Phone: (505) 842-7663

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Albuquerque's Trusted Roofing Experts Since 1983


A+ BBB Rated • Family Owned & Operated

Free Estimate

E-mail: service@alvaradoroofing.com

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5 Things to do when your roof leaks

1. Put a bucket under leak.
2. If you have drywall, poke a hole in it so the water can escape.
3. Do NOT get on roof while it's raining.
4. Move or cover important items.
5. Call a few roofers immediately to look at it.
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Asphalt Shingles vs. Metal Roofing: Which is Best for Your Home in Albuquerque, NM?

If you’re staring at your roof and wondering whether it’s time for a replacement, you’re not alone. Many homeowners face the same tough question every year: Should I go with traditional asphalt shingles again, or is it finally time to upgrade to a metal roof?

With material prices fluctuating and extreme weather events becoming more common, the decision feels more important than ever in 2026. A new roof is one of the largest investments you’ll make in your home, so choosing the right material can save you thousands of dollars — and countless headaches — over the next few decades.

Asphalt shingles have been the go-to choice for American homeowners for generations. They’re affordable, widely available, and familiar. Metal roofing, once reserved mainly for barns and commercial buildings, has evolved into a sleek, high-performance option for residential homes. Modern metal roofs come in a variety of styles — including ones that closely resemble traditional shingles — and offer impressive benefits in durability, energy efficiency, and longevity.

So, which one is truly better? The honest answer is: it depends.
The best roofing material for your home depends on your budget, local climate, how long you plan to stay in the house, and what matters most to you — upfront savings or long-term value. What works perfectly in sunny Arizona might not be ideal for stormy coastal Florida or snowy Midwest winters.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down a head-to-head comparison of asphalt shingles versus metal roofing. We’ll cover real 2026 costs, expected lifespans, energy performance, maintenance needs, and key factors you should consider before making a decision. By the end, you’ll have clear, practical insights to help you choose the right roof for your home and family.

Ready to cut through the confusion? Let’s dive in.

Metal Roofing

 • Cost: Almost doubles shingle roof installations. A 1-story 2,000 sq ft home can cost $16,000-$17,000 depending on pitch, shapes, valleys, etc. (higher upfront cost than shingles).

• Lifespan & Warranty: Can last 40-70 years and has a 10 year labor warranty. (Lasts longer than shingle roof).

• Maintenance: Tighten screws every few years. We recommend yearly inspections. Maintenance required at longer intervals than shingle.

• Install Time: Our schedule is usually booked out longer and can take 5-10 days to install instead of 1-2 days like shingle roofs.

• Energy Efficiency: Many color options for energy star rating.

























There’s no one-size-fits-all answer – the best choice depends on your home and priorities. Not sure which is right for you? Get a free, no-obligation roof evaluation and material recommendation from our team!
 
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Shingle Roofing

• Cost: Less than a metal roof. A 1-story 2,000 sq ft home can cost around $9,000 depending on roof pitch, shapes, valleys, etc. (lower upfront cost)

• Lifespan & Warranty: Typical lifespan is 15-30 years and has a 10 year labor warranty and 50 year material warranty (wont last as long as metal)

• Maintenance: Penetrations might need resealing every 2-3 years. We recommend yearly inspections.

• Install Time: Our schedule is usually 1-2 weeks out and can take our crews 1-2 days to install. (Much quicker than our metal install)

• Energy Efficiency: Energy star rated only for the white color option.
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Albuquerque's Trusted Roofing Experts Since 1983
Family Owned & Operated • A+ BBB Rated

Protect Your Home with Quality You Can Trust!
Whether it's a full roof replacement, repairs, or expert installation of premium Owens Corning shingles (like beautiful Desert Rose!), our experienced team delivers fast, clean, professional work that stands up to New Mexico's harsh sun, wind, and storms.


Why Choose Alvarado Roofing?
40+ years serving Albuquerque homeowners
Guaranteed workmanship
Meticulous crews who clean up daily
Military discounts available
Free estimates

Recent happy customer results speak for themselves — beautiful new roofs completed quickly and perfectly! 4015 Hawkins St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109
(505) 842-7663
service@alvaradoroofing.com
www.alvaradoroofing.com

Call today for your FREE estimate!
Don't wait for the next storm — secure your roof with Albuquerque's most trusted name.
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10 Warning Signs Your Roof Needs Repair
 

A small roof leak today can easily lead to $10,000 or more in water damage, mold, or structural issues down the road. While a well-maintained roof can last 20-30 years or longer, most problems start small and give clear warning signs – if you know what to look for.

Here are the 10 most common signs that your roof may need professional attention:

1. Water stains or ceiling leaks. Brown or yellow stains on your ceilings or walls, or active dripping during rain, are the most obvious red flags. While not every interior leak comes from the roof, it’s usually the first-place professional roofers check.

2. Damage from trees, critters, storms. Trees hitting your roof or critters getting into your attic can cause roof damage.

3. Damaged or deteriorating flashings around pipes or chimneys. Flashing seals are the joints where your roof meets vents, chimneys, or other penetrations. When the flashing rusts, or seals separate or pull away, it becomes a primary entry point for water.

4. Clogged gutters or downspouts. Clogged gutters and downspouts don’t allow water to flow and can create a pool on your roof. The water level can get too high and flood into your home through vents or tops of canales.

5. Cracked seals on penetrations or canales. In our desert climate, caulking and seals around roof penetrations and canales will crack quickly compared to other regions due to our altitude and high sun exposure. These should be inspected and maintained every 1-3 years depending on the system.

6. Cracked skylights. Even superficial cracks can worsen over time and allow water intrusion. A professional inspection can determine whether a skylight can be repaired or replacement is needed.

7. Deep pools of water 48 hours after rain. Small puddles don’t typically cause issues on a flat roof.

8. Finding shingles in your yard. High windstorms can tear off shingles. Missing shingles doesn’t necessarily mean you need a full roof replacement.

9. Soft spots on your roof. You might be up on your roof looking at your cooler and hit a soft spot while walking. Some soft spots are normal, but this could also be caused by broken decking or rotten wood.

10. Finding granules on the ground or in the gutter. Asphalt shingles naturally shed some granules over time, but excessive amounts – especially after hail, signal that your shingles are breaking down and losing their protective coating.

Your roof protects everything you value most – your family, your belongings, and your home’s structure. Catching problems early can save you tens of thousands of dollars. If you see some of these signs on your roof, do not worry! We offer free, no-obligation estimates/evaluations. We can come up and let you know if there are any repairs needed on your roof.
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Memorial Day Office Hours

Our office will close at 12 pm on Friday, May 22nd and will be closed on Monday, May 25th. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday.

From now until Monday, May 25th, we are offering $500 off a total roof replacement. Just mention our memorial day sale.
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How long does it take to replace a roof?

Tired of seeing roofers camped out on your neighbor’s roof for weeks? You’re not alone – and you’re right to wonder how long a quality roof replacement should actually take.
 Many roofing companies rely on different subcontractors to tear off the old roof and then another crew to install the new one. At our company, we don’t use subcontractors. We only use our own experienced employees from start to finish.
A typical 3-bedroom, 2-bath home can usually be completed by our crews in just 1 to 2 days, depending on the square footage. We never leave any part of your roof exposed overnight. While other roofers often take 1-2 weeks to finish the job, we pride ourselves on completing the work quickly and accurately.
Your roof deserves to be done right – without the long wait or the hassle.
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Tar & Gravel Roofs

What is “maintenance” on a tar and gravel roof?
Your tar and gravel roof is only 4 years old and you already have a leak. You call your roofer to come out and look and they tell you that your roof needs maintenance. Why does this happen and what exactly is “maintenance”?

“Maintenance” on a roof is similar to maintenance on a new car. Your car is brand new, but you still need to get an oil change, tires rotated, etc. Over time, seals on penetrations and canales will crack. This happens because the seal will expand and contract with changes in temperature and eventually crack. This is normal and doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the roof. The seals just need to be scraped and redone.

5 Tips for Tar and Gravel Roofs
1. Keep canales and drains free of debris.
2. Clean out your downspouts and gutter systems every fall and spring.
3. Check penetrations, skylights, and chimneys for any cracked seals.
4. Trim back trees from the roof.
5. Have your roof checked yearly for any maintenance needs.



Give us a call today if you would like us to check out your roof!
  

  
 
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Chromium 3

Shingle Reroof

New roof installed with Owens Corning Duration dimensional shingles in Amber. Free estimates available - call today!
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Midnight Plum

We just installed this shingle roof. This took our crew one day to finish. We installed Owens Corning Duration Dimensional shingles in the color midnight plum. Give us a call for a free estimate.
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Owens Corning Duration Dimensional Shingle

We installed this shingle roof last month. The color of the shingles is Brownwood. Please give us a call if you would like an estimate!
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Evergreen mist

New Shingle Color!

Evergreen Mist is the 2026 shingle color of the year for Owens Corning! We have not installed this shingle color yet. Click to find out more information or ask your estimator about this new shingle color.
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Roof ad oct 2025
Before and after

TPO reroof

This roof is 20 squares or 2000 square feet and took our crew two days to complete. We tore off two layers of roofing to the deck. We replaced all the canales with TPO canales. We mechanically fastened a ¼” per foot tapered insulation system over the roof substrate to provide slope. Since we are installing this insulation system, we had to raise skylight curbs to accommodate the tapered system. We mechanically fastened 60 mil TPO and welded together. We installed TPO flashing to outside corners of parapet walls. We installed boots on all penetrations, clamped and caulked. Our TPO roofs carry a 12 year labor warranty and 20 year material warranty.
Bizarre feb 2023

Bizarre Photo of the Month

Our estimators and crews see some interesting roofing strategies while in the field. We are going to share photos of some of the crazy ideas we see.
In this photo, you can see a canale coming through an exterior wall. Someone cut the canale so the water would drain into the gutter.  

BLOGS

What is maintenance on a TPO roof?
Another roofer told me that TPO is completely maintenance free! Is that true? No, not necessarily. While you don’t have as much maintenance compared to a tar and gravel roof, you do still have maintenance needs on a TPO roof.

Maintenance is recommended every 2-3 years. We recommend getting yearly inspections (we don’t charge for these types of inspections). Maintenance on a TPO roof consists of reapplying caulking that might split. This can happen on the termination bar, penetrations and canales. It is important to keep your canales debris free and prevent any clogging. We recommend cleaning out the canales in the Spring and the Fall.

Give us a call if you would like an inspection! We don’t charge to give an estimate.
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Is your roof watertight

Is Your Roof Watertight?

Rain is in the forecast this weekend. Don't get caught in the rain. 
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Labor Day

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of Labor Day. We will be closing at 12 on Friday, August 29th. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, September 2nd.
 
Are you ready for monsoon season

Are you ready for monsoon season?

Monsoon season is just around the corner here in New Mexico. According to the National Weather Service, Monsoon Season is designated as the period lasting from June 15th through September 30th. Rainy season can be a busy season for roofers, so it is important to get your roof checked before they get booked up. Our estimators can come out, free of charge, and make sure your roof is in good shape.
Give us a call today at 505-842-7663 

2025 Owens Corning shingle color of the year.

Alvarado Roofing, Inc is a platinum preferred contractor with Owens Corning. Merlot is one of Owen’s Corning’s Duration Designer colors. If you are having a hard time finding the right color shingle, we have sample boards at our office that you can take home. Please contact us if you would like an estimate!
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Windy Season is here.

Every spring, Albuquerque is hit with very windy afternoons that can cause damage to your roof. Some days the winds get so high, we must stop working on roofs because of how dangerous it can be, especially on pitched roofs. The high winds can blow off tile, shingle and even rip apart weak metal panels. As a homeowner, it’s important to get repairs done soon after the damage occurs before it becomes any worse. Shingles are the most common roofing material to get damaged in the high winds.

Although we install other shingle manufacturers, we prefer Owens Corning Duration Series. The Duration Series shingles have up to 2.5X nail pull-through resistance, up to 9X nail blow-through resistance and up to 2x delamination resistance. These shingles have a triple layer protection against nail pull from the wind and has a wind resistance of 130-MPH.

For more information, visit their website: https://www.owenscorning.com/en-us/roofing/surenail

Please give us a call if you need an estimate on blown off shingle repair or replacement! We are happy to help.
 
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President's Day 2025

When:

This coming Monday, February 17th is President's Day. Our office will be open with normal office hours! 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
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NEW! TPO Roof Remodel

This roof took our TPO crew two days to complete. The project came out to twenty-four squares or 2,400 square feet. We had six TPO specialists on the first day, working from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM and eight TPO roofing specialists work from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM on the second day.

Our crew tore off two roofing layers to the deck and replaced the existing canales with new TPO canales. We mechanically fastened 1/2" thick expanded polystyrene insulation over the roof substrate and also mechanically fastened 60 mil TPO (tan color) and welded together. Next, we installed a TPO metal termination strip at the top outside corner of all parapet walls plus boots on all penetrations; clamped and caulked.

Our crew inspected and probed all seams and detail work. We replaced three - 2X2 skylights and three - 2X4 skylights. Finally, we hauled off all trash (including an old satellite dish) and left the premises clean. Our roofing crew used all the appropriate safety procedures, such as wearing hard hats, safety ropes, tying off the ladder, etc.

This new roof carries a twelve year labor warranty and twenty year material warranty. We pulled a permit through the city and passed final inspection.