Onward
Every roofing material & roof shape, explained.
Cost, lifespan, and honest pros and cons for every roofing material and roof shape — so you can pick the right roof for your home, climate, and budget.
Your complete roofing resource
Everything in one place — what roofs cost, how materials compare, the data behind the numbers, and step-by-step homeowner guides.
Roofing materials
From budget asphalt to century-lasting slate — every option, compared.
Architectural (Dimensional) Shingles: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Architectural (dimensional) shingles are the most popular new-roof choice in the US. Here's what they cost, how long they last, and how they stack up against 3-tab.
Read guideAsphalt Shingle Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
The most common roof in America, explained: 2026 asphalt shingle costs, lifespan, wind and fire ratings, and how the three grades compare.
Read guideClay Tile Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
A buyer's guide to clay tile roofing in 2026 — real installed costs, the 50-100 year lifespan, weight and structural needs, and how clay compares to concrete tile and slate.
Read guideFlat Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Most flat roofs are single-ply membranes (TPO, EPDM, PVC) or built-up systems. Here's what each costs in 2026, how long it lasts and which one fits your building.
Read guideImpact-Resistant (Class 4) Shingles: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles use SBS-modified asphalt to survive 2-inch hail and can cut your home insurance premium by 10-30% in hail-prone states.
Read guideMetal Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
A buyer's guide to metal roofing in 2026 — types, metals, real installed costs, lifespan, energy efficiency and how it stacks up against asphalt and tile.
Read guideSlate Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Natural slate is the longest-lasting roof you can buy — and the most expensive. Here is what a slate roof costs in 2026, how long it lasts, and what it weighs.
Read guideStanding Seam Metal Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
A premium concealed-fastener metal roof with raised vertical seams. Built to last 40-70 years, shed water, and carry solar without holes in the panels.
Read guide3-Tab Shingles: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
3-tab shingles are the cheapest asphalt roof you can buy — a flat, single-layer shingle. Here's what they cost in 2026, how long they last, and when they still make sense.
Read guideBuilt-Up Roofing (BUR): Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Built-up roofing is the classic tar-and-gravel flat roof: layers of bitumen and felt under a gravel cap. Here's what BUR costs in 2026, how long it lasts and when to choose it.
Read guideCedar Shake Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Cedar shake gives you a natural, rustic roof no synthetic fully matches — but it asks for ongoing maintenance and is now banned in many wildfire zones. Here is what it costs and how long it lasts in 2026.
Read guideComposite Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Composite roofing mimics slate or cedar shake using engineered polymers and recycled materials — at a fraction of the weight and price. Here is what it costs, how long it lasts, and how it compares in 2026.
Read guideConcrete Tile Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
A buyer's guide to concrete tile roofing in 2026 — real installed costs, a 40-75 year lifespan, the heavy weight that drives structural work, color fade and efflorescence, and how concrete compares to clay tile.
Read guideCopper Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
The premium metal roof. Copper costs more than any other roof, lasts 100+ years, and weathers from bright penny to green patina. Often used as accents.
Read guideCorrugated Metal Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
The most affordable metal roof: wavy or ribbed panels screwed straight to the deck. Cheap, fast, and tough, but the exposed screws need upkeep over time.
Read guideEPDM Rubber Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
EPDM is the classic black rubber flat-roof membrane — the cheapest single-ply option. Here's what it costs in 2026, how long it lasts, and how it compares to TPO and PVC.
Read guideMetal Shingles: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
A buyer's guide to metal shingles in 2026 — interlocking steel and aluminum panels stamped to mimic shake, slate or tile, with real installed costs, lifespan and how they compare to standing seam and stone-coated steel.
Read guideModified Bitumen Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Modified bitumen is the modern, rolled-membrane evolution of the old tar-and-gravel roof. Here's what it costs in 2026, how long it lasts and when it beats single-ply.
Read guidePVC Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
PVC is the premium single-ply flat-roof membrane — heat-welded seams, grease and chemical resistance, and a 20-30 year life. Here's what it costs in 2026 and when it beats TPO and EPDM.
Read guideSolar Shingles & Solar Roofs: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
A buyer's guide to solar shingles and solar roofs in 2026 — Tesla Solar Roof vs GAF Timberline, real installed costs, power output, lifespan and how they compare to bolt-on panels.
Read guideSpanish / Barrel Tile Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
A buyer's guide to Spanish and barrel tile roofing in 2026 — real installed costs, the 50-100 year lifespan, the S-curved profile's air-gap cooling, weight and structural needs, and the best climates for it.
Read guideStone-Coated Steel Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
A buyer's guide to stone-coated steel roofing in 2026 — steel panels with bonded stone granules that look like tile, shake or shingle, plus real costs, lifespan and storm performance.
Read guideSynthetic / Composite Slate Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Synthetic slate gives you the look of natural stone at a fraction of the cost and weight. Here is what a composite slate roof costs in 2026, how long it lasts, and the top brands.
Read guideTPO Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
TPO is the most-installed commercial flat-roof membrane — a white, heat-welded single-ply sheet that reflects sunlight. Here's its 2026 cost, lifespan and how it compares to EPDM and PVC.
Read guideWood Shingle Roofing: Cost, Pros & Cons & Lifespan (2026)
Wood shingles are machine-sawn cedar, redwood, or pine — smoother and more uniform than hand-split shakes. Here is what a wood shingle roof costs in 2026 and how long it lasts.
Read guideRoof shapes & styles
Gable, hip, mansard, and more — how each shape looks, costs, and performs.
A-Frame Roof: Guide, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
The classic cabin and chalet shape: a steep roof that runs almost to the foundation and doubles as the walls. Great at shedding snow, costly per square foot of living space.
Read guideDormer Roof: Types, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
Dormers are roofed structures that project from a sloped roof, usually with a window. Here's how the main types compare on cost, space, and leak risk in 2026.
Read guideDutch Roof (Dutch Gable): Guide, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
A hybrid shape: a small gable sits on top of a hip roof. You get the hip's wind stability plus a gable's attic space and light — for a bit more money.
Read guideFlat Roof: Guide, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
A flat roof is a low-slope shape used on modern homes, additions and commercial buildings. Here's how it drains, what it costs versus other shapes and where it works best.
Read guideGable Roof: Guide, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
The gable is the classic peaked, triangular two-slope roof — the most common shape in the US. Here's how it looks, what it costs to build, and where it shines or struggles.
Read guideGambrel Roof: Guide, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
The gambrel is the classic two-slope barn roof. It maximizes attic space and costs less than a mansard, but it struggles in heavy snow and high wind.
Read guideHip Roof: Guide, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
A plain-English guide to the hip roof — what it is, the simple, cross, pyramid and half-hip variations, how its cost compares to a gable, and why it's the go-to shape in high-wind and coastal regions.
Read guideMansard Roof: Guide, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
A mansard is a four-sided, double-slope French roof that turns the attic into a full living floor. Here's how it looks, what it costs in 2026 and its trade-offs.
Read guideShed Roof: Guide, Cost & Pros/Cons (2026)
The shed roof is a single sloping plane with no ridge. Here's how it looks, what it costs, and where its simple framing and solar-friendly slope pay off.
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