In 2015, there were about 5 million homes that had a roof completely replaced, according to Home Innovation Research Labs, an independent subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders. Approximately 3 million more homes received partial roof replacements.
Asphalt shingles became popular around a hundred years ago, and the material has remained an undisputed market leader for multiple decades. Indeed, asphalt shingles enjoy a dominance rarely seen in any single home-construction product. A combination of low cost and the ability to mimic more expensive finishes has made asphalt a hard-to-beat choice.
Yet that may slowly be changing.
According to Home Innovation’s Annual Consumer Practices Reports, there is a subtle but steady movement occurring in the roofing industry as alternative choices become increasingly mainstream. Traditional materials that were used prior to the growth of asphalt shingles, such as wood shingles/shakes, clay/cement tile, and metal roofing, are beginning to make inroads. Metal roofing is gaining use on both modest and high-end homes, particularly in areas with a strong agricultural heritage such as rural New England, the Carolinas, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.
Here, we feature a selection of Home Innovations’ data that tells the story.
