Do you need a new roof? Are you trying to decide which roofing material to choose for your roof replacement?
The roofing material has a huge impact on a roof replacement, from pricing to lifespan to warranties and much more. So, choosing one is a huge decision.
That’s why making the right decision is absolutely crucial. Trust me, the last thing you want is to have regrets or buyer’s remorse on an investment as big as a new roof.
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners make the most informed decisions by providing unbiased and transparent advice. That’s why I’ll break down the best roofing materials for residential roofing.
In this article, you’ll learn the pros and cons of the 11 best types of roofing materials, plus their cost, lifespan, and warranty information.
1. 3-tab asphalt shingles
3-tab asphalt shingles lay flat and get their name from the 3 tabs on each shingle strip. This asphalt shingle used to dominate the residential roofing industry until technology improved to create architectural asphalt shingles.
Cost: ≈$4.00 per square foot
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
2. Architectural asphalt shingles
Architectural (also called dimensional) shingles provide a random pattern to give your roof dimension or simulate the look of a wood-shake roof. It’s not only the most common asphalt shingle installed on homes today but also the most common roofing material in general.
Cost: ≈$5.86 per square foot
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
3. Luxury asphalt shingles
Luxury (also called designer or premium) shingles are designed to look like a natural slate tile roof. They are larger, more durable, offer the highest curb appeal, and are the most expensive of three types of asphalt shingles.
Cost: ≈$8.00 per square foot
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
4. Exposed fastener metal roofing
An exposed fastener metal roof (also called screw down) is a series of panels fastened down to the decking through the metal. This not only leaves the fasteners exposed on top of the metal, but it also puts pressure on the panels when expanding and contracting.
Because of this, the screws must be replaced every 5-10 years or so to avoid leaks and wind lifting the panels up.
Cost: ≈$4.50-$6.50 per square foot
Lifespan: ≈20 years (can get up to 30 with maintenance)
Material warranty: Paint warranty, but length varies by manufacturer
Exposed fastener metal roofing pros:
- Affordability
- Color options
- Durable
- Don’t have to worry about oil canning
Exposed fastener metal roofing cons:
- Prone to leaks
- Needs consistent maintenance
- Lack of metal options
- Makes noise when it rains
- Hard to repair
5. Standing seam metal roofing
A standing seam metal roof system is a series of panels locked together at the seams or seamed mechanically. Under each rib (seam) is a clip that fastens the panels together and allows them to glide back and forth when the metal goes through thermal expansion.
Because of its expansion and contraction capabilities, a standing seam metal roof is the recommended type of metal roof for residential purposes.
Cost: ≈$12.00-$15.00 per square foot
Lifespan: 30 years (up to 50 in the right conditions)
Material warranty: 30-year paint warranty on the Kynar 500 painted finish
Standing seam metal roofing pros:
- High curb appeal
- Versatility (used to accent other roofing materials)
- Color options
- Long-lasting
- Durable
- Virtually maintenance free
- Can be installed on low slope areas
Standing seam metal roofing cons:
- Expensive
- Potential for oil canning
- Makes noise when it rains
- Hard to repair
6. Synthetic shingle roofing
Synthetic (also called composite) shingles are made of a synthetic polymer or recycled materials and designed to look exactly like a slate or cedar shake roof. This roofing material is a newcomer to the roofing industry, but it’s becoming increasingly popular among homeowners.
Cost: ≈$14.00-$20.00 per square foot
Lifespan: ≈40-50 years
Material warranty: Depends on the manufacturer
Synthetic shingle roofing pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Very high curb appeal
- Class 4 impact rating
- No cracking or breaking like natural material counterparts
- Cheaper than the materials it mimics
Synthetic shingle roofing cons:
- Newer to the roofing industry
- Expensive
7. Cedar shake roofing
A cedar shake roof is a premium roof system made of natural wood (cedar) materials. The shingles come from large cedar trees in the Northwest United States or Southwest Canada.
They are split into 3 grades (types) of cedar shake shingles: common (most inferior), selects (80/20 split), and 100% straight grain (highest quality).
Cost: ≈$25.00-$30.00 per square foot
Lifespan: ≈30 years (up to 50, depending on your area’s climate)
Material warranty: None (made from natural materials)
Cedar shake roofing pros:
- Very high curb appeal
- Durable
Cedar shake roofing cons:
- Expensive
- Needs yearly maintenance
- Loses the “fresh” color over time
- Cedar shakes rot, crack, and curl as they age
- No material warranty
- Materials may not be readily available
8. Slate roofing
A slate roof is a premium roof system made primarily out of natural slate tiles and other slate roofing materials. The slate is mined (mostly in Italy) and cut into square tiles.
Unlike other roofing materials that come in 3-foot wide strips or metal panels, slate tiles are installed one at a time. Slate roofs are also incredibly heavy, so your home has to be built or retro-framed to carry the weight of a slate roof.
Cost: ≈$15.00-$30.00
Lifespan: 75 to 100 years
Material warranty: None (made from natural materials)
Slate roofing pros:
- Longest lasting roofing material available
- Very high curb appeal
- Durable
Slate roofing cons:
- Expensive
- The weight factor
- Slate tiles are fragile
- Slow and skillful installation
- Harder to repair
- No material warranty
9. EPDM roofing (low slope only)
EPDM roofing membrane (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is a synthetic rubber black membrane that’s mostly installed on commercial and medical facilities. However, EPDM is becoming increasingly popular in residential roofing for low slope or flat areas.
Cost: ≈$12.00-$17.00
Lifespan: ≈25 years
Material warranty: 10-30 years (depends on the manufacturer)
EPDM roofing pros:
- Durable (fully adhered 0.60-thickness)
- Stands up well to storm damage
- Doesn’t show dirt
- Eco-friendly
EPDM roofing cons:
- Expensive
- Absorbs heat
- Not very energy efficient in hot climates
10. PVC roofing (low slope only)
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a single-ply white membrane popular in both commercial and residential roofing. While it mainly comes in white, gray is available.
Cost: ≈$12.00-$17.00
Lifespan: ≈25 years
Material warranty: 10-30 years (depends on the manufacturer)
PVC roofing pros:
- Durability
- Resistant to chemicals and grease
- Energy efficient
- Fire resistant
- Flexibility in cold and hot climates
PVC roofing cons:
- Expensive
- Gets dirty easily
- Not very eco-friendly
- Heavier than other membranes
- Shrinks in areas with extreme temperature changes
- Specialized installation
11. TPO roofing (low slope only)
TPO roofing membrane (thermoplastic polyolefin) is also a single-ply white membrane used in both commercial and residential roofing. It’s usually a white membrane, but gray and tan are also available.
TPO shares a lot of similarities with PVC, but doesn’t last as long and is usually more affordable.
Cost: ≈$12.00-$17.00
Lifespan: ≈20 years
Material warranty: 10-30 years (depends on the manufacturer)
TPO roofing pros:
- More affordable than other membranes
- Energy efficient
- Durable in all climates
- Eco-friendly
- Lightweight and flexible
- Resistant to mold and algae
TPO roofing cons:
- Newer to the roofing industry
- Quality varies by manufacturer
- Gets dirty easier
- Doesn’t last as long as other membranes
- Can rip from foot traffic
- Specialized installation
What else do you need to consider when replacing your roof?
Now you know the pros and cons of the 11 best roofing materials, plus how much their cost, lifespan, and material warranty. Just keep in mind that there are other material options, but these are the most popular types in residential roofing.
At this point, you should have a good idea of which one is right for you. However, the roofing material isn’t the only thing you need to think about when replacing your roof.
The last thing you want is to go into the process with the wrong mindset or the information you need to make the best decisions. That’s why I wrote another article breaking down what every homeowner should consider when replacing their roof.
Check out 7 Things to Consider Before a Roof Replacement to learn what you should think about when getting a new roof.
