These Are the 7 Best Roofing Materials for Your Home

Not solely is the roof over your head essential for maintaining out the climate, it has a huge effect on your own home’s curb enchantment. “From a design perspective, the roof is a dominant — if usually missed — visible component,” says Dan DiClerico, director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab for the Good Housekeeping Institute. “Trust us once we say, should you select a roof that clashes with the fashion of the house, everybody will discover.” The mistaken materials may imply insufficient safety or untimely failure.

Replacing your roof isn’t low-cost (the common house owner spends about $10,000), so it’s an funding in your house. Your roof takes the brunt of any harsh climate: the beating solar, thrashing rain, winter snowstorms and the like. Even when you contemplate your funds, local weather and set up, it could nonetheless really feel overwhelming to choose a brand new roofing materials. To enable you resolve, we’ve rounded up one of the best roofing supplies — from versatile picks like asphalt shingles to long-lasting slate and clay tiles.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt is the preferred materials for residential roofing within the U.S. as a result of it’s reasonably priced, straightforward to put in and works effectively in most climates. There are three most important kinds of asphalt shingles: 3-tab (most reasonably priced), dimensional or architectural (thicker than 3-tab shingles) and luxurious (designed to appear to be slate tiles).

Pros: Cost-effective and sturdy, asphalt is simple to put in and preserve. The materials is accessible in a wide range of colours and kinds, pairing with most home types.
Cons: Some much less strong 3-tab shingles might be susceptible to wreck from wind and hail, and asphalt as a class has a shorter lifespan than another roofing sorts.
Average lifespan: 25 years
Average value: $10,000

Wood Shingles or Shakes

From Cape Cod cottages to modern properties, wooden roofing is a pure, trendy and reasonably priced alternative. For a country or distinctive aesthetic, wooden shakes and shingles can be found in several colours, patterns and grains. Typically made from cedar, the fabric is of course energy-efficient, wind resistant and affect resistant. Since it’s a straightforward goal for water harm, wooden roofing is finest for dry climates — simply word it’s possible you’ll want a hearth retardant.

Pros: Wood shingles and shakes have a novel curb enchantment, plus the pure materials is energy-efficient and will be thought-about extra eco-friendly. The materials is wind resistant and affect resistant (trace: thicker wooden is extra sturdy). As for set up, wooden shingles are utilized in the identical approach as different shingles.
Cons: Although the common value is much like different roof sorts, wooden shouldn’t be one of the best materials for all climates. Wood roofs are prone to moisture and mould harm, plus they’re vulnerable to bugs. Wood shingles or shakes may require a hearth retardant as the fabric is susceptible to fireplace.
Average lifespan: 25 years
Average value: $21,500

Slate Tiles

If you’re meaning to dwell in your house for many years to return, slate could also be a viable possibility for you — for the reason that pure stone can final wherever from 50 to 100 years. Slate roofs are sturdy sufficient to resist excessive winds and excessive temperatures, plus they’re fire-proof and do job maintaining out water. If you do plan to maneuver in some unspecified time in the future, a slate roof could assist to extend a house’s worth.

Pros: Not solely is slate visually interesting, the naturally occurring stone can final upwards of 100 years (and even longer). The long-lasting materials holds up in most climates, since it could stand up to excessive winds, resist moisture and forestall fires. It’s an amazing possibility should you’re seeking to make a long-term funding.
Cons: Although they’ve a protracted lifespan, slate is without doubt one of the extra expensive roofing supplies — probably two or 3 times costlier than asphalt shingles. Not to say, slate is unbelievable heavy which makes the set up course of tougher.
Average lifespan: 75 to 100 years
Average value: $25,000

Clay and Concrete Tiles

From reddish-orange terracotta to textured grey concrete, tile roofing is supposed to final a lifetime (or longer). “Concrete and terracotta tiles are extraordinarily sturdy, even towards fireplace — making them possibility in heat, dry areas which might be vulnerable to wild fires,” says DiClerico. The materials is common in scorching climates — like Florida, California and the Southwest — as a result of it holds up effectively in excessive warmth and publicity to salt air.

Pros: Clay and concrete tiles supply a ton of curb enchantment, particularly when you think about the flexibility in colours and types. If you go along with clay or concrete, your roof ought to final at the very least 100 years. The pure materials can stand up to excessive winds, hail and fires.
Cons: While concrete tiles are extra reasonably priced than clay, each choices are costlier than asphalt or wooden shingles. These kind of tiles are heavy, so that you’ll positively require skilled set up. Given the heft of the fabric, it isn’t very best for roofs with sharper slopes.
Average lifespan: 100+ years
Average value: $21,000

Metal Roofing

Metal roofs are sometimes comprised of metal, aluminum, copper or tin. Although they are often pricey, the fabric has a protracted lifespan and holds up exceptionally effectively in harsh winter climates. “Metal does job of shrugging off heavy snow, which is why you see them in northern components of the nation,” says DiClerico.

Pros: With a lifespan of round 80 years, metallic roofs can stand up to excessive winds and shouldn’t corrode with a rust-proof coating. The materials is a secure alternative for snowy climates, plus most metallic roofs are comprised of recycled content material — making them a extra environmentally-friendly alternative.
Cons: Metal roofing will be costly, plus the set up will be pricey due to the instruments and experience required. The different draw back? Metal roofs will be noisy throughout heavy rain or hail storms.
Average lifespan: 80 years
Average value: $16,500

Solar Roods

Solar shingles or photo voltaic roof tiles can change present shingles, and work finest paired with asphalt or tile roofing. They harvest daylight to generate electrical energy. Solar vitality is finest for sunny climates, however isn’t very best for properties with steeply pitched roofs or these which might be surrounded by a number of bushes or different sun-blocking objects.

Pros: Solar roofs generate electrical energy on your dwelling, serving to to cut back your vitality invoice. Although the preliminary value of a photo voltaic roof is excessive, there may be little upkeep required after set up and it could enhance your own home’s worth. There are extra reasonably priced choices, just like the GAF Energy’s Timberline Solar (a Good Housekeeping Home Reno award winner) that integrates photo voltaic expertise into conventional roofing.
Cons: Solar panels are costly and troublesome to put in.
Average lifespan: 25 years
Average value: $27,000

Living Roofs

Also often called a inexperienced roof, a dwelling roof is strictly what it seems like: a roof partially or fully lined with soil, vegetation and vegetation. Although they’re a much less common alternative, inexperienced roofs final 40 to 50 years — defending your own home from wind, ice, snow rain and UV rays within the course of.

Pros: A inexperienced roof is a sustainable possibility, because it advantages the surroundings by releasing carbon dioxide and serving to to enhance air high quality. The vegetation and soil retailer rain water to forestall flooding and take in the solar’s warmth in scorching climates. You may even flip your roof right into a full backyard, full with vegatables and fruits.
Cons: As anticipated, a dwelling roof requires frequent and tougher upkeep — which may additionally led to a higher expense.
Average lifespan: 30 to 50 years
Average value: $22,000

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What to think about when selecting a brand new roof?

✔️ Style: “Your roof ought to coordinate with the structure of the house,” says DiClerico, who suggests beginning with fashion. More usually than not, householders change their roof with the identical materials. If you need to swap it up, you may take your cue from comparable properties in your neighborhood.

✔️ Cost: The common house owner spends between $10,000 and $20,000 changing their roof, in keeping with DiClerico. But, costs fluctuate extensively relying on the selection of fabric and measurement of the home.

✔️ Installation: On prime of fabric value, you’ll want to think about the fee and problem of set up. Asphalt is probably the most reasonably priced possibility, however costlier supplies could final for much longer. Lightweight shingles and tiles are typically simpler to put in (it’s possible you’ll even be capable to do it your self), though heavier supplies sometimes have longer lifespans.

✔️ Climate: You’ll need to contemplate your local weather as sure supplies maintain up higher to snow, rain and hail, whereas others stand up to excessive winds and tropical temperatures. Asphalt and metallic work effectively in most climates, whereas wooden is finest in chilly temperatures and clay and concrete tiles do effectively in warmth.

Why belief Good Housekeeping?

As Good Housekeeping‘s affiliate way of life editor, Alyssa Gautieri covers dwelling enchancment and inside design matters. Prior to becoming a member of GH in 2022, she labored for varied dwelling publications together with ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine, along with manufacturers like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.

To select one of the best kinds of roofing supplies, Alyssa consulted with Dan DiClerico, director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab for the Good Housekeeping Institute. DiClerico brings greater than 20 years of expertise to the Institute, reviewing hundreds of merchandise (together with roofing and photo voltaic techniques) for Good Housekeeping and beforehand for This Old House and Consumer Reports. Prior to beginning his profession as a house knowledgeable, Dan labored for a number of years on a roofing crew, primarily changing asphalt and wooden shingle roofs on suburban properties.

Associate Lifestyle Editor

Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the affiliate way of life editor for Good Housekeeping, the place she covers all issues dwelling and inside design. Prior to becoming a member of GH in 2022, she wrote for publications together with ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, along with crafting product copy for dwelling manufacturers like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.