Metal or asphalt shingles for a Tacoma roof: cost, moss, wind and noise
Both materials work well around Tacoma. The right one depends on your budget, how shaded the roof is, how exposed the lot is and whether a historic district limits you.
By Kathleen Peabody, Roofing Guides Editor · Updated October 2026
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Short answer
For most Tacoma homes, asphalt shingles cost less up front while metal sheds moss and fir needles better and lasts longer. Angi's Seattle-area figures put metal well above shingles per job. Historic North Slope and Wedge homes cannot use metal at all, so that rule settles the choice before cost does.
How metal and asphalt compare at a glance
The table sums up the tradeoffs we talk through with Tacoma owners. Each row gets its own section below.
| Item | Asphalt shingles | Standing seam metal |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | Lower | Higher |
| Moss and needles | Moss grips granules; needles collect | Sheds debris more easily |
| Wind behavior | Depends on nailing and seal strips | Depends on clips and trim fastening |
| Rain noise | Quiet | Quiet over a solid deck, louder over open framing |
| Historic districts | Composition accepted | Not acceptable on historic homes |
| Repairs | Single shingles swap easily | Panel repairs take more work |
What asphalt shingles cost per square foot
Composition shingles are the default replacement roof in the region because they balance cost, looks and ease of repair. The per-square-foot range in the box covers simple roofs with basic architectural shingles at the low end and steep, complex roofs with heavier lines at the high end.
A shingle roof is also simpler to patch. After a storm we can replace a handful of shingles on one slope without touching the rest of the roof.
Published range, not a quote and not our price. Source: angi.com, 2026-08. Your number depends on the factors below and is set after we see the roof.
What metal roofing costs, and why
Metal costs more because both material and labor are heavier. Standing seam panels are cut to length, trim is bent to fit, and every penetration and valley needs custom flashing. A roof with many dormers and vents sits near the top of the range.
The trade is lifespan and lower upkeep. Owners who plan to stay in the house a long time often weigh the higher first cost against fewer cleanings and fewer replacements. Our replacement cost guide breaks down what else moves the number.
Published range, not a quote and not our price. Source: angi.com, 2026-07. Your number depends on the factors below and is set after we see the roof.
Moss and fir needles on each material
Tacoma's canopy means many roofs sit under firs and cedars. Oregon State University Extension notes that roof moss follows shade and holds moisture against the roof. On shingles, moss roots into the granule surface and can lift tabs over time, so shaded shingle roofs need regular cleaning.
Metal gives moss far less to hold. Needles still collect behind chimneys, in valleys and along panel seams, but rain flushes most of them off a smooth panel. Gutters fill either way, which is why we often pair a metal roof with gutter guards.
One caution for copper lovers: OSU Extension warns that zinc moss treatments corrode copper gutters, so treatments on a shingle roof need to match the gutters below.
How each roof handles Puget Sound windstorms
Strong wind is a regular event here. The December 2006 Hanukkah Eve windstorm gusted to 69 mph at McChord and Sea-Tac. In the December 2018 storm the Weather Service logged 52 mph at Tacoma Narrows Airport and 51 mph at JBLM. The November 2024 bomb cyclone produced 74 mph gusts in Enumclaw and left nearly 600,000 western Washington customers without power.
Shingles fail in wind when their seal strips never sealed or when they were nailed too high. Proper nailing and starter strips at eaves and rakes matter more than the brand. Metal fails at its edges, where loose trim lets wind get under the first panel. Either roof holds up well when it is fastened correctly, and either can peel when it is not.
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Is a metal roof loud in Tacoma rain?
Tacoma sees rain on roughly 155 days a year, so noise is a fair question. A metal roof over a solid deck with underlayment and an insulated attic below is not much louder than shingles from inside the house. The loud metal roofs people remember are usually panels screwed to open purlins on a barn or carport.
Vaulted ceilings with little insulation carry more sound. If a bedroom sits directly under the roof deck, we talk through underlayment and insulation choices before you decide.
Historic district limits on metal
If your house is in the North Slope or Wedge historic districts, the choice is already made. Those design guidelines accept composition roofing as a substitute for shingles but state metal roofs are not acceptable for historic homes.
Tacoma has other historic districts, so check your property's status with the city before you plan a metal roof. Our historic district guide explains what the guidelines accept.
Which houses suit which roof
These are the patterns we see when owners settle on one or the other:
- Heavy shade and constant needle fall favor metal
- A tight budget or a shorter stay favors shingles
- Low-slope sections suit standing seam better than shingles
- Historic homes in North Slope and Wedge need composition
- Exposed bluff and waterfront lots need careful edge fastening either way
- Roofs crowded with vents and skylights cost more in metal
Questions readers ask
It can be if you plan to stay a long time and the roof sits under heavy shade. For a shorter stay or an open, sunny lot, shingles usually make more sense.
Much less than on shingles. Debris can still collect at seams, valleys and behind chimneys, so metal roofs under trees still need an occasional check.
Metal does not attract lightning. Strikes follow height and location, and a metal roof is no more likely to be hit than a shingle roof on the same house.
Sometimes, but an overlay hides the deck and a Tacoma permit guide reports overlays need a permit and pre-roof inspection. Most of our metal jobs start with a tear-off.
Both do when installed correctly. Shingles depend on nailing and seal strips; metal depends on clips and trim fastening at the edges.
Yes. A metal porch roof or low-slope section with shingles on the main roof is common. See our metal roofing page for options.