Wood shingle and shake roofing add natural beauty to the home.

Clay or cement tile roofing can last 50 to 100 years.

Slate lasts 100 years or more and is one of the most expensive.

A Roofer Shingling a House

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Different roof configurations and different materials can make these costs vary greatly.

Costs will differ even by region based on the differences in labor costs.

When the cost of petroleum rises, roofing materials made from oil-based products rise in price, too.

Asphalt roof shingles

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The vast popularity of shingles owes to the relatively low cost, easy installation, and decent life expectancy.

Professional crews typically install these roofs, but installation is not out of reach for a skilled DIYer.

Some shingle roofs may even last as long as 50 years.

Standing-Seam Metal Roof

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Most shingle roofing manufacturers offer a range of products of different weights and life expectancies.

Manufacturers like Owens Corning, GAF, or Certainteed come with accordingly high-end warranties pushing a half-century.

Maximize the lifespan of asphalt shingle roofs by avoiding cheap shingles and avoiding walking on them.

BUR Roofing

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Keep them moss-free, and never power wash an asphalt shingle roof.

Metals are usually steel or aluminum, although copper and zinc are also used.

Though theseroofsare virtually maintenance-free and durable, they are prone to denting.

Asphalt Roll Roof

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They are not suitable for DIY installation, however.

In suitable circumstances, metal roofs may well last 75 years.

For a 2,000-square-foot house, the average national cost for a steel panel roof is about $22,000.

Wood shingles

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Improved metal roofs may routinely last 50 years.

Is Metal Roofing the Best Value?

Standing-seam metal roofs might be more cost-effective in many ways than the far more popular asphalt shingle roof.

Wood Shake Roof

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BUR roofs typically last from 20 to 30 years.

Installation of built-up roofing averages about $4 per square foot.

However, this jot down of roof is unsuitable for a sloped roof.

Ceramic tile roof

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Roll roofing is a relatively easy material to install, and many do-it-yourselfers do this themselves.

Asphalt roll roofing is expected to last 5 to 10 years.

They make for a beautiful roof but are tricky to install and unsuitable for most DIYers.

Slate roof

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Be aware that growing fire hazards in some regions have caused legal restrictions on using wood roofing materials.

They are not a good choice in any location with seasonal wildfire hazards.

Meticulously maintained, wood shingle roofs can last for 50 years.

They are not suitable for most DIYers to install, requiring professional installation.

Like wood shingles, shakes may be restricted in regions where wildfires are a known hazard.

Wood shake roofs are expected to last 35 to 40 years, though longer life is not rare.

To maximize lifespan, you oughta baby them and practice proper maintenance.

There is no option for any wood roofing material that allows you never again to maintain it.

Remove debris as soon as it falls on the roof.

Replace split shakes right away.

Replace curled, cupped, or split shakes immediately.

Both the materials and installation are more expensive for shakes than wood shingles.

you could typically count on shakes being about 50 percent more expensive than shingles.

They require a sturdy roofing framing sufficient to hold the weight and must be installed by skilled professionals.

This may well be the only roof your home ever needs.

Clay tile roofs routinely last 100 years or more when properly maintained.

Instead, cracking is what can doom tile roofs.

Avoid walking on your tile roof as much as possible.

When efflorescence develops, as often with terra cotta, buff it off with a clean, dry towel.

Coat the tiles with a clear alkyd primer.

Replace cracked and broken tiles as soon as you spot them.

If you are concerned about future owners, a tile roof is a great choice.

Slate tends to split into flat slabs, making this the ideal natural stone to cover roofs.

Trained professionals must drop in the slate.

It is the most expensive of common roofing materials but also the most durable.

Properly maintained, it can potentially last the lifetime of your homeeven if that lifetime is two centuries long.

Because of the expense, this roofing material is usually used on large, luxury homes.

This is a roof that can easily last 100 years or even more.

Slate roofs still exist that date hundreds of years old.

To achieve this kind of longevity, immediately replace any broken slate tiles you see.

confirm that all flashings are correctly installed and in good working order.

When your copper flashing has turned black, it is time to replace it.

That’s the only cost ever incurred, though.

For most homeowners, that choice usually will be asphalt or composite roofing.

Standing seam metal roof material or slate are excellent choices for ultra-long-term roofing.

If you might finance the installation cost, these roof materials will be the cheapest.

Slate is commonly called the “forever roof,” lasting more than 100 years.

Concrete and clay tiles are also long-lasting, with a lifespan of up to 100 years.

Slate, as the most durable, is also the most expensive roof.

Expect to pay up to 10 times more for slate vs. asphalt.

Lighter-colored roofs potentially last longer because dark absorbs more sun and heats up more.

However, lighter-colored roofs may experience more UV damage.

Asphalt Shingle Roofing and the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code.Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry