British Columbia · Metal vs asphalt
Metal roof vs asphalt shingles in BC
Asphalt costs less today and lasts about 20 years on published averages; an Interlock® aluminum roof costs more today and is built to be the last roof you buy. For a house you'll keep, compare both written prices over the years you'll own it, counting the next asphalt replacement.
Reviewed by Scott Plumptree, Director of Marketing, The Interlock Group · Updated October 8, 2026
Consultations on Zoom or at your home. Book a Zoom consultation
Asphalt
About 20 years
NAHB / Bank of America study, 2007.
Aluminum
Known to last over 100 years
A property of the metal, not a promise.
BC
2,244 Interlock roofs completed
From our own job book.
Side by side
| Asphalt shingles | Interlock® aluminum roof | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | About 20 years (NAHB / Bank of America, 2007) | Aluminum has been known to last over 100 years; a property of the metal, not a promise |
| Material warranty | Varies by brand and line; read who the warrantor is | Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty: material and finish, original purchaser, transferable once |
| Rain and moss | Granules wear away and trap the debris moss grows in | Absorbs no water and cannot rot; nothing for moss to root into |
| Wind | Tabs can lift and blow off in storms | Panels lock on four sides; wind warranted to 193 km/h (120 mph) installed to manufacturer specification |
| Snow | Holds snow | Sheds snow; snow guards planned where slides would land |
| Weight | Heavier per square metre than aluminum | Roughly 2 to 3.5 kg per square metre |
| At the end | Torn off and sent to landfill, then replaced | Aluminum is recyclable |
| Up-front price | Lower | Higher |
Asphalt life expectancy: National Association of Home Builders and Bank of America Home Equity, Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components, February 2007 (a US study; local weather, design, material quality and maintenance all move it).
BC homes that replaced their roof with aluminum
Recent Interlock® roofs installed by our own BC company. Tap a roof to see all of its photos.
Is a metal roof worth it in BC?
The honest answer depends on how long you'll own the house. An asphalt roof costs less today and will be torn off and replaced, likely more than once, while you live there. An Interlock® aluminum roof costs more today and is built to be the last roof you buy.
The way to decide is with real numbers for your house: get a written asphalt price and a written Interlock® price, then compare them over the years you expect to stay, counting the next asphalt tear-off and replacement. Our metal roof cost guide shows what BC homeowners have actually paid, and we'll give you your own price in writing after one visit, on Zoom or at your home.
When asphalt is the better choice
- You plan to sell within a few years and the buyer won't pay for the roof.
- The roof's slope is below 3/12 (every Interlock profile needs at least 3/12).
- The budget today simply doesn't allow it, and the current roof can't wait.
If you're replacing asphalt now
A single layer of asphalt can be roofed over only if our inspection finds it suitable; otherwise it comes off. Cedar shakes always come off. Ice dams are a separate question from the roof covering: they come from heat loss and ventilation, and ice damming is a stated exclusion of the material warranty, so we look at your attic with you.
Questions, answered
Is a metal roof better than asphalt shingles?
For a house you plan to keep, usually yes: a metal roof sheds rain and snow, absorbs no water for moss or rot to work on, and outlasts asphalt, which a 2007 NAHB / Bank of America study put at about 20 years. Asphalt costs less up front.
How long do asphalt shingles last in BC?
Published averages put asphalt shingles at about 20 years (NAHB / Bank of America, 2007), and local weather, design, material quality and maintenance all move that. Wet winters, moss, shade and summer sun all work on asphalt.
Is a metal roof louder than shingles in the rain?
Installed over a solid deck and underlayment, as residential Interlock® roofs are, it isn't the drumming of bare metal on an open-framed barn.
Does a metal roof increase home value?
We don't publish a number for that; it depends on your market. What a buyer gets is a roof that won't need replacing and a Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty that transfers once.
Can a metal roof go over asphalt shingles?
Sometimes: a single layer of asphalt can be roofed over only if an inspection finds it suitable. Otherwise it comes off first.
How do I compare the cost of metal and asphalt?
Get both prices in writing and compare them over the years you'll own the home, including the next asphalt replacement. For an Interlock® roof, book a free consultation on Zoom or at home, or call (604) 210-3850.
Sources
- National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity: Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (February 2007)
- Guardian Lifetime Limited Material Warranty (full terms)
- Interlock Roofing: aluminum shingles, technical specifications
Product specifications are the manufacturer's (Interlock Roofing). Install counts are from our own job book. Reviewed by Scott Plumptree, October 8, 2026.
Get a written price to compare.
A fixed price in writing after one visit, on Zoom or at your home. Most BC homeowners choose Zoom. Interlock Metal Roofing (BC) Ltd. · 9969 River Way, Delta, BC V4G 1M8
