What changes your number
A calculator applies an average. These are the things that decide where in the range you actually land.
- How long you plan to stay The single most clarifying question. A five-year horizon and a thirty-year horizon point at genuinely different materials, and no amount of comparing specifications substitutes for answering it.
- What your framing can carry Tile and natural slate are heavy enough that the structure decides whether they are options at all. That comes before preference.
- Your climate Hail, wind, wildfire, freeze-thaw, and salt air each favour different materials and sometimes rule others out by code.
- Local code and insurance Some jurisdictions restrict wood roofing; some insurers price impact resistance. These constraints are worth knowing before you shortlist.
- What your neighborhood supports A premium roof rarely returns its premium on a modest street. Buyers price to the area.
Common mistakes
Every one of these is something people genuinely do, and most of them cost real money.
- Choosing on appearance alone Appearance matters and it is not the only constraint. Weight, code, and climate can eliminate a material before taste gets a vote.
- Ignoring the stay-versus-sell question Premium longevity is worth paying for if you are staying, and rarely recovered if you are selling soon.
- Assuming any roofer can install any material Slate, tile, and cedar are specializt trades. Availability of someone competent locally is a real constraint on your options.
How to pick a roofing material
Here’s the short version:
- Asphalt shingle - best value, 15-30 years, fits almost any home. See cost.
- Metal - lasts 40-70 years, sheds snow, reflects heat, costs more up front. See cost.
- Tile - 50+ years, great in hot and coastal climates, heavy. See cost.
- Slate - 75-100 years, premium look and price. See cost.
Compare them side by side in our roofing materials guide, or get a personal pick from a vetted local pro.
Cost ranges reflect 2026 U.S. installed prices (BLS producer/labor data, Remodeling Cost vs. Value, and manufacturer pricing). Your real price depends on your roof, region, and pro - see the full cost guide.
The terms on your quote, explained
A roofing quote is written in trade vocabulary. These are the words that actually change what you are paying for.
- Square
- 100 square feet of roof surface. The unit the entire trade orders, prices, and quotes in - a 2,400 sq ft roof is 24 squares.
- Pitch
- The slope, written as rise over a 12-inch run. A roof climbing 6 inches per 12 horizontal inches is "6/12".
- Decking (sheathing)
- The structural panels over the rafters that everything else fastens to. Its condition is unknown until the old covering is off.
- Underlayment
- The water-resistant layer between decking and covering. Synthetic or felt; it is the roof's second line of defense.
- Ice-and-water shield
- A self-adhering membrane at eaves and valleys that seals around fasteners. Commonly required by code in freeze-thaw climates.
- Flashing
- Metal that seals the joins - around chimneys, walls, valleys and vents. Most roof leaks are flashing failures, not covering failures.
Roofing Material Selector questions
Want a real number? Get matched with a vetted local pro →
For most homes, architectural asphalt shingle - the best mix of price, lifespan, and looks. Metal wins for longevity, tile for hot climates, slate for premium homes. The best pick depends on your budget and how long you’ll stay.
Slate (75-100 years) and clay tile (50+ years) last longest, followed by metal (40-70 years). Asphalt shingle lasts 15-30 years for a fraction of the cost.
3-tab asphalt shingle is cheapest, but architectural shingle costs only a little more and lasts longer - the better value for most homes.
Metal and tile shed snow and resist heat; impact-rated shingles suit hail country; wind-rated systems suit coasts. A vetted local pro knows what holds up in your area.
Asphalt shingle dominates residential roofing in the US, largely on cost, ease of installation, and the fact that nearly every roofer can install it well.
Slate and tile are the long-life materials, followed by metal, with asphalt the shortest of the common options. Longevity is not free - the long-life materials cost more up front and several need framing that can carry the weight.
Start with the constraints rather than the preferences: how long you are staying, what your framing can carry, what your climate and code require. That usually leaves two or three real candidates.
