Asphalt, Metal or Slate: Choosing a Roof for a Northwest Arkansas Home

Pick up a roofing brochure and every material sounds like the best one. They aren't interchangeable, though. Asphalt shingles, metal roofing and slate each have strengths, tradeoffs and quirks, and the right one depends on your house, your budget and how long you plan to stay. Superior Roofing works with all three, so here's a straight look at how they differ, with no price tags attached because those depend on your roof.

Asphalt shingles: the everyday workhorse

Asphalt shingles are what you see on most houses in Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville, and there's a good reason. They're versatile, they come in plenty of colors and profiles, and nearly every roofer knows how to install them. A fiberglass mat is coated with asphalt and topped with mineral granules, and those granules do the work of shedding sun and water. Architectural shingles are thicker and more dimensional than basic flat-tab shingles, which gives a roof some visual depth.

The tradeoff is that asphalt is the material hail and wind tend to show up on first. Granules loosen, edges lift, and impact leaves bruises you can't always see from the ground. That doesn't make asphalt a bad choice, it makes it a choice worth keeping an eye on. A look at the roof after storm season catches small problems while they're still small. If your neighborhood sees hail regularly, ask about impact-rated shingles and how your insurer treats them.

Metal roofing: sheds weather and looks sharp

Metal roofing comes in standing-seam panels, where the fasteners hide beneath raised seams, and in profiles that mimic tile or shake. Standing seam gives you the clean lines you see on lodge-style and modern farmhouse homes, and it sheds rain and leaves quickly. Metal is typically lighter than slate or tile, which can matter on an older structure. Superior's own trailers list it in plain letters: re-roofs, new roofs, metal roofs, roof repairs.

Metal has its own quirks. Rain on a metal roof can sound louder inside unless there's solid decking and good insulation underneath. Panels can dent from large hail even when they don't leak, which some owners care about and others don't. Installation craft matters more than the panel itself: flashing, fastener placement and how the panels handle expansion in heat and cold decide how the roof performs. Ask any contractor to explain how they'll detail the valleys, vents and edges before you sign anything.

Slate: heavy, handsome and particular

Slate is natural stone split into thin tiles, and nothing else looks quite like it. You see it on older brick homes and well-kept ranches, often paired with copper gutters and trim that tie the whole house together. Its weight is the biggest practical issue. Slate is far heavier than asphalt or metal, so the roof framing has to be checked, and sometimes reinforced, before it goes on. It is not a casual upgrade.

Slate also takes a specific skill to install and to repair. Individual tiles are fastened by hand in a particular overlap pattern, and they can crack if someone walks the roof carelessly. If you already have a slate roof, don't let a general handyman near it. Hire a roofer who has worked with slate and ask to see examples. Replacing a few damaged tiles properly is routine for someone who knows the craft, and a disaster for someone who doesn't.

Questions that settle the choice

Skip the ranking game and ask questions about your own house. These are the ones worth putting to any contractor, including us:

• What does my roof structure support, and has anyone actually checked?
• How does this material behave in hail and high wind?
• How loud will it be inside during a hard rain, and what sits underneath to cut that down?
• Who will install it, and who will repair it down the road?
• How will it look next to my house style, my neighbors, and any HOA rules?

The right answer often comes down to the house in front of you rather than a general ranking. A roofer who's willing to say asphalt is the better fit here, or that this house suits metal, after climbing up and looking, is worth more than a salesperson pushing one product. Remember, too, that a roof is only as good as what's under it. Decking, underlayment, flashing and ventilation matter on every material, and a well-installed asphalt roof will outperform a sloppy install of something fancier. Ask to see photos of finished jobs in the material you're considering, ideally on homes like yours.

If you're weighing materials for a replacement, Superior Roofing installs asphalt shingles, metal roofing and slate. Call the Springdale office at (479) 684-6060, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, to set up a free roof inspection and ask which one suits your house.