The most common type of roofing material is roof shingles which are normally made of asphalt. For residential roofing, this is the least expensive roofing material, although for flat roofed homes, there is also tar and gravel, modified bitumen, and roll roofing material that is a little less expensive but does not last as long. The most expensive roofing material cost is for slate roofing material, but it also lasts the longest.

From Least to Greatest

The least expensive roofing material cost is for roll roofing, which is applied in one layer and is made of asphalt shingle. This type of roofing material cannot be used on pitched roofs, only flat roofs which have a three inch rise to a twelve inch run. It also cannot be used in high rain or snow climates and only has a life expectancy of ten years, the shortest of all roofing material.

Built up roofing materials are the next expensive, but they also can only be used on flat roofs. There is tar and asphalt roofing material which has three to five layers of saturated felt layered with tar and asphalt, with the top layer having rock and minerals. Modified bitumen uses the same idea but uses polyester or fiberglass layers with bitumen in between. Both of these are low cost and last longer than roll roofing but also cannot be used in high rain or snow climates.

Shingle roofing material costs are next in line, with asphalt shingles costing between sixty to one hundred dollars per square. Shingle roofing usually lasts twenty years, depending on the type, and is used on pitched roofs. Dimensional shingles are the strongest, but also cost a little more, and last about forty years. These roofs have a need for venting and can have problems with moss build up, but are overall a solid choice in roofing material.

Metal roofing material cost is a little more than shingles but is a reasonable choice in roofing material. Metal roofing gives a lot of flexibility in styles since it can mimic tile, shingle and slate roofing material, yet still maintains the light weight and strong durability metal roofs are known for. It can also be used on pitched and flat roofs, so it also gives additional flexibility.

Tile and slate roofing material cost is most expensive of all roofing material. The installation of these types of roofing materials is also more expensive since the roofers must be specialized in their installation. Although they are more expensive, they also last the longest, often from fifty to one hundred years with little maintenance.