Best Roofing Buying Guide

As they have for years, asphalt shingles remain the most common type of residential roofing purchased in the U.S., says Kelly Moomey, the market analyst who covers roofing for Consumer Reports. "However, there are small, niche segments emerging," she says.

Metal roofs, for instance, are expected to grow in popularity. The inherent advantages of this type of roof—including resistance to leaks and wind uplift, not to mention durability against the elements—are likely to make metal roofing more popular in areas prone to violent storms, according to the Freedonia Group, a market research company. Here are some other trends we see in roofing:

Fewer choices, higher installation costs. Stung by supply-chain issues of the past few years, manufacturers have cut back on new styles and colors, our sources tell us. At the same time, historically high prices for roofing installations could continue to rise in the next year or so, largely due to continued high demand from consumers and a tight labor market. Finding workers has been a challenge, explains Maciek Rupar, technical services director at the National Roofing Contractors Association, based in Rosemont, Ill. “Contractors aren’t complaining about the supply chain, but lead times for roof construction and replacement still may be extended due to a lack of qualified labor,” he says.

Solar roofing options expand. Major roofing manufacturers GAF and CertainTeed have joined Tesla in introducing photovoltaic—aka solar—roofing shingles for homes. CertainTeed’s Solstice shingle looks more like a traditional shingle than GAF’s Timberline model, which includes perpendicular bars across the shingle array.

Federal tax credits now apply only to solar roofs. Homeowners who retrofit their roofs with solar panels or solar roofing tiles now can get a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the project cost—with no income restrictions or dollar ceiling on the project—thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The credit is good through 2032. But an earlier federal tax credit for traditional roofing with energy-efficient properties has expired.

"Cool roofs" are an option for sustainability. While this option isn’t new, it’s worth considering if you need a new roof and want to reduce your carbon footprint without buying costly solar. The trick: Pick a lighter color roof. Because a light-colored roof reflects more sunlight than a darker roof, it can reduce the energy and cost needed to cool your home by up to 15 percent. White roofs are best, reflecting from 60 to 90 percent of sunlight, according to the Department of Energy. But you also can shop for a "cool colored" roof: a darker roof that uses specialized pigments that reflect about 30 to 60 percent of sunlight. (Check the DOE’s Energy Saver page for advice on buying cool-roof roofing products for both shallow-pitched and steeply pitched roofs, and check the Cool Roof Rating Council for cool-roof products.)