, and how they handle wind, salt and snow.
Two quotes, side by side
| Asphalt shingles | Metal | |
|---|---|---|
| Installed, per sq ft in Suffolk | $5 to $9 | $10 to $16 |
| Average home | about $9,000 to $18,000 | $18,000 to $35,000 |
| Years of service in Suffolk | 15 to 20 for 3-tab near the coast, 22 to 28 for architectural | 40 to 70, depending on the metal |
| How wind resistance is tested | ASTM D3161 or D7158, in mph | UL 580 or ASTM E1592, by uplift pressure |
| Impact rating, one example each | UL 2218 Class 3 (CertainTeed Landmark) | UL 2218 Class 4 (Metal Sales standing seam) |
The price, size and lifespan rows come from Home Team Construction in Mastic (July 2026). The ratings come from the manufacturers. The metal system named on the quote moves the price more than anything else, so our metal roof cost guide breaks it out by system, and the roof replacement cost guide does the same for shingles.
How many roofs in fifty years
Home Team’s long view is that across 50 years an asphalt house needs two replacements, totaling $20,000 to $40,000, while a metal house buys one roof in that same range. It adds asphalt repairs of about $500 to $1,500 every few years, against occasional rinsing of salt off the metal. That math only pays off for an owner who stays. Our guide on how long a roof lasts covers what shortens each one.
What the wind ratings measure
Shingle wind ratings come from two lab tests. Writing for the National Roofing Contractors Association’s magazine in September 2018, Mark Graham explained that a shingle passing ASTM D3161 at 110 mph is classed F, and that ASTM D7158 Class H means it passed at an ultimate design wind speed of up to 190 mph.
Standing seam panels go through a different test. Metal Sales lists its panels as tested to ASTM E1592 and compliant with UL 580 Class 90. Both measure resistance to uplift pressure, not a wind speed. A shingle brochure that says 130 mph and a metal spec sheet that says Class 90 are not answering the same question. Home Team puts standing seam at 130 to 160 mph or more and hurricane-rated architectural shingles at 110 to 130 mph when properly installed. Ask each roofer for the standard and class of the exact product they are quoting. Shingle wind warranties are covered on our asphalt shingle page.
Salt air and the paint warranty
Home Team says salt air speeds up granule loss on asphalt, which leaves shingles brittle, while salt spray has minimal effect on aluminum or properly coated steel. Read the metal warranty too. The Metal Sales data sheet offers 45 years on paint film integrity and 35 on chalk and fade, and excludes failure caused by exposure to salt environments. If the house is close to salt water, ask whether the quoted panel’s warranty has a coastal exclusion. Our metal roofing page covers aluminum versus steel by distance from the water.
Rain, heat and sliding snow
DECRA, which makes stone-coated metal roofing, says bare metal drums in the rain because nothing is under it, and that with a deck, insulation and underlayment beneath, it is about as quiet as any other roof (October 2022). The metal roofing page has a decibel comparison from a Long Island roofer.
On summer heat, Home Team puts solar reflectance at about 60 percent for PVDF-coated metal against about 30 percent for asphalt, and says most homes cut cooling costs by 15 to 25 percent. We found no independent Long Island measurement behind that range. An ENERGY STAR sticker will not settle it either. The Cool Roof Rating Council notes that ENERGY STAR certification for roofing products ended on June 1, 2022, and its own directory lists rated products’ reflectance and emittance.
Snow behaves differently on metal. The Metal Roofing Alliance warns that heavy snow can let go all at once without properly installed snow guards, and says the entire eave line should be protected rather than just the spot over a door. Metal Sales recommends clamp-on guards that do not puncture the panels.
Insurance discounts and resale
New York’s Department of Financial Services, in its February 2026 savings guide, tells homeowners to report a new roof to their insurer and names roofs that resist hail or carry high wind ratings among the discounts some policies offer. The discounts the state requires are for hurricane-resistant shutters, windows and doors. A roof discount is up to each insurer, so get a figure before it shapes the decision.
Resale favors shingles. The 2025 Cost vs Value report from the Journal of Light Construction puts an asphalt roof replacement in the New York, NY market at $37,335, recouping 57 percent at sale, and a metal one at $60,246, recouping 44.8 percent. The national averages are 68 and 50 percent. Metal’s payoff is the years you live under it.
Historic districts and neighborhood rules
Going from shingles to metal changes how the house looks from the street, which is what landmark boards review. Our permit guides for Brookhaven, Huntington and Islip cover each town’s historic district review and who to call. Incorporated villages set their own rules. If you belong to a homeowners association, read its covenants before you sign a metal contract.
