15
+
Years of Experience
1,100
+
Projects Completed
300
+
5-Star Reviews
"Should I go metal or stick with shingles?" comes up on more of our estimates every year. Metal roofing used to be something you saw on barns and commercial buildings. Now it is showing up on colonials in Monroe, capes at the shore, and new construction all over Middlesex and Monmouth counties.
WDM installs both. We put on asphalt shingle roofs from GAF, CertainTeed, IKO, and Owens Corning, and we install standing seam and ribbed metal systems. So we do not have a horse in this race. Here is how the two actually compare for a New Jersey home, category by category.
Asphalt shingles are the value option. In 2026, an architectural shingle roof on a typical NJ home generally lands in the $4.50 to $8.50 per square foot range installed, depending on pitch, complexity, and how much decking needs attention. Our guide to what a new roof costs in New Jersey breaks down what moves that number.
Metal roofing costs more, and the gap is real. Ribbed (exposed fastener) panels typically run $8 to $13 per square foot installed. Standing seam, the premium system with concealed fasteners and clean vertical lines, generally runs $12 to $20 per square foot. On a 2,000 square foot roof, that can mean a $25,000 to $40,000 standing seam roof versus a $10,000 to $17,000 shingle roof.
The long-view math: a quality architectural shingle roof lasts 25 to 30 years in our climate. A standing seam roof lasts 40 to 70. Over a 50-year window, a shingle homeowner is likely paying for two roofs, and the second one at future prices. Metal is often close to a wash on total cost, sometimes better. But that only matters if you plan to be in the house long enough to benefit.
WDM does not publish fixed price menus because every roof is different. We look at the job in person and give you a written proposal with materials listed by brand, and the estimate is free. We also offer flexible financing plans, which narrows the up-front gap for homeowners who want metal.
Architectural asphalt shinglesStanding seam metalTypical lifespan in NJ25 to 30 years40 to 70 yearsManufacturer material warranty30 years to limited lifetime, depending on productTypically 30 to 50 years on the finishMain aging issueGranule loss, cracking, curlingFinish fade or chalking after decades
New Jersey is hard on shingles. Freeze-thaw cycles in January, 95-degree attic temperatures in July, and salt air near the coast all shorten asphalt's life. Metal shrugs most of that off. Every roof we install, metal or shingle, comes with both the manufacturer's material warranty and WDM's own workmanship warranty.
The number one objection we hear about metal is "won't it be loud when it rains?"
On a barn with metal screwed straight to open purlins, yes. On a house, no. A residential metal roof is installed over solid plywood or OSB decking with underlayment underneath, and there is an insulated attic between the roof and your ceiling. In that assembly, the difference between metal and shingles during a rainstorm is small enough that most homeowners never notice it.
If you are especially sensitive to sound, tell us during the assessment. There are underlayment options that add a bit more dampening.
Metal is lighter. A standing seam roof weighs roughly 1 to 1.5 pounds per square foot. Architectural shingles weigh 3 to 4.5 pounds per square foot. That matters on older homes with marginal framing and on additions where the structure was not overbuilt. It is also why metal is a common choice on low-slope sections where heavy materials are a problem.
New Jersey gets nor'easters, the tail end of hurricanes, and the occasional derecho. Standing seam panels are mechanically locked together and fastened with concealed clips, so there is no exposed edge for wind to grab. Architectural shingles from the major manufacturers are rated for 110 to 130 mph winds when installed to spec, which is solid, but individual shingles can still lift if the seal strip fails or the installation was rushed.
Snow slides off metal. That is good for shedding load and bad if the snow lands on a walkway or a gutter, so snow guards are often part of a metal roof design in NJ. Shingles hold snow, which is fine structurally but is one contributor to ice dams if the attic is under-insulated.
Metal reflects more solar radiation than dark asphalt, and most residential metal finishes are available in cool-roof colors. In summer, that can mean a measurably cooler attic and a lower cooling bill. Shingle manufacturers now offer reflective granule products too, so the gap has narrowed, but metal still has the edge on a south-facing NJ roof in August.
If solar is in your future, it changes the calculation. Standing seam metal is the best roof there is for solar, because panels clamp directly to the seams with no roof penetrations at all. Shingles work fine with solar, but every mount is a hole in the roof, and if the shingles are due for replacement in 12 years, the panels have to come off and go back on.
WDM handles both sides of that: roofing and solar panel removal, reinstallation, and decommissioning. Our guide to replacing a roof with solar panels already installed covers the details.
Both roofs help a sale, because buyers and inspectors care most about age and condition. A new shingle roof is a clean bill of health for 25 years. A standing seam roof is a selling point that stands out in a listing, and it tells a buyer they will likely never replace it.
On looks, it is personal. Shingles come in dozens of colors and profiles and suit any traditional NJ home. Standing seam reads as modern or farmhouse, and it looks especially sharp on additions, porches, and low-slope sections paired with a shingle main roof. That mixed approach is one of the most common things we install.
Choose asphalt shingles if:
Choose metal if:
Choose both if: you want standing seam on a porch, addition, or low-slope section and shingles on the main roof. It performs well and looks intentional.
Every roof we quote gets an in-person assessment first. We will measure the roof, check the decking, talk through both options honestly, and give you a written proposal for whichever direction you want, or both side by side.
WDM Contracting is based in Monroe, NJ and installs asphalt shingle, standing seam, and ribbed metal roofing on homes and commercial buildings across New Jersey.
Request your free estimate or call 848-360-6121.