Your Ultimate Guide to Roofing Materials
Image: Pixels
Looking for the best roofing material for your home? Here we’ll break down some of the most common types of roofing materials, and the pros and cons of each.
Asphalt Composition Shingles
Image: DryTech Exteriors
Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in the U.S. Their popularity arose because of how price-effective they are for their quality. Because of their popularity, there are a variety of style and color options available, so they can fit almost any home design seamlessly. In case of damage, individual shingles can be replaced, an option not afforded to most other roofs in this list. These roofs last about 20-25 years.
Their downside is that they are not as durable as other premium options. Asphalt shingles are prone to mildew, cracking, and uplifting from high winds. They are also not as energy efficient as other options, leaving your home hotter in the summer and colder in the winter.
Overall, asphalt shingles are a great base option for nearly any project.
Price per square (10x10):$300-$700
PROS
Cheap, effective, easy install, variety of style options, can replace individual shingles
CONS
Not as durable, not as energy efficient, prone to mildew and can uplift in high winds.
Metal Roofs 
Image: Forbes
Though asphalt shingles take up the lion’s share of the market, metal roofs are their closest competition, and it’s easy to see why. Along with being incredibly stylish, these roofs are highly durable and easily last from 40-70 years, meaning you’d never have to worry about replacing your roof again. Metal’s reflective properties make it highly energy-efficient, with many homeowners seeing a 40% reduction in energy costs during the warmer months. It's flameproof and sheds rain and snow incredibly well. Unlike what you may expect, metal roofs are generally pretty lightweight.
The biggest hurdle for most homeowners is the high upfront cost. An average asphalt shingle may run about $300-700 per square (which is a 10x10 area) and metal shingles generally run from $600-1,200 per square. Your installation cost will run higher, too, as metal roof installation is a more specialized skill. Metal roofing can also dent under high impacts, and has been reported to be noisier under severe weather conditions.
Overall, metal roofs are generally a good long-term investment for a forever home.
Price per square (10x10): $600-1,200
PROS
Highly durable, sustainable, energy-efficient, flame-proof, impervious to rain or snow, lightweight.
CONS
Expensive, can be dented, noisy, difficult installation.
Slate Roofs
Image: iStock Photo
The stunning natural stone, slate, is the ultimate investment for a high-end home, but it certainly comes with a price tag. If you do decide to invest in it, slate can last for well over a century. Slate roofs are incredibly durable and low-maintenance, as it withstands rot or fire. Their classic aesthetic can also highly improve the value of a home.
The biggest con for most homeowners is the cost. Slate averages at $1,480 per square, and its installation is highly specialized. Slate is also much more weighty than regular shingles, so most houses cannot bear the weight of a slate roof without building additional support. The individual tiles can also be rather brittle, and cannot be walked on without experience.
Overall, this is a great option for your “forever home” if you have the money to invest in it.
Price per Square (10x10): 1,480
PROS
Lasts up to a century, highly durable, low maintenance, increased home value, aesthetic.
CONS
Pricey, weighty, difficult installation, cannot walk on.
Wooden Shingle & Shake Roofs
Image: DeMello Roofing
Wooden roofs, while not incredibly common, add quite a bit of personality to any home. The most common type of wood used is cedar, as it’s durable and more moisture-resistant than other woods. There are two main types of wooden roofing: shakes and shingles. Shingles are uniform in shape and texture and look much close to other shingle types. Shakes are made of hand-split wood, giving them texture and varied shapes.
While wood roofs are mostly chosen for their style, they are slightly more durable than their asphalt counterparts (lasting 20-30 years), lightweight, and relatively eco-friendly.
Even so, the main concern with wooden roofs is their flammability. While the wood is treated to be more fire-resistant, even the highest-rated wooden roofs are a higher fire hazard than other, inflammable materials. Insects, rot, and other problems call for much more frequent maintenance than other roof types. Wooden roofing also runs at a higher cost than asphalt shingles.
Overall, If you enjoy the style, then go for it! However, be cautious if you’re in a high fire-risk area, and beware of higher maintenance in the long run.
Price per square (10x10): $450-900
PROS
Unique style, durable (20-30 years), lightweight, eco-friendly.
CONS
Higher cost, insect & fire concerns, higher maintenance, can rot.
Clay Tiles
Image: PiLensPhoto
Clay roofs are usually associated with Mediterranean or Chinese styles, yet they're incredibly popular in other locations for good reason: they can last for centuries. It’s an energy-efficient, durable, and fire-resistant style, and they add an incredible stylistic flair. Clay is also incredibly low-maintenance. If a single tile is broken, it can also be easily replaced without fixing the entire roof.
While clay is incredibly functional, it is also a rather heavy material, and most houses aren’t designed to carry their weight. Clay is also a much more expensive roofing material than asphalt or even metal, averaging at about $1,400 per square. The tiles themselves are also quite brittle, and cannot be walked on without experience.
Overall, the idea is similar to slate: that this is a long term investment into a forever home. The style is also phenomenal!
Price per square (10x10): $1,400
PROS
Extremely long-lasting (up to 100 years), energy-efficient, niche style.
CONS
Expensive, brittle, heavy, difficult install.
Stone-Coated Steel
Image: McElroy Roofing
If you want a durable roof that you’ll never have to maintain, look no further than stone-coated steel. It has all the durability, energy efficiency, and low maintenance of a stone roof without the heavy weight. The style is also incredibly versatile—the outer layer can be shaped to match clay tiles, wood shakes, or asphalt shingles, all with the durability of steel.
These roofs are about twice as expensive as asphalt shingles, meaning they have a much higher initial cost, but they also last around twice as long. They also require a much more expert installation. If their longevity and style is worth it for you, than the investment may be worth the money it saves you in the long run.
Price per square (10x10): $850-$1,450
PROS
Long lifespan, highly durable, relatively lightweight, low maintenance, stone style, energy-efficient.
CONS
Expensive, requires specialized installation.
Concrete Tile
Image: EngineHouse
Concrete tiles almost acts as the modernized version of clay. Extremely durable and energy efficient, these tiles can easily last a lifetime. Concrete tiles also come in many varying styles and colors, so they can easily match any home’s style.
Like their clay counterparts, concrete roofs are much heavier than asphalt or wood, so homes need to be reinforced to hold their weight. They price around the same as a metal roof on average, and also need specified installation. Their colors also fade quickly. This doesn’t necessarily ruin their curb appeal—many people like the faded look on concrete tiles—but if your need to replace only a few broken tiles, the color difference can be jarring. The individual tiles are also rather brittle, and can break under pressure from walking, hail, or falling tree branches. Their maintenance is pretty average for any roof, but certainly not as hands-off as other options on this list.
Cost per square (10x10): $300-500
PROS
Versatile style, extremely durable, good thermal properties, sustainable.
CONS
heavy, high cost, maintenance, color fade.
Solar Tiles
Image: House Beautiful
If you are looking for the most futuristic home around, and would like to save long-term on electricity, than solar tiles might be your splurge. Incredibly new to the market, these tiles mimic the benefits of solar panels on your home without the bulk. They look similar to a modern metal tile roof and are marketed to be durable, most companies offering a 25-30 year warranty as well as being wind and fire resistant. With the saving from electric bills as well as a tax cut for their eco-friendliness, the solar roof is estimated to take about 30 years on average to pay back the cost of getting the roof in the first place.
Of course, the biggest drawback is the immense upfront cost, taking on average $50-75,000 to complete an average roof. This is up to seven times the cost of an average roof replacement, and most people simply don’t have that money in their budget. There’s also the concern that it is not as tried-and–true as most other options on the market. There will always be unforeseen problems with new technology, and if you get solar tiles now, you’ll be the one who faces those issues.
Solar tiles are also reported to take up to 3 weeks to install versus the average 3-5 days it takes an average roof to be replaced.
Overall, if you have the money, love new technology, and are planning on staying in your current home for a long enough time, than this may be an option for you. If you hang around long enough, this roof might actually make you money!
Price per Square (10x10): $2,100-2,500
PROS
Saves money on electricity, durable, fire impact and wind resistance, stylish, new technology
CONS
Expensive, new technology, return on investment takes times, long installation time
Rubber Roofing/TPO/EPBM
Image: American Remodeling Enterprises
If your roof is flat or has an extremely low slope, than you have many other options afforded to you in terms of roofing. The most popular are rubber roofs or other synthetics (TPO and EPDM are the major names). These tend to last anywhere from 40-50 years, and are quite affordable. TPO is relatively new product and does not have the long term testing of other products, but is much cheaper to install.
While the rubber is rather durable, it has the potential to tear, though luckily its pretty easy to fix. Some people also dislike the style of the rubber roof, though this is often a matter of personal taste.
Price per square (10x10): $425-825
PROS
Affordable, long-lasting, easy installation.
CONS
Can be torn, niche install, style.
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