Types of Roof Materials

There are nine main types of roof materials: asphalt shingles, metal, clay and concrete tile, natural slate, wood shakes and shingles, synthetic composite, flat and low-slope membrane roofing (EPDM, TPO, PVC, and built-up roofing), solar shingles, and green (living) roofs. Which one belongs on your house depends on your roof's slope, your local climate, your budget over the material's full lifespan, and what your home style or HOA allows, not just the sticker price of the material itself.

Whatever type you land on, the roofing service you hire will still need to confirm it fits your deck, slope, and local code before ordering, whether the job is a single-section repair or a full roof replacement project. If you already know your climate and budget, a licensed local roofer can price out the material today. The sections below cover what each material is made of and how to narrow the list with a real decision framework.

What Are the Main Types of Roofing Materials?

Every roof material falls into one of nine categories:

• Asphalt shingles: 3-tab, architectural, and luxury tiers, the default on steep-slope homes.
• Metal roofing: exposed-fastener, standing seam, and stone-coated steel panels.
• Clay and concrete tile: fired or cast tile, common in warm, Southwestern climates.
• Natural slate: quarried stone shingles, the longest-lasting material available.
• Wood shakes and shingles: split or sawn cedar and redwood.
• Synthetic and composite roofing: engineered polymer that mimics slate or shake at a fraction of the weight.
• Flat and low-slope roofing: EPDM, TPO, PVC, BUR, and rolled roofing, for slopes under roughly 2:12.
• Solar shingles and solar roof tiles: photovoltaic cells built into the roofing surface itself.
• Green (living) roofs: soil and vegetation over a waterproof membrane, mostly on flat commercial builds.

The rest of this guide covers what sets each apart, the comparison chart, and how it affects insurance and resale value.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Roofing Material

Four factors narrow the field fastest.

Climate and Weather Exposure

Hail, wind, snow load, UV, and humidity wear materials at different rates. A shingle rated for a mild coastal climate can fail early in a hail-prone plains state, and untreated wood is restricted in many wildfire zones. Match the material to your region's actual exposure.

Roof Pitch and Slope Compatibility

• Flat to low slope (0:12 to under 2:12): needs a membrane or built-up system, EPDM, TPO, PVC, BUR, or rolled roofing. Standard shingles, tile, slate, and wood aren't rated here.
• Low to moderate slope (2:12 to 4:12): architectural asphalt and standing seam metal can work with the right underlayment, but warranties often void below minimum pitch.
• Standard to steep slope (4:12 and up): every steep-slope material applies here, no special accommodations needed.

Budget and Long-Term Cost

Compare materials by cost per year of service, not cost per square foot upfront. A material that costs twice as much but lasts three times as long is cheaper over 30 years, even though it's pricier on day one. Pricing varies by region and contractor; treat every figure here as a relative tier.

Home Style, HOA Rules, and Curb Appeal

Historic districts and HOAs often restrict material, color, or profile, and finding that out after ordering is expensive. Confirm any covenant or code restriction before choosing a material.

Asphalt Shingles

Asphalt shingles are a fiberglass or organic mat saturated with asphalt and coated with mineral granules, sold in 3-tab, architectural, and luxury tiers. 3-tab is the lightest and least expensive, wind-rated around 60 to 70 mph with 15 to 20 year warranties. Architectural (dimensional) shingles use fused layers for a thicker profile, 110 to 130 mph wind ratings, and 25 to 30 year warranties, a common steep-slope pick. Luxury shingles replicate slate or shake shadow lines and carry the longest asphalt warranties, often 40 to 50 years. For wind ratings and impact-resistant Class 4 options, see the complete breakdown of roof shingle types and wind ratings.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing comes in three formats. Exposed-fastener (corrugated) panels are the least expensive, with visible screws that need periodic re-torquing. Standing seam panels use hidden fasteners under raised interlocking seams, cost more, and typically outperform exposed-fastener panels on leak resistance. Stone-coated steel is formed to mimic shake, tile, or shingle profiles while keeping metal's durability. All three run 40 to 70 years, weigh roughly 1 to 1.5 pounds per square foot, and carry wind ratings up to 150 mph. The main trade-off is noise in heavy rain unless installed over solid decking. See metal roofing installation and services for a full comparison.

Clay and Concrete Tile Roofing

Clay tile is fired at high heat into curved or flat profiles, common on Spanish and Southwestern-style homes. It typically lasts 50 to 100 years, and since its color is baked through rather than coated on, it holds that color for the life of the roof. Concrete tile is cast rather than fired, costs less, and lasts 30 to 50 years, shorter since its coating wears over decades. Both weigh 900 to 1,600-plus pounds per square; most retrofits need a structural engineer to check the framing, and both are brittle underfoot. See clay and concrete tile roofing for more detail.

Natural Slate Roofing

Natural slate is quarried stone cut into individual shingles, the longest-lasting roofing material at 75 to 150-plus years. It's also the heaviest, running 800 to 1,500-plus pounds per square, and the most expensive material on this list by a wide margin. Slate is brittle underfoot, so future maintenance or flashing repair needs a roofer experienced specifically with slate, not a general contractor.

Wood Shakes and Shingles

Wood shakes and shingles are typically cedar or redwood, made differently: shingles are sawn on both sides for a smoother, uniform look, while shakes are split along the grain for a thicker, textured surface. Both need periodic treatment against moss, algae, and rot, and both typically last 25 to 30 years with that upkeep. Many wildfire-prone jurisdictions restrict or ban untreated wood roofing outright; fire-treated Class A products are available and required in those areas.

Synthetic and Composite Roofing

Synthetic shingles are molded from engineered polymers to visually replicate slate or shake at roughly a quarter to half the weight of the natural material. Modern UV stabilizers have closed much of the gap that hurt earlier products, and today's better lines carry 40 to 50 year warranties with strong impact and wind resistance. They suit homeowners who want the slate or shake look without the weight or fragility of the real thing, especially on older homes that can't support 1,000-plus pounds per square.

Flat and Low-Slope Roofing: EPDM, TPO, PVC, and Built-Up

Flat roof materials are a different category from steep-slope shingles, built to handle standing water rather than shed it.

• EPDM (rubber membrane): a synthetic rubber sheet, 30 to 60 mils thick, inexpensive and easy to patch. Seams are the weak point; expect 20 to 25 years with proper upkeep.
• TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin): a reflective white or gray membrane with heat-welded seams, the most widely installed low-slope material, typically lasting 20 to 30 years.
• PVC: like TPO but with stronger chemical and grease resistance, common for restaurants and light industrial buildings, similar lifespan, higher cost.
• Built-up roofing (BUR): alternating layers of asphalt and reinforcing fabric topped with gravel or a cap sheet, the oldest flat system in use, heavy, durable, and typically good for 15 to 30 years.
• Rolled roofing (modified bitumen or MSR): mineral-surfaced asphalt sheets, the budget option for sheds and porches, with a service life of 10 to 15 years.

For a porch, addition, or garage with a flat section, flat roof material options for low-slope roofs covers which system fits best.

Solar Shingles and Solar Roof Tiles

Solar shingles, or building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), embed photovoltaic cells directly into roofing tiles instead of separate rack-mounted panels. They produce less power per square foot than a rack-mounted array and cost more per watt installed, so they make the most sense on a new roof or full replacement, not a retrofit over an otherwise sound roof. Installer availability is also limited, since the work requires both roofing and electrical expertise. Warranty terms typically track the 25 to 30 year range common to standard asphalt shingles.

Green (Living) Roofs

A green or living roof layers waterproofing membrane, drainage, growing medium, and vegetation over a structural deck, almost always on a flat roof. Extensive systems use a thin soil layer and hardy groundcover, adding roughly 15 to 50 pounds per square foot; intensive systems support full gardens or trees and can add several hundred pounds per square foot, requiring structural reinforcement. Benefits include stormwater absorption, insulation value, and extended membrane life since vegetation shields it from UV. The trade-off is a high upfront structural cost and the need for a specialist familiar with waterproofing and drainage, not a standard roofing crew.

Roofing Material Comparison Chart: Cost, Lifespan, and Climate Fit

Use relative tiers here, not fixed prices, since material and labor pricing shifts by region and contractor.

Material	Typical Lifespan	Relative Cost Tier	Weight	Minimum Slope	Maintenance Level
3-Tab Asphalt	15-20 years	Budget	Light	~2:12-4:12	Moderate
Architectural Asphalt	25-30 years	Moderate	Moderate	~2:12-4:12	Moderate
Luxury Asphalt	30-50 years	High	Moderate-heavy	~2:12-4:12	Moderate
Metal (exposed-fastener)	30-50 years	Moderate	Light	~3:12+	Low
Metal (standing seam)	40-70 years	High	Light	~3:12+	Low
Clay Tile	50-100 years	High-Premium	Very heavy	~4:12+	Low
Concrete Tile	30-50 years	Moderate-high	Very heavy	~4:12+	Low
Natural Slate	75-150+ years	Premium	Very heavy	~4:12+	Low
Wood Shakes/Shingles	25-30 years	Moderate-high	Moderate	~4:12+	High
Synthetic Composite	40-50 years	Moderate-high	Light	~3:12+	Low
EPDM	20-25 years	Budget-moderate	Light	0-2:12	Moderate
TPO	20-30 years	Moderate	Light	0-2:12	Low-moderate
PVC	20-30 years	Moderate-high	Light	0-2:12	Low-moderate
Built-Up (BUR)	15-30 years	Moderate	Heavy	0-2:12	Moderate
Rolled Roofing	10-15 years	Budget	Light	0-2:12	Moderate
Solar Shingles	25-30 years	Premium	Moderate	~2:12-4:12	Low-moderate
Green (Living) Roof	30-50+ (membrane protected)	Premium	Very heavy	0-2:12	High

Best Roofing Material by Climate and Region

National averages hide a lot; material choice should shift with your region's real exposure.

Hurricane and coastal wind zones (Gulf Coast, Atlantic Seaboard, South Florida): prioritize wind rating above all else. Look for products tested to 130 mph under ASTM D3161 or D7158, or standing seam metal with a matching warranty.

Hail-prone plains and mountain states (Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska): Class 4 impact-resistant asphalt, metal, and synthetic composite resist hail better than standard 3-tab or concrete tile, which crack under repeated impact.

Heavy snow-load regions (Rockies, Upper Midwest, New England): standing seam metal sheds snow fastest; architectural asphalt and synthetic composite hold up with ice-and-water shield underlayment at eaves and valleys. Flat sections need a structural check for load.

Wildfire-prone regions (California, Pacific Northwest, Mountain West): check local fire code before choosing untreated wood shakes, since many jurisdictions restrict or ban them. Class A fire-rated products, most asphalt, metal, tile, slate, and treated wood, meet the strictest requirements.

Hot, sun-intense climates (Southwest, Deep South): clay tile, concrete tile, and reflective or coated metal cut attic heat gain better than dark asphalt. Algae-resistant (AR) granules matter in humid Southern climates too.

How Roofing Material Choice Affects Home Insurance and Resale Value

Material choice affects what your insurer charges and what a buyer's inspector will flag.

Insurance premiums and discounts. In many hail-prone states, insurers discount premiums for roofs covered in Class 4 impact-resistant shingles, since a roof less likely to file a claim is less risk to carry. Metal and tile can qualify for similar wind-mitigation credits in hurricane-exposed states, though the amount varies by carrier and zip code.

Replacement cost vs. actual cash value. Older roofs, generally past 15 to 20 years depending on material, can shift from full replacement cost coverage to actual cash value (depreciated) coverage, or trigger a non-renewal notice. A durable material keeps better coverage terms longer.

Resale value. Buyers and appraisers weigh remaining roof life heavily. A roof nearing the end of its lifespan, asphalt past 20 years, often becomes a negotiating point at sale. Materials with long remaining life, like metal, tile, and slate, give buyers less room to negotiate, even though they cost more upfront.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best material to use for roofing?

There's no single best material, only the best fit for your slope, climate, and budget. Architectural asphalt is the most common pick for cost and performance, but metal, tile, or slate can fit better depending on your timeline and climate.

What is the cheapest type of roof to install?

3-tab asphalt shingles and basic rolled roofing carry the lowest material cost, followed by architectural asphalt. Cheapest upfront isn't always cheapest over time; these also have the shortest lifespans.

What roof material lasts the longest?

Natural slate lasts longest, commonly 75 to 150-plus years, followed by clay tile at 50 to 100 years and standing seam metal at 40 to 70 years. Longevity depends on installation and upkeep as much as the material.

What is the most common type of roof covering?

Asphalt shingles cover roughly 4 out of 5 US homes, mostly in the architectural tier, because they work on nearly any pitch and cost less than metal, tile, or slate.

What roofing material is best for a hot climate?

Clay tile, concrete tile, and coated metal perform best in hot, sun-heavy climates since they reflect solar heat and resist UV better than standard asphalt. Reflective ('cool roof') coatings help on any material.

What are the main types of flat roof materials?

EPDM, TPO, PVC, built-up roofing (BUR), and modified bitumen or rolled roofing are the main flat and low-slope options. Standard shingles, tile, and slate aren't rated under about 2:12 pitch.

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Ready to narrow this down for your actual roof? Call a licensed local roofer now for a fast, free assessment of which material fits your slope, climate, and budget.