Does a metal roof look good on a house that had shingles?

On most houses yes. The change is most striking on ranches, farmhouses and modern homes. On very ornate Victorians it can look plain.

What colour metal roof replaces charcoal shingles best?

Charcoal or black standing seam keeps the colour and changes the texture. Bronze is the warm alternative.

Can I see a metal roof on my house before I decide?

Yes. Upload a photo on this page and RoofRender renders standing seam on it in about 30 seconds. Three renders are free.

Can metal go over existing shingles?

Often, depending on local code and the condition of the deck. Your roofer will tell you. The render looks the same either way.

Before and after

Shingle to metal roof: before and after

Replacing asphalt shingles with a metal roof is the most common upgrade people want to see before they pay for it, because it changes the whole look of the house. These are real before and after pairs. Drag the slider on each one. At the bottom you can do the same with a photo of your own house.

See it on your house, free Jump to the photos

Before

After

Asphalt shingle to standing seam. Tan siding, charcoal. Drag the handle.

What changes

Shingles are a textured surface with a lot of small shadows. Standing seam is a flat surface with a few long lines. Swapping one for the other makes the roof look calmer and the house look newer, even when the colour barely changes. Charcoal shingle to charcoal metal is a bigger change than most people expect.

What stays the same

Everything below the gutter. The render keeps the siding, windows, trim and landscaping exactly as they are, which is what makes the comparison honest. If the house looks better, it is the roof.

Colour choices that work

Charcoal and black are the usual picks for a shingle to metal change on tan, grey and white houses. Bronze suits brick and wood. Galvanized silver suits cabins and rural homes. Green suits farmhouses.

Cost and life

Metal costs two to three times what asphalt costs and lasts two to three times as long. Many owners make the change when the shingle roof is due anyway, because the extra cost buys a roof they will not replace again.

See it on your house

The pairs above are other people's houses. Upload yours below, choose standing seam, and see the same change on your own roof in 30 seconds.

Real before and after

Each pair is one photo, rendered. The house, the light and the surroundings are untouched. Only the roof changes.

Before: Asphalt shingle to standing seam — Asphalt shingle to standing seam
Tan siding, charcoal

After: Asphalt shingle to standing seam — Asphalt shingle to standing seam
Tan siding, charcoal

Before: Grey shingle to black standing seam — Grey shingle to black standing seam
White stucco

After: Grey shingle to black standing seam — Grey shingle to black standing seam
White stucco

Before: Concrete tile to corrugated metal — Concrete tile to corrugated metal
Brick ranch, beige

After: Concrete tile to corrugated metal — Concrete tile to corrugated metal
Brick ranch, beige

Questions

Does a metal roof look good on a house that had shingles?: On most houses yes. The change is most striking on ranches, farmhouses and modern homes. On very ornate Victorians it can look plain.
What colour metal roof replaces charcoal shingles best?: Charcoal or black standing seam keeps the colour and changes the texture. Bronze is the warm alternative.
Can I see a metal roof on my house before I decide?: Yes. Upload a photo on this page and RoofRender renders standing seam on it in about 30 seconds. Three renders are free.
Can metal go over existing shingles?: Often, depending on local code and the condition of the deck. Your roofer will tell you. The render looks the same either way.

See the change on your house

Upload one photo, pick standing seam. Three renders free, no card.

Upload a photo