Roofing Cost Guides

They can be made with fiberglass materials. These tend to provide better fire protection, can be waterproofed and should effectively protect against mold and mildew. The biggest drawback to asphalt shingles are that sudden weather changes can cause them to decay.

Clay Tiles

If your home has an Italian, Spanish Mission or southwestern look, clay roofs can finish that motif with a grand flourish. Clay tiles last a long time, protect against fire and won't rot or fall prey to insects. They are fragile and costly, both for the materials and the labor. They also tend to be heavier than other materials, so extra roof support might be needed.

Slate Tiles

Like clay tiles, these carved rock shingles can be heavy, so you might need extra support for your roof. They also can be expensive and fragile. But slate provides excellent fire protection, it lasts a long time, it's low maintenance and it provides an elegant, natural look that can be laid out in many patterns.

Wood Shake

Beware of the fire hazard. Yes, wood shake creates a gorgeous natural look, but even with sprayed-on fire retardant, they provide poor protection against a blaze. For that reason, many neighborhood covenants ban them. Wood shakes also require more maintenance than other materials, making them fairly expensive over time.

Concrete or Cement Tiles

Cement or concrete roofing is growing in popularity because it can create the look of wood or ceramic tile without most of the drawbacks. They tend to last a long time, provide good fire protection, require little maintenance and they're usually both lighter and more affordable than ceramic. The many styles and colors of cement and concrete give you tremendous flexibility.

Metal Roofs

Metal roofs tend to be more expensive than other options, but you can't beat them for durability. A metal roof that is periodically sealed and painted to protect it from poor weather and moisture can last a lifetime without replacement. In fact, it's not unusual to find them sold with lifetime warranties. They can be painted any color, and they can try (not always successfully) to mimic other materials. The main drawback of metal roofs is the noise: rain pinging on a metal does not lend itself to a quiet time at home. These roofs also carry high price tags.

Other Factors

Although the cost and quality of roofing materials may be the largest factor in your roofing costs, there are a few others that can influence the price.

If you are not putting a new roof on a new home but are replacing an existing roof, you may need to factor in the removal of the old roof. Some types of roofing shingles allow for installing new shingles right on top of the old, but some do not.

In figuring the price of roofing, be aware that you also may need to put an underlay to further protect your roof.

Also, you may have to factor in the accessibility. If your roof is extremely steep, very high, or has hard to reach places, a roofer may charge a higher rate. Accessibility is a significant cost factor for many roofing professionals.