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Dan Simms is a contributing writer at USA TODAY Homefront specializing in home repair, renovation and renewable energy. While working as a property manager for one of the largest real estate management firms in New York, Dan worked alongside contractors and renovation specialists to prepare homes for sale. He is an avid DIYer and has completed a shed construction and a bathroom renovation in his own home and investment properties. He lives on Long Island, New York. Reach out to him on LinkedIn.
The best roof depends on your aesthetic preferences, budget, local climate and tolerance for maintenance.
Asphalt roofs are the most common in the U.S., last for up to 25 years and are available in different colors and designs.
Consider impact resistance, fire resistance and wind resistance when choosing a roof material.
The type of roof you choose for your home can have a major impact on your heating and cooling bills, curb appeal and long-term roof replacement and repair costs. It might be tempting to choose a roof type based solely on upfront cost, but that’s not always in your best interest.
“The best roofing comes down to a couple of different factors, from geography to cost and durability,” said Korey Gregory, superintendent of ASAP Restoration, a full-service home renovation company in Tempe, Arizona.
A new asphalt roof can cost $5,000—$10,000.
A metal roof replacement ranges from $7,000 up to $70,000.
Clay tile and slate roofs can cost between $55,200 and $59,800.
Asphalt roofs are the best option for most homeowners because they provide a balance between upfront cost and longevity. “In Colorado, architectural [asphalt] shingles are now the standard due to their wind rating suitability, affordability and availability,” said Chris Hock, owner of Earth Saving Solutions, a home remodeling company in Denver.
Understanding your roof options and the benefits and drawbacks of each is a good first step before contacting a roofing company to get the roof replacement underway.
Five kinds of roofs are prevalent in the U.S., each delivering varying levels of efficiency, longevity and curb appeal.
Asphalt roofs are the most common roof type in America because they’re more cost-effective than most other options, deliver good resistance to extreme weather like strong winds and hail, and typically last for 15 to 25 years if you buy higher-quality architectural shingles or luxury shingles. Plus, you can save on replacement costs down the road by stacking new asphalt shingles over old ones rather than paying to remove and replace the entire roof.
They’re made out of fiberglass and asphalt, building materials with a reasonably long life span, and can be recycled. This is the only type of roof that you can generally DIY, as other options have more complicated installations.
Asphalt roofs are usually less energy-efficient than clay and metal roofs. However, you can invest in a “cool roof” that’s designed to reflect more sunlight. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), doing so can reduce cooling bills by up to 27% during peak sunlight hours.
Metal is more reflective than asphalt, so it tends to be a more energy-efficient option in warmer, sunnier climates. However, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) states that lighter-color metal roofs are necessary for the best efficiency.
Metal roofs cost about twice as expensive as asphalt roofs, but they can also last about twice as long. They are also less likely to lose functionality from hail damage and impact than asphalt, but they can sustain cosmetic damage and dents.
“Stone-coated steel roofing provides a durable and aesthetically pleasing option,” said Hock. “However, it requires knowledgeable professionals to install and maintain, as improper foot traffic can cause denting or bending.” The expertise required for installation is one factor that makes this roof material more costly.
Clay roofs cost 1.5 to 2.5 times as much as metal roofs, making them one of the most expensive types of roofs. They last for 50 or more years, which is about twice as long as asphalt roofs, but the higher cost than metal makes it an expensive option in the short term and over time.
“Clay tiles offer aesthetic appeal and are available in Class 3 or 4 for impact resistance,” said Hock. They come in a few design colors and options, including Spanish tile, French tile and terracotta.
However, the tiles are significantly heavier than traditional asphalt shingles — weighing in around 900 pounds per 100 square feet as compared to asphalt shingles that weigh between 195 and 430 pounds for the same coverage. “You may need an engineer to confirm that your structure can support the additional load.”
Clay tile roofs can be recycled. However, according to the EPA, only about 12% of waste from clay construction debris is reused. Clay isn’t recycled as much as asphalt (14%), and it’s nowhere near the 76.5% recycling rate that metal construction material boasts.
Clay has a good solar reflectance value and can potentially save you around 3.7% on heating and cooling bills compared to a dark asphalt roof.
Natural slate is the most expensive roof material, costing up to three times as much as clay and metal. It’s also tied with clay for the heaviest roof material, so it will put the largest load on your structure. You might need higher-quality roof decking to support it, which can drive up installation costs.
While slate roofs are expensive, they tend to last the longest, sometimes up to 125 years. They also require minimal maintenance, so long-term costs could end up being lower as compared to more affordable roof materials.
Slate is a particularly good roof material in moist climates, as it resists moisture and mold growth well. It’s also a good material in warmer climates. Although its solar reflectance is about the same as asphalt, it absorbs less heat, so it can help reduce heat transfer into your home and reduce cooling bills in the hotter months.
Wood roofs like cedar shakes, cedar shingles and Southern Yellow Pine shakes last for around 30 years, but some species of wood shakes can last for up to 50 years. They usually cost about the same as an asphalt roof, although price depends on the type of wood you choose, with cedar being the most expensive.
Wood shake roofs give your home a natural look and are popular largely because of the curb appeal they provide.
Your long-term cost is likely to be higher than most other roofs because wood can split and rot, especially in rainy or moist climates. Wood is a renewable resource, but only around 27% of wood construction material is recycled, according to the EPA.
Most wood roofs have a Class C fire rating or aren’t rated for fire resistance, so they’re not a good option in areas that are prone to wildfires. Homes with wood roofs are up to 21% more likely to be lost in a wildfire than other roof materials, according to research done by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
An asphalt shingle roof is the most popular type of roof — provided you don’t have a flat roof — in the U.S., but there’s no single roof type that’s universally best. Choosing the best roofing materials for your home requires that you consider upfront cost, long-term maintenance, durability, resistance to severe weather and natural disaster and how well the material will insulate your home to make it more efficient and reduce your heating and cooling bills.
The most affordable roof type is an asphalt roof, followed by wood shingles, metal, clay and slate. Choosing an asphalt roof can keep your upfront roof replacement cost as low as possible.
However, other roof types last significantly longer. The average life span of an asphalt roof is around 15–25 years. You might pay twice as much for a metal roof, but it will also last twice as long, or more, making your long-term cost lower.
Metal roofs also have a high impact resistance, so if you live in an area where hail or wind-blown debris are issues, you stand less of a chance of roof damage if you choose a metal roof.
Identifying the best roof type for your home is a complicated process, so you should speak with a local roofer to help you decide.
Generally speaking, asphalt roofs provide the best value, which is a big reason why it’s the most popular option. They have the lowest average cost of the major options and can last for 25 years or longer, especially if you choose architectural or luxury shingles over three-tab shingles.
Asphalt shingles aren’t the most energy-efficient type of roof, but you can choose a light-colored asphalt shingle, often referred to as a “cool roof,” to help reduce cooling costs in hotter climates. A lighter color can reduce your cooling bills by around 11.8% compared to black asphalt shingles, according to the State of Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources.
The best roof type for extreme weather depends on the type of weather you’re experiencing. “Each type of roofing material is capable of standing up to different weather elements with varying degrees of durability and longevity,” said Gregory. “Most homes in most locations will do well with simple asphalt shingles. They’re everywhere because they work.”
A comparison done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggested that cedar shakes could withstand high winds of between 170–245 mph. Metal and asphalt roofs could resist wind speeds of 110–120 mph, and clay sat in the middle at around 150.
Metal roofs can get dented after impact from hail or blown debris, but they’re less likely to lose functionality than other roof types. The appearance of a metal roof may decline after impact, but it’s the best material to stand up to this kind of abuse.
Finally, clay and slate are the most water resistant roof materials, although their waterproof quality requires ongoing maintenance.
The most efficient roof type depends on the climate in your area. For hot climates, you ideally want a roof material with a high solar reflectance and thermal emittance ratings, according to the DOE. A roof with a high solar reflectance will reflect sunlight away from your home, reducing how much heat it absorbs. A high thermal emittance means your roof loses absorbed heat quickly, again preventing it from affecting your interior temperatures.
A cool roof will likely work best. “Cool roofing is essentially regular roofing of any variety, but that has been painted white to reflect the majority of sunlight,” explained Gregory. “Increasing the albedo of the roof has a dramatic effect on the absorption of heat through the roof and the attic. Reflecting more light means keeping the home cooler naturally, and this may be more energy efficient than a solar tile array.”
If your winters are more extreme than your summers, you might want the opposite: a low solar reflectance and low thermal emittance. Lower values would mean your home would absorb more of the heat from the sun, reducing your heating bills. In that case, a darker roof color will suit you best, but material matters less than reflectance, according to the DOE.
Understanding the upsides and drawbacks to different roof types in varying contexts is a good first step to choosing the best roof type for your home. However, it’s a complicated process that involves many factors. Choosing the wrong roof material could mean higher heating and cooling bills, more frequent repairs or replacements and a higher risk of property damage from severe weather like hurricanes, tropical storms, hail and strong winds.
Speak with a roofing contractor near you who can help you decide which roof type is best. Make sure to discuss the wind resistance, fire resistance and energy efficiency of different materials to make the right choice.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
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