November 1, 2026 · 6 min read · Materials
The short answer
Shingles cost less up front. Metal costs more and lasts longer. Here a shingle roof generally lasts 13 to 18 years and a metal roof 20 to 25 years. If you plan to stay a long time, metal often costs less per year of service. If you are selling soon, working to a tight budget or your HOA limits roof types, shingles usually make more sense.
On either roof, the size, the pitch and the amount of wood we replace move the number. Our quotes include the permit and full tear-off, with the price in writing before we start. Molsbee Roofing installs both from our shop in Lake Worth Beach, under Florida license CCC1327429, so we have no reason to push one over the other.
Side by side
| Architectural shingle | Standing seam metal | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Lower | Higher |
| Lifespan in Palm Beach County | Generally 13 to 18 years | Generally 20 to 25 years |
| Years of service | Fewer | More |
| Heat | Darker shingles absorb heat | Reflective finishes shed more heat |
| Wind | Relies on correct nailing and sealing | Seamed panels resist uplift when fastened to code |
| Salt air | Shingles hold up; edge metal needs coastal specs | Panel metal must suit the distance from salt water |
| Repairs | Simple, quick to patch | Fewer repairs, but a specialist job |
| Rain noise | Quiet | Quiet over a solid deck and underlayment |
| HOA approval | Widely accepted | Check your HOA's rules first |
If you stay in the house past the shingle roof's life, you pay for a second roof. Metal pulls ahead at that point.
What drives the cost on either roof
- Roof size and shape. Hips, valleys, dormers and low-slope sections add labor and trim.
- The deck under the old roof. After tear-off, we replace rotted sheathing. Our quotes include a set number of plywood sheets, and we photograph any extra and bill it per sheet at the rate printed on the quote.
- The system you pick. Standing seam sits at the upper end for metal, and metal shingle profiles cost less. For shingles, the product line and the warranty you choose move the price.
- Permits and inspections. A re-roof anywhere in the county needs a permit and inspections, and we file and schedule them.
When shingles make more sense
- You plan to sell in the next few years.
- You want the lowest up-front price for a sound, code-built roof.
- Your HOA or the look of the street favors shingles.
- The roof has many angles and penetrations, where shingles are simpler to detail.
For more storm protection in a shingle, read about Class 4 impact-resistant shingles.
When metal makes more sense
- You plan to stay in the home for the long run.
- You want fewer replacements over the life of the house.
- You want a reflective roof to help with attic heat.
- You like the clean lines of standing seam, or a metal profile that reads as shingle or tile from the street.
Salt air near the water
Homeowners near the water ask us about salt more than anything else. Close to the Intracoastal or the ocean, we spec aluminum or coated steel with fasteners and edge metal made for salt exposure. Inland, in places like Wellington or Royal Palm Beach, you have more options. Shingle roofs follow the same rule at the drip edge and flashing: coastal specs near the water.
Molsbee data
Numbers from our own roofs in Palm Beach County. No customer names or addresses.
- Shingle was the most common home re-roof we did: 14 of 45, with metal at 7 of 45 (Molsbee Roofing, June to October 2026).
- Of 245 roof estimates, 62 were for metal and 58 for shingle (Molsbee Roofing, May to October 2026).
- A typical shingle roof here measures about 24 squares and a typical metal roof about 33 (Molsbee Roofing, May to October 2026).
- On 48 of 48 recent roofs, the final price matched the price in the contract (Molsbee Roofing, June to October 2026).
Paying for the roof
If you want metal but the up-front cost is the hurdle, ask about roof financing, available on approved credit. Then you can compare the two roofs month to month instead of on the up-front price alone.
See the options for your town
Compare metal roof replacement in West Palm Beach and shingle roof replacement in West Palm Beach, or look at metal roofs in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Jupiter. Considering tile too? Read tile vs shingle vs metal in 2027, or start with the 2027 Palm Beach County roofing guide.
Next step
Call (561) 318-8624 or request a free roof inspection. We will price both options for your roof, in writing, so you can compare them before you decide.
Molsbee Roofing, Inc. · Florida license CCC1327429 · Owens Corning Preferred Contractor
