Do you need a new roof? Are you looking for the cheapest or most affordable roofing material for a tight budget?
There’s no way around the fact that a new roof is a big investment. However, certain roofing materials are more affordable than others.
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has provided homeowners with the information they need to make the best decisions for their roof replacement. So, let’s look at the cheapest type of roofing material.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What’s the cheapest roofing material?
- 6 risks when you don’t invest in a quality roof replacement
What’s the cheapest roofing material?
Asphalt shingles are the cheapest roofing material on the market. While asphalt as a whole is the cheapest roofing material, there are three types of asphalt shingles that vary in price.
Let’s look at the three types of asphalt shingles in order of affordability, and also their pros and cons.
3-tab asphalt shingles
3-tab asphalt shingles are the cheapest roofing material on the market in general. However, manufacturers are phasing them out of the roofing industry as they become obsolete.
Lifespan: ≈20 years at most
Material warranty: 25-year limited warranty from the manufacturer
3-tab asphalt shingle pros:
- Cheapest roofing material on the market
- Ease of repair and installation
3-tab asphalt shingle cons:
- Shortest lifespan
- Being phased out of the roofing industry
- Hard to color matches for repairs and insurance
- Needs yearly maintenance
- Low curb appeal
- Prone to wind damage
Architectural asphalt shingles
Architectural asphalt shingles are the most commonly used roofing material in the United States. Even though they aren’t much more expensive than 3-tab shingles, the quality, lifespan, storm damage durability, and warranties are much better.
Lifespan: 22-25 years
Material warranty: 30-year warranty (prorated after 10 years) from the manufacturer. Upgrade to a 50-year non-prorated enhanced warranty with a full roof system.
Architectural asphalt shingle pros:
- Affordability
- Ease of repair and installation
- Readily available materials and colors
Architectural asphalt shingle cons:
- Low curb appeal compared to other materials
- Needs yearly maintenance
- Prone to hail damage
Luxury asphalt shingles
Luxury asphalt shingles are the most expensive asphalt roofing material in residential roofing. They’re almost double the cost of architectural shingles, but offer higher curb appeal and a longer lifespan.
Lifespan: ≈30 years or longer in perfect conditions
Material warranty: 30-year warranty (prorated after 10 years) from the manufacturer. Upgrade to a 50-year non-prorated enhanced warranty with a full roof system.
Luxury asphalt shingle pros:
- Durability
- Longevity
- High curb appeal
- Stands up well to storm damage
Luxury asphalt shingle cons:
- Expensive
- Longer installation compared to the other asphalt shingles
- Needs yearly maintenance
If you’re looking for affordability, I recommend architectural asphalt shingles. You can go cheaper with a 3-tab shingle, but the small cost difference and quality gap make architectural shingles the better option.
6 risks when you don’t invest in a quality roof replacement
Now you know that asphalt is the cheapest roofing material for your roof replacement. However, it’s better to look for affordability instead of cheap.
I understand wanting to find a price tag you’re happy with, but a new roof will always be a large investment. In fact, you’re putting your home and bank account at risk when looking for the cheapest roof replacement.
Let’s look at the 6 risks when you don't invest in a quality roof replacement.
1. You increase the chance of being taken advantage of by bad roofers
The first risk when looking for a cheap roof is you increase the chance of being taken advantage of by a bad roofing contractor. This risk actually leads to all the other risks in this article.
Once a bad roofer learns you’re looking for the lowest price, you immediately make yourself a prime target. They’ll lower their prices by leaving things off, using low-quality materials, or using a different material (like using 3-tab asphalt shingles as ridge capping) in certain areas to make their estimate more appealing.
I guarantee they’ll also use cheap labor to install the roof. Every roofing company has different overhead costs, prefers certain products, and everything else that impacts their pricing, so a lower-priced estimate isn’t necessarily a red flag.
However, you should approach any roofing estimate much lower than the other(s) with skepticism because there are always reasons why.
2. The final quality of your roof replacement reflects what you pay
The next risk of getting a cheap roof is that you get what you pay for with the final product. As I said, getting a cheap roof replacement almost guarantees that cheap components and labor will be used.
Doing this sets your new roof up for leaks and even premature failure right off the bat. At the end of the day, investing in quality labor, roofing materials, and components will always cost more.
I fully understand that most homeowners have a set or tight budget, but I promise you that you’ll get exactly what you paid for.
3. You’ll get a short workmanship warranty
A roofing contractor’s workmanship warranty protects your investment if an installation mistake leads to a roof leak or other problems. In my opinion, roofers who take pride in their work should offer at least a 10-year warranty.
However, I guarantee a cheap roof replacement will not come with long-term protection. They’ll offer something just to get your roof through the warranty period to avoid being on the hook to fix any problems.
A roofer won’t offer more than a five-year workmanship warranty on something they know has cheap quality materials installed with cheap labor. Instead, you’re looking at a tail light warranty (your warranty is gone when they leave your property) or one to five years at the most.
4. Your roof won’t qualify for the best roofing material warranties
Speaking of warranties, every material comes with a warranty to protect against manufacturer defects. Your shingles and other components have an individual warranty, but a cheap roof won’t qualify for the best warranties or long-term protection.
For example, getting an architectural shingle roof system using one manufacturer’s roofing components from a certified roofer qualifies for an enhanced warranty. This warranty guarantees the manufacturer covers labor, materials, dump fees, non-prorated for 50 years if the materials are defective.
I guarantee you won’t find a cheap roofer that’s certified to offer these warranties, plus improper installation and inadequate attic ventilation voids any material or component warranty. This means even individual material warranties won’t be honored if they weren’t installed per the installation instructions, which is no guarantee with cheap labor.
5. You’ll end up paying more in the long run
A cheap roof is guaranteed to have problems and most likely won’t have a workmanship warranty to address them. Problems might not show up right away, but you’re at risk of spending even more money on repairs and, eventually, a full roof replacement.
And because you can’t get the roofer to answer the phone or your warranty period ended, you’ll end up paying another company to take care of the issues. Unfortunately, this won’t be cheap, and they’ll likely find other issues.
While a cheap roof might be tempting, it’s not worth the stress, frustration, and spending more of your hard-earned money.
6. Your roof’s lifespan won’t reach its full potential
Besides the increase in home value, a new roof’s ROI is how long it lasts. For an asphalt roof (depending on the shingle type), this is anywhere from 15 to 30 years on average.
Because a cheap roof shows in the final quality, I guarantee your roof won’t reach its full potential. Unfortunately, even the highest-quality roofing materials won’t reach their full lifespan if they are installed incorrectly.
After all, the materials are only as good as their installation. Even if you invest in quality materials but get the cheapest labor to install them, you’re still at risk of cut corners and incorrect roofing techniques.
Which roofing material is right for you and your budget?
After reading this article, you know the risks of getting a cheap roof replacement. While it’s alright to look for the most affordable roofing material, it’s crucial not to look for the cheapest roof replacement possible.
However, you can’t make a decision until you know which roofing material is right for your budget without knowing the cost. You also can’t make a decision without knowing the pros and cons of each material.
That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the best roofing materials for residential roofing, including their cost, lifespan, warranties, and pros and cons.
Check out The 7 Best Roofing Materials (Pros, Cons, Cost, Lifespan, and More) to find the right roofing material for your upcoming roof replacement.
