Asphalt vs. Metal Roofing: Which Is Right for Your Kansas Home?

We get this question at least once a week: should I go with asphalt or metal? And the honest answer is - it depends. Both are good choices for Kansas homes, but they solve different problems and come with very different trade-offs. Let's break it down without the sales pitch.

Asphalt shingles: the workhorse

There's a reason about 80% of the roofs in Johnson County are asphalt. It's proven, it's affordable, and pretty much every roofer in Kansas knows how to install it well. A quality architectural shingle from GAF or Owens Corning will run you somewhere between $350-$500 per square installed, and you'll get 20-30 years out of it depending on the product and the weather.

The downside? Kansas weather beats the hell out of asphalt. Big hail can destroy a roof that's only a few years old. The granules wear down over time, especially on south-facing slopes that bake in the summer sun. And if you're in a hail-prone area - which, let's face it, is most of Kansas - you might end up replacing your roof more than once over 40 years.

Metal roofing: the long game

Metal roofs have come a long way from the corrugated barn panels your grandpa had. Modern standing-seam metal roofing looks sharp, lasts 50+ years, and handles hail way better than asphalt. A lot of metal roofs carry Class 4 impact ratings right out of the box, which can drop your insurance premiums too.

But here's the catch - metal is expensive. You're looking at roughly double the cost of asphalt for a standing-seam install, sometimes more. And finding a roofer who does metal well in the KC area isn't as easy as finding one who does shingles. Bad metal installation leads to leaks at the seams, and fixing those is a pain.

The Kansas weather factor

Kansas throws everything at your roof -100-degree summers, sub-zero winter nights, hail, straight-line winds, and ice storms. Asphalt handles temperature swings well and it's easy to repair when storm damage happens. Metal handles long-term wear better and won't degrade from UV the way asphalt does. One thing people ask about is the noise - yes, metal is louder in heavy rain and hail, though modern underlayment helps a lot with that.

Our take

For most homeowners in the KC metro, asphalt still makes the most sense. The upfront cost is manageable, insurance usually covers storm damage replacements, and you get a reliable roof that does its job. Metal is a great choice if you're planning to stay in your home long-term and you want to stop thinking about your roof for the next 50 years. We install both and we're happy to walk through the numbers with you. Give us a call at (913) 605-0073.