For most Christchurch homes it comes down to pitch and budget: long run steel suits low pitches and costs less per square metre, asphalt shingles suit steeper pitches and cost more. We install both, so the comparison below is not a sales pitch for the only product we happen to sell.
| Long run steel | Asphalt shingles | |
|---|---|---|
| Roof pitch | Trough and tray profiles work down to very shallow falls. Corrugate from around 8 degrees. | Wants a steeper pitch, which is also where it looks its best. |
| Look | Clean, continuous lines. The classic modern New Zealand look. | Texture, shadow and depth. Suits steep pitches, gables and character builds. |
| Rain noise | Quiet in a lined home with modern underlay and insulation. | Quieter still. Rain does not ring on it. |
| Expected life | Commonly 40 to 50 years when installed properly. | Long-life when installed properly. |
| Material guarantee | 30 to 40 years. | 40 years to lifetime on the GAF shingles we install, BRANZ Appraised for extra-high wind zones. |
| Cost per square metre | Usually the most cost-effective option. | Costs more, for kerb appeal flat steel cannot match. |
What roof pitch do long run steel and asphalt shingles need?
Long run steel handles low pitches that shingles cannot. Trough and tray profiles work down to very shallow falls, and corrugate from around 8 degrees. Asphalt shingles want a steeper pitch, and that is also where they look their best. If your roof is shallow, steel usually decides it for you.
Which looks better, long run steel or asphalt shingles?
Neither is better. They suit different houses. Long run gives you clean, continuous lines, the classic modern New Zealand look. Shingles give you texture, shadow and depth that flat steel cannot, which suits steep-pitch homes, gables and character builds.
Is a long run steel roof noisy when it rains?
Not in a lined home. The tin-roof-in-the-rain effect comes from unlined sheds, and with modern underlay and insulation a long run roof is quiet. Shingles are quieter still, because rain simply does not ring on them.
How long do long run steel and asphalt shingle roofs last?
Both are long-life roofs when installed properly. A well-installed long run roof commonly lasts 40 to 50 years, with material guarantees of 30 to 40 years. The GAF shingles we install are BRANZ Appraised for extra-high wind zones and carry a 40-year-to-lifetime material warranty.
Which costs more, long run steel or asphalt shingles?
Long run steel is usually the most cost-effective option per square metre. Shingles cost more but bring kerb appeal that flat steel cannot match. On the right house that is value, not expense.
Choosing between them
If your roof is shallow, steel decides it for you. If it is steep and the look matters, shingles earn their extra cost. Anything in between is a budget and kerb-appeal call, and that is worth talking through on site rather than on a page.
How Southern Roofing does it
We install both systems, long run steel and GAF asphalt shingles, with our own crew rather than subcontractors. That means our recommendation is based on your roof and your budget, not on the only product we happen to sell, and both systems carry the same 10-year workmanship warranty.
Not sure which suits your roof? Send us a photo or book a free roof check. We will tell you honestly which system fits your pitch, your environment and your budget, with a written quote for each if you want to compare. See our long run roofing, see our asphalt shingle roofing, or get your free quote here.
Talk to us about your roof
Free written quotes, straight answers, and a 10-year workmanship warranty on every job — no pressure, no obligation.