Before you re-shingle
Why Asphalt Roofs Fail, and Why NJ Owners Switch to Metal
Why asphalt roofs fail in New Jersey comes down to sun, freeze-thaw cycles, ice dams and wind acting on a product made of asphalt, a mat and loose mineral granules. This page explains what wears out a shingle roof, how to spot the end, and when switching to metal makes sense. If you switch, your roofer orders the metal panels and trim from our New Brunswick shop, or you send us the roofer’s cut list.
- Owner's 26+ years in metal
- Delivery or shop pickup
- Free written quotes
How long do asphalt shingles last?
About 15 to 30 years on average, according to the Copper Development Association. Roofs often wear out sooner on sunny slopes, under trees that hold moisture, or over hot, poorly vented attics.
That range covers the shingle itself. Leaks often start earlier at the flashing, the eaves or the valleys, where the shingle relies on other parts to stay dry. Storms can end a roof early too, so after a big wind event look for creased or missing tabs.
What actually makes asphalt shingles fail?
A handful of slow processes, most of them driven by heat, water and time. Several usually work on the same roof at once.
Granule loss
The mineral granules shield the asphalt from sunlight. As they wash into the gutters, the asphalt underneath dries out, hardens and cracks.
Freeze-thaw cycling
Water that gets into cracks and nail holes freezes, expands and widens the gap. New Jersey winters cross the freezing mark again and again, so the damage repeats through the season.
Ice dams
Attic heat melts snow higher on the roof, the water refreezes at the cold eave, and the pond behind the ice backs up under the shingle laps; our guide to ice dams and metal roofs in New Jersey covers the causes and fixes.
Wind
Shingles rely on adhesive strips to stay flat. Strips that never sealed, or that have aged out, let wind lift and crease the tabs, and a creased tab leaks.
Heat and poor ventilation
A hot attic bakes shingles from below and speeds their aging. Ventilation and insulation problems shorten any roof, so have your roofer check them before a new roof goes on, metal included.
Algae and moss
Dark streaks on shaded slopes are usually algae. They are mostly cosmetic but hold moisture, and moss can lift shingle edges.
Flashing failures
Many shingle leaks are really flashing leaks at chimneys, walls and skylights, where old step flashing was reused or caulked instead of replaced. Our custom metal flashing page covers the step, counter and valley pieces we form for roofers.
What are the signs an asphalt roof is near the end?
Curling, bald spots and granules in the gutters are the classic signs. Leaks after every storm and a soft deck underfoot mean the roof is past repair.
- Shingle edges curling up or cupping down
- Bare patches, and granules piling up at downspouts
- Cracked, creased or missing tabs after wind
- Nail heads pushing up through the shingles
- Daylight or damp wood visible from the attic
- Ceiling stains after storms or snowmelt
- A sagging or spongy feel along the eaves
- Two or more layers already on the roof, adding weight and hiding the deck
Repair or replace: what makes sense now?
If the shingles still have good years left, a repair by a shingle roofer often makes more sense than a new roof now. A single leak at a chimney or vent is usually a flashing repair, not a reason to re-roof.
When repairs keep coming back in different places, or the signs above show up across the roof, replacement usually makes more sense. That is the point where many owners compare metal with another round of shingles.
Why do owners switch to metal instead of re-shingling?
To stop repeating the job. A metal roof with hidden fasteners and a durable finish can outlast more than one shingle roof, and it handles snow and ice with fewer weak points.
Painted steel and aluminum carry the coil maker’s finish warranty, often for decades; our warranties page explains who covers what. Natural copper and zinc last longer still, by published estimates.
- No granules to wash away
- Seams that stand above the water instead of flat laps
- No exposed fasteners on standing seam
- Seam clamps for solar, without drilling the roof
- Trim and flashing formed in the panel color instead of caulked joints
Read the full benefits of metal roofing, or compare the types of metal roofing if you want a shake, slate or tile look.
What happens to the old roof when you switch to metal?
In most cases the roofer tears it off down to the deck. That lets the roofer replace soft or rotted sheathing, lay clean underlayment and set an ice barrier at the eaves directly on the wood.
Re-roofing a detached one- or two-family home is generally ordinary maintenance in New Jersey with no construction permit, while other buildings generally need one. Ask your roofer to check attic ventilation and insulation too, and to plan snow guards above doors and walkways, since metal sheds snow faster than shingles.
Where does our shop fit in?
Your roofer measures the roof and sends us a cut list for the standing seam panels and trim. Field dimensions are the installer’s responsibility. We reply with a written quote within 24-48 hours, and the panels and trim are typically ready in 1-2 days, depending on color and gauge.
We deliver within about a 5-hour drive of our New Brunswick shop, covering New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland, or your roofer picks up at the shop during office hours, Monday–Friday 7 AM–5 PM. Delivery is quoted with the order. Our guide on how to send a cut list for metal roof panels shows what the list needs.
Is metal worth it if you might move?
It depends on how long you will stay. Metal costs more up front than a new shingle roof, so the payback is clearest for owners who keep the house.
A buyer still sees a newer roof with paperwork behind it, so keep the roofer’s contract, the warranty papers and the color name in your house file. Our page on what drives the cost of metal roof panels explains what sets the price of the panels and trim. There is no minimum order, and if you have a lower written quote for the same parts, send it with your request and we will match or beat it.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need: the product, the metal and finish, and your dimensions or cut list. Attach a photo, sketch or cut list if you have one. We reply with a written quote within 24-48 hours. Delivery within about five hours of our New Brunswick shop, or pickup.
Or text a photo or sketch with dimensions to (732) 236-8750
Prefer to talk now? Call (732) 201-5224, Monday–Friday 7 AM–5 PM. Text us a photo or sketch Fully insured
Questions about failing asphalt roofs
Why do asphalt shingles fail early?
Usually from heat and water working together: granule loss, a hot and poorly vented attic, freeze-thaw cycles and ice dams. Flashing that was reused or caulked often leaks before the shingles themselves wear out.
Can a metal roof go over my asphalt shingles?
A few panel makers allow it in narrow cases. Most roofers strip the shingles instead, so they can inspect and repair the deck and put the ice barrier and underlayment directly on the wood. The panel maker’s installation instructions govern.
How do I know if my roof needs replacing or just a repair?
A single leak at a chimney or vent is often a flashing repair. Widespread curling, bald spots, granules in the gutters and repeated leaks in different places point to a roof at the end of its life.
Do ice dams mean my shingles were installed wrong?
Not necessarily. Ice dams start with heat escaping into the attic and melting the snow. A missing ice barrier at the eave can turn an ice dam into a leak, though.
How long does a metal roof last compared with shingles?
The Copper Development Association puts asphalt shingles at about 15 to 30 years on average and estimates copper roofs at more than a century. Painted steel and aluminum carry coil-maker finish warranties that often run for decades.
Who installs the metal panels you make?
Your roofer. We are a fabrication shop: we make the standing seam panels and trim to the roofer’s cut list, and the roofer installs them. Homeowners can also send us the cut list directly.
Done with re-roofing?
Replace your last shingle roof with metal
Send your roofer’s cut list, or have the roofer send it. We reply within 24-48 hours with a written quote for standing seam panels and matching trim, delivered or ready for pickup at our shop.