For a Saskatchewan roof, the two materials most homeowners weigh are asphalt shingles and metal. Both work here, but they behave very differently through a prairie winter, and the right answer depends on how long you plan to stay and what you want the roof to do.
W Contracting Roofing is a Saskatoon roofing company, and we install both of the systems compared below.
Here is how metal roofing and asphalt shingles compare on the things that actually matter on the prairies: snow, ice, hail, lifespan and cost.
How each one handles snow and ice
Metal is hard to beat at shedding snow. Its smooth surface lets snow slide off before it can build into a heavy load, which also gives ice dams less to form on. Asphalt shingles hold snow longer, so attic ventilation and clear eavestroughs, soffit and fascia matter more to keep ice dams in check. Both can be detailed to handle a prairie winter well, but metal has the edge on snow shedding, and a properly vented shingle roof closes most of the gap.
Standing up to prairie hail
Saskatoon gets serious hail, and it is the one area where the two trade places. Metal resists punctures and rarely loses its waterproofing to hail, though a bad storm can leave cosmetic dents. Asphalt shingles absorb a hard hit without denting, but a severe storm can bruise them and strip the granules that protect them. Impact-rated shingles narrow that difference. Either way, storm damage is often an insurance matter, which our hail damage insurance claim guide explains.
How long each roof lasts
This is the clearest difference between them. A quality metal roof can last forty to sixty years or more, often outliving the owner's time in the house. Asphalt shingles in this climate generally last twenty to thirty years, with the prairie sun and freeze-thaw pushing toward the shorter end. If you plan to stay in the home for decades, metal can be the last roof you buy.
What each one costs
Metal costs more up front. The material and the skilled labour to install it correctly are a larger investment than a shingle roof, and that is the main reason many homeowners still choose asphalt. Over the long run the math can even out, because a metal roof may never need replacing while a shingle roof eventually will. There is no single right answer here, only what fits your budget and how long you will own the home. We keep financing available through Financeit for either option, and we never put a number on a roof without seeing it first.
Noise, appearance and energy
The old idea that a metal roof is loud in the rain does not hold with a modern install over solid decking and underlayment, where it sounds close to a shingle roof. Metal comes in standing-seam and metal-shingle profiles and a wide colour range, while asphalt offers the familiar dimensional look and the GAF shingle colours most prairie homes wear. Light-coloured metal can also reflect summer heat, which helps through the few very hot weeks.
Weight, warranty and installation
Both materials sit comfortably on a standard Saskatchewan home. Metal is lighter than it looks, so it rarely needs extra framing, and it is often installed over solid decking and underlayment. It does take more skill and time to flash and fasten correctly, which is part of the up-front cost, while asphalt goes down faster and that keeps it the common choice. Warranties differ as well. Metal panels often carry long manufacturer coverage on the finish, and a quality asphalt system like the GAF shingles we install comes with its own manufacturer warranty. Either roof is backed by our ten-year workmanship warranty on the install itself.
Which is right for your home
If you want the longest-lasting roof and the best snow shedding, and you plan to stay put, metal is worth the higher up-front cost. If you want a proven, lower-cost roof that any crew can service and that suits most Saskatoon homes, quality asphalt shingles installed properly are hard to fault. The honest answer usually comes down to budget and how long you will be in the house. Our metal roofing and roof replacement pages cover each option, and a free inspection is the fastest way to get a recommendation for your specific roof.