Home Improvement Exterior Remodel Roof

8 Best Roofing Materials

Longevity, cost, and quality factors

The best roofing materials for most residential structures that emphasize longevity are composite shingles, standing-seam metal, and built-up (BUR) roofing. Wood shingle and shake roofing add natural beauty to the home. Clay or cement tile roofing can last 50 to 100 years. Slate lasts 100 years or more and is one of the most expensive. For do-it-yourselfers, asphalt roll roofing is a cheap, convenient, and fast way to add roofing to a shed or install a porch roof.

A Roofer Shingling a House
Bart Coenders/Getty Images
Roof Material Estimated Lifespan
Asphalt roll 5 to 10 years
Built-up roof (BUR) 20 to 30 years
Composite 15 to 40 years
Wood shingle 25 to 30 years
Wood shake 35 to 40 years
Standing-seam metal 30 to 50 years
Clay or cement 50 to 100 years
Slate 100 years or more

Cost Calculations

Roofing costs are average national prices based on a 2,000-square-foot house with a standard roof installed by professionals. Different roof configurations and different materials can make these costs vary greatly. Costs will differ even by region based on the differences in labor costs. When the cost of petroleum rises, roofing materials made from oil-based products rise in price, too.

Roofing Material Considerations

Choosing the correct type of roofing requires that you factor in the appearance of your home, longevity, material costs, and environment.

  • Cost: Roofing material type and the size of your roof will significantly impact the cost of your new roof.
  • Style options: The architecture of your home will impact the roof type that works best.
  • Lifespan and weather resistance: Local climate will affect a roof's lifespan. Environments with heavy rain, snow, hail, strong winds, and high temperatures will require a more durable roof. Metal is one of the best for all types of weather conditions.
  • Weight: Different materials can support different weights; choose one that can hold the weight of the roof's contents. Metal tends to be one of the heaviest.
  • Ease of installation: Certain roofs, like rolled roofs and sheets of asphalt or composite shingles, will be faster and easier to install than metal or slate roofs, which need more attention to detail.
  • Maintenance: Slate, clay tile, and metal roofs need the least care but are the most expensive.

The Best Roofing Materials

  • Composite shingles: Composite shingle roofing is readily available, low-cost, and has a moderate lifespan of 15 to 40 years, with 20 to 25 years being an expected lifespan. Composite shingles do have roof pitch limitations, though. The lowest acceptable pitch for composite shingles is 2:12. A steeper 4:12 pitch works best with composite shingles.
  • Standing seam metal roofing: Fire is not a problem for standing seam metal roofing (though they do not make a house fireproof), and it's one of the longer-lasting roofing materials, too. Lifespans of 30 to 50 years can be expected, but the roof needs to be well-maintained and quickly repaired if any seams open.
  • Built-up roofing (BUR): No composite shingles or standing seam metal will work when you have a flat or nearly flat roof. For this, you need BUR or built-up roofing. BUR is created from roofing felt, fiberglass, and hot tar (bitumen) layers.

Composite Asphalt Shingle Roof

Asphalt roof shingles
Douglas Sacha / Getty Images 

Composite shingle roofing is the most popular of all roofing materials, found on more than 80 percent of all homes. Composite shingles use either an organic or fiberglass base saturated with asphalt, coated on the bottom side with asphalt, and the exposed surface impregnated with small chips of slate, schist, quartz, or ceramic granules.

The vast popularity of shingles owes to the relatively low cost, easy installation, and decent life expectancy. Professional crews typically install these roofs, but installation is not out of reach for a skilled DIYer.

Average Lifespan

Composite asphalt shingles are expected to last 15 to 40 years, depending on the quality of the materials chosen. Some shingle roofs may even last as long as 50 years. Most shingle roofing manufacturers offer a range of products of different weights and life expectancies. Manufacturers like Owens Corning, GAF, or Certainteed come with accordingly high-end warranties pushing a half-century.

Maximize the lifespan of asphalt shingle roofs by avoiding cheap shingles and avoiding walking on them. Keep them moss-free, and never power wash an asphalt shingle roof.

Installation Costs and Lifetime Value

On average, asphalt shingle roofs cost around $5 per square foot to install, although the price range can be broad, depending on the types of shingles selected and the labor costs from region to region.

Assuming that a 2,000-square-foot house with a typical roof slope has a roof square footage of about 2,200 square feet, that roof averages about $11,000 for professional installation. Assuming this roof might be replaced three to four times, an asphalt shingle roof will cost, in today's dollars, $33,000 to $44,000 over 100 years. Since a typical homeowner rarely lives in a home for more than 30 or 40 years, during which they may re-proof only once, asphalt shingles are a reasonably cost-effective roofing material for most homeowners.

Standing-Seam Metal Roof

Standing-Seam Metal Roof
ottoblotto / Getty Images

An increasingly popular type of roofing, especially in areas prone to wildfire danger, standing-seam metal roofs are made from large steel panels laid on the roof deck, with the seams overlapping in raised ridges that run vertically along the roof slope.

Metals are usually steel or aluminum, although copper and zinc are also used. Though these roofs are virtually maintenance-free and durable, they are prone to denting. They are not suitable for DIY installation, however.

Average Lifespan

Standing-seam metal roofs have a lifespan of 30 to 50 years, but as a relatively new product, information is still being gathered. In suitable circumstances, metal roofs may well last 75 years. Regularly check them to ensure fasteners and sealants haven't failed and inspect for distressed, bent, or slipped panels to maximize lifespan.

Installation Costs and Lifetime Value

The cost for standing-seam metal roofs is about $10 per square foot for steel or aluminum, $13 per square foot for zinc, and $18 per square foot for copper. For a 2,000-square-foot house, the average national cost for a steel panel roof is about $22,000. Improved metal roofs may routinely last 50 years. If a metal roof is replaced only once, prices in today's dollars are $44,000 over 100 years.

Is Metal Roofing the Best Value?

For a homeowner who lives in a home for 30 to 40 years before selling, a single $22,000 re-roofing expense might be the only one ever incurred if using metal roofing. And if you are shopping for a new home, buying one with a metal roof may mean you'll never face a re-roofing project. Standing-seam metal roofs might be more cost-effective in many ways than the far more popular asphalt shingle roof.

Built-Up Roofing (BUR)

BUR Roofing

Douglas Sachs / Getty Images

A built-up roof (BUR) is a layered roof created by alternating layers of roofing felt and waterproof materials such as fiberglass and hot tar (bitumen). Generally used on flat roofs or with a very slight pitch, a BUR roof is fire-resistant and inexpensive, though installing the roof is smelly.

Average Lifespan

BUR roofs typically last from 20 to 30 years. Maximizing the lifespan of a built-up roof is accomplished by regular inspection and repair and by keeping debris off the roof to prevent surface degradation.

Installation Costs and Lifetime Value

Installation of built-up roofing averages about $4 per square foot. On a 2,000-square-foot house with a roof very close to that square footage, the average professional installation costs about $8,000. Assuming this roof will need to be replaced about four times over 100 years, average roofing costs in today's dollars are about $32,000 over 100 years. However, this type of roof is unsuitable for a sloped roof.

Asphalt Roll Roof

Asphalt Roll Roof
hansslegers​ / Getty Images  

Asphalt roll roofing is made from large rolls of the same material used in asphalt shingles. Used for relatively flat pitches, such as angled shed roofs, roll roofing is installed by laying strips lengthwise across the roof in overlapping courses.

Roll roofing is a relatively easy material to install, and many do-it-yourselfers do this themselves. But it is better suited for sheds, garages, and perhaps porch roofs and is not a good solution for most home roofs.

Average Lifespan

Asphalt roll roofing is expected to last 5 to 10 years. Getting the maximum life from the roofing is just a matter of keeping it clear of debris and quickly patching any punctures or damage.

Installation Costs and Lifetime Value

Asphalt roll roofing is usually installed on roofs with a relatively flat peak so that a 2,000-square-foot house will have very close to 2,000 square feet of roof area.

The average costs for installing this roof are about $2.25 per square foot, for a total average cost of roughly $4,500. But assuming that this roof will likely need to be replaced perhaps 12 times over 100 years, total prices over this period, in today's dollars, can be as high as $54,000 over 100 years.

Wood Shingle Roof

Wood shingles
steverts​ / Getty Images 

Wood shingle roofs are made from thin, wedge-shaped pieces of natural wood, such as cedar or yellow pine, which are sawn from logs. They make for a beautiful roof but are tricky to install and unsuitable for most DIYers. Be aware that growing fire hazards in some regions have caused legal restrictions on using wood roofing materials. They are not a good choice in any location with seasonal wildfire hazards.

Average Lifespan

Wood shingle roofs average about 25 to 30 years in longevity, though longer lifespans are sometimes achieved in locations where the roof experiences mild conditions and remains debris-free. Meticulously maintained, wood shingle roofs can last for 50 years. To extend the life of a wood shingle roof, replace split and cracked shingles immediately and keep the roof free of moss.

Installation Costs and Lifetime Value

Wood shingles are more expensive than asphalt shingles, costing between $6.50 and $11.00 per square foot installed. Assuming an average of about $9 per square foot, a 2,000 square foot house with 2,200 square feet of standard sloped roof will cost $19,800 to roof. Assuming this roof will need to be replaced at least three or four times over a century, costs can be as high as $60,000 to $80,000 over 100 years, calculated in today's dollars.

Wood Shake Shingle Roof

Wood Shake Roof

PamWalker68 / Getty Images

Wood shakes are a thicker material than wood shingles, and they can be expected to stand up better than wood shingles to weather and UV rays. They are not suitable for most DIYers to install, requiring professional installation. Like wood shingles, shakes may be restricted in regions where wildfires are a known hazard.

Average Lifespan

Wood shake roofs are expected to last 35 to 40 years, though longer life is not rare. To maximize lifespan, you need to baby them and practice proper maintenance. There is no option for any wood roofing material that allows you never again to maintain it. Remove debris as soon as it falls on the roof. Eliminate moss. Replace split shakes right away. Replace curled, cupped, or split shakes immediately.

Installation Costs and Lifetime Value

Both the materials and installation are more expensive for shakes than wood shingles. You can typically count on shakes being about 50 percent more expensive than shingles.

Based on an assumption of $13 per square foot, a 2,000-square-foot house with 2,200 sloped roof square footage will cost $26,000 to install. If three installations are required over a century, average costs in today's dollars would run $78,000 over 100 years.

Clay or Cement Tile Roofs

Ceramic tile roof
Hennadii Tantsiura / Getty Images 

Clay tile roofs are prevalent in the Southwest United States, but they can be found anywhere in the country thanks to their incredible strength and durability.

Traditional tiles are made from terra cotta clay, but there are also ceramic tile roofs (made of fired clay) and concrete tile roofs. All consist of individual tiles installed in overlapping layers over the roof surface, with roughly the same degree of strength and durability. They require a sturdy roofing framing sufficient to hold the weight and must be installed by skilled professionals. This may well be the only roof your home ever needs.

Average Lifespan

Clay tile roofs routinely last 100 years or more when properly maintained. Tile roofing's downside is not decay, as with wood shake or shingles, nor the slow sloughing off of mineral grains, as with composite shingles. Instead, cracking is what can doom tile roofs.

Avoid walking on your tile roof as much as possible. When efflorescence develops, as often with terra cotta, buff it off with a clean, dry towel. Coat the tiles with a clear alkyd primer. Replace cracked and broken tiles as soon as you spot them.

Trimming trees and removing other potential causes of damage to the tile roof can help extend the lifespan of clay or cement tile roofs.

Installation Costs and Lifetime Value

Costs vary considerably, depending on whether the tiles are traditional clay terra cotta, fired ceramic, or concrete. Concrete tiles can cost around $10 per square foot installed; terra cotta can range from $15 to $20 per square foot installed; and ceramic tile installed from $20 to $30 per square foot. If a traditional Spanish clay tile roof is installed at $20 per square foot, costs for a 2,000-square-foot house with 2,200 sloped roof area would be $44,400.

However, since this roof will likely last a century, costs in today's dollars would remain $44,000 over 100 years. If you are concerned about future owners, a tile roof is a great choice. And if you are shopping for a new home, a tile roof less than 50 years old may well be a house you'll never need to reroof.

Slate Roof

Slate roof
northlightimages / Getty Images

Slate is another version of a tile roof, but rather than being made from molded clays or concrete, these are roofs covered with actual stone hewn from rock mined from quarries. Slate tends to split into flat slabs, making this the ideal natural stone to cover roofs.

Trained professionals must install the slate. It is the most expensive of common roofing materials but also the most durable. Properly maintained, it can potentially last the lifetime of your home—even if that lifetime is two centuries long. Because of the expense, this roofing material is usually used on large, luxury homes.

Average Lifespan

This is a roof that can easily last 100 years or even more. Slate roofs still exist that date hundreds of years old. To achieve this kind of longevity, immediately replace any broken slate tiles you see. Make sure that all flashings are correctly installed and in good working order. When your copper flashing has turned black, it is time to replace it.

Installation Costs and Lifetime Value

There is quite an enormous variation in costs for a slate roof, ranging from around $10 per square foot to as high as $75 per square foot, including installation.

Assuming an average installation cost of $30 per square foot, a 2,000 square foot home with 2,200 square feet in sloped roof area can cost roughly $66,000 to roof with slate.

That's the only cost ever incurred, though. Except for maintenance and repairs, which can be substantial, a well-built slate roof shouldn't need to be replaced for 100 years or more. So, as high as a slate roof costs to install, it's pretty reasonable when the price is amortized over many decades.

Choosing Roof Materials

It's easy to choose inexpensive options when facing the immediate challenge of financing a new roof when the old one wears out. For most homeowners, that choice usually will be asphalt or composite roofing.

Taking a long-term view demonstrates that a more expensive roofing material can be the better value over the lifetime of your home. Standing seam metal roof material or slate are excellent choices for ultra-long-term roofing. If you can finance the installation cost, these roof materials will be the cheapest.

FAQ
  • Which roofing material lasts the longest?

    Slate is commonly called the "forever roof," lasting more than 100 years. Concrete and clay tiles are also long-lasting, with a lifespan of up to 100 years.

  • What is the strongest roof construction?

    When faced with inclement weather like strong winds, ice, and snow, a metal hip roof is one of the strongest.

  • What type of roof is most expensive?

    Slate, as the most durable, is also the most expensive roof. Expect to pay up to 10 times more for slate vs. asphalt.

  • What color roof lasts the longest?

    Lighter-colored roofs potentially last longer because dark absorbs more sun and heats up more. However, lighter-colored roofs may experience more UV damage. For best results, ensure your roof and soffit vents are properly installed to help your roof last long, no matter the roof's color.

  • What is a solar roof?

    A solar roof is covered in solar shingles (different than solar panels), which can be installed over existing singles if you are replacing your roof or on their own if building new. A solar roof will save you money in the long run and is green/environmentally friendly, but note that they are very expensive to install.

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  1. Asphalt Shingle Roofing and the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry