A home is a long-term investment, and homeowners should think of their roof in the same manner. While asphalt can be cheaper than metal initially, spread out over 60 years – which isn’t long at all in housing terms – metal is the clear choice. Consider this: If a metal roof is covering your home, you’ll probably never have to re-roof again. Asphalt requires re-roofing every 15 years or so. And while costs vary from region to region, metal will win the cost battle every time.