Roofing Materials

What Are the Most Expensive Roofing Materials? Are They Worth the Cost?

If you need a roof replacement or plan to build a new home, there is a wide selection of roofing materials to choose from. Roofing costs can vary widely: depending on your chosen material and contractor, the cost of a 2,000 square foot roof can range from less than $10,000 to more than $50,000.

Boral Saxony 900 Hartford Slate concrete tile – Toffee

Selecting a roofing material is often a tradeoff between upfront costs and durability, while considering aesthetics. Generally, the cheapest (i.e., budget) roof materials will require a replacement in less than 15-20 years timespan, while the more high-end and expensive roofing systems can last over 30-100 years. Keep in mind that there are exceptions: you should always make sure you are getting the quality you are paying for.

In this guide, we discuss the roofing materials with the highest prices, which also tend to be the most durable.

  • Clay tile roofs
  • Natural slate tile roofs
  • Concrete tile roofs
  • Standing seam metal roofs
  • Cedar shake and cedar shingle roofs

Clay, slate, and concrete are heavy materials that will normally require structural reinforcement of the roof frame. Metal roofs and cedar shakes have a lower weight, and structural changes are not normally needed. However, you should get a structural (frame), roof deck, and attic ventilation inspection before any roofing upgrade, especially if you also plan to install solar panels.

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What is the Best Roofing Material for Solar Panels and Why?

The best roofing materials for residential solar panels are standing seam metal roofing and PVC membrane. Metal panels are the top choice for home solar panel installations on sloped roofs, while PVC membrane is preferred for low-slope and flat roofs.

A standing seam metal roof with integrated PV solar panels

However, asphalt shingles are, by far, the most common steep-sloped roofing system for home solar panel installations in the US, as approximately 80% of residential roofs are covered with composition shingles.

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For flat and low-slope residential roofs, EPDM rubber is one of the most prevalent roofing systems, while Tar-and-Gravel and BUR roofs are more commonly found on commercial roofs. That said, Tar-and-Gravel and BUR roofs can be a viable option for solar deployments on flat roofs, while the situation with an EPDM rubber membrane is a bit more nuanced.

Note: Although, a quality EPDM rubber roof can be a viable option for installing solar panels on a flat roof, it’s highly likely that a rubber roof will require some repairs or even a complete replacement some 10-15 years down the road, while most high-end PV solar panels are designed to continue generating electricity for 25 years. Therefore, going with an EPDM rubber roof for solar installations can be a risky bet, which is why we recommend a quality PVC membrane, instead, because it can last twice as long as EPDM rubber.

In the next section below, we explore top residential roofing materials and explain their suitability for home solar panel installations.

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