Article overview: A new roof can boost your home’s protection, curb appeal and marketability while potentially lowering homeowners insurance costs. Compare roofing materials, prioritize upgrades and talk with your insurance agent before you replace your roof or add solar panels.
Homeowners today have more roofing options than ever before, but roofing can be pricey. The average roof-replacement cost in 2025 was around $18,000, according to Verisk’s State of America’s Roofs report.
While there are ways to cut costs like evaluating roofing materials, always hire a professional to do the work, even if it means a higher price tag, said Scott Richards, insurance manager for AAA Northeast.
“This type of serious work should always be handled by a professional roofer, so you don’t encounter any problems later on,” Richards said.
Richards also recommends asking for estimates from more than one reputable contractor before hiring someone to do the work.
If getting a new roof is on your to-do list, read on.
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Understanding Your Roofing Options
You might not invite a friend over to see your new roof like you would a new kitchen, but replacing an aging roof can improve your home’s curb appeal, protection and marketability.
As far as types of roofing materials go, asphalt shingles remain one of the most popular and generally affordable residential roofing options. Depending on the type of shingle, asphalt shingle roofs can last around 20 to 30 years, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, although installation, climate and maintenance can affect their lifespan.
Premium asphalt shingles, including so-called “architectural” or laminated shingles, have a more dimensional appearance than traditional three-tab shingles and can offer enhanced durability and wind resistance. Many current architectural shingles carry limited lifetime warranties, although the terms and coverage vary by manufacturer.
Some premium asphalt shingles are designed for severe-weather applications and can carry high wind warranties of 100 mph or more when installed according to the manufacturer’s requirements. These higher-performance products generally cost more.
Other roofing options include slate and cedar shakes. Both can offer distinctive appearance and long service lives, but they are generally more expensive and may require specialized installation or maintenance.
For energy efficiency, look for cool roofs, which reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. Roofing products like reflective shingles, tile and appropriately coated metal can reduce heat gain, according to Energy Star.
Which Roofing Material Is Right for Your Home?
| Roofing material | Typical lifespan/ consideration | Cost notes | Key benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | About 20–30 years | Generally one of the more affordable residential options | Popular, practical and widely available |
| Architectural shingles | Varies by product | Costs more than basic three-tab shingles | More dimensional appearance, enhanced durability and wind resistance |
| Slate | Long service life | Generally more expensive | Distinctive appearance and durability |
| Cedar shakes | Long service life | Generally more expensive | Distinctive appearance with specialized installation or maintenance needs |
| Cool roofing products | Varies by product | Varies by material and product | Reflects sunlight and can reduce heat gain |
Roofing Upgrades Worth the Money
Venting
Proper attic ventilation helps remove heat and moisture, and installing a ridge vent during a roof replacement can improve airflow when paired with adequate intake ventilation, such as soffit vents. Proper ventilation, insulation and air sealing can also help improve comfort and energy efficiency.
Drip Edge and Flashing
Often made from metal, drip edge runs along the edges of your roof to help direct rainwater away from your home. Flashing helps keep water out around areas where the roof meets walls, chimneys and other openings.
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Read nowOther Roofing Considerations
Tree Trimming
Look for any tree limbs that could eventually fall and damage your roof. Consider having some limbs removed to prevent damage.
Solar Panels
If you’re thinking about solar panels to help lower your electricity bill, you may want to replace your roof at the same time. If the roof needs replacement soon after the panels are installed, removing and reinstalling the panels can add significant costs.
Gutters
While evaluating new roof styles, you may also want to replace your gutters, especially if they are dirty or misaligned. The average life of galvanized steel gutters is 20 years, estimates the National Association of Home Builders — about the lifespan of a typical roof.
Hurricane-Proofing
In hurricane-prone areas, replacing a roof can also be an opportunity to strengthen the connection between the roof and the walls with metal straps or other reinforcements to help the roof better withstand high winds.
Roofing FAQs
Will a new roof lower my homeowners insurance?
Your roof can affect how much you pay for your homeowners insurance premium, with its age and condition as the two most important factors. Its shape is another.
“If I had a flat roof, I would consider having a roofer put a pitch on it because it can make a big difference by preventing leaks and damage,” said Richards.
Many insurance providers offer discounts to homeowners who have replaced their home’s roof within the past two years, so if you plan on replacing yours, make sure you talk to your agent about it.
You should also talk to your agent about how your new roof could affect the value of your home. Your homeowners insurance is what helps you rebuild should disaster strike and you want to make sure it would pay you enough to do so if necessary.
Should I replace my roof before installing solar panels?
In many cases, replacing an aging roof before installing solar panels makes financial sense. If the roof needs replacement soon afterward, removing and reinstalling the panels can add significant costs.
If you choose to put solar panels on your roof, do your research; many companies who lease solar panels will pay to insure them too.
Is it better to replace gutters when replacing a roof?
Replacing gutters at the same time can make sense when they are aging, damaged, dirty or misaligned. Coordinating the projects can help protect the new roof and manage related installation work efficiently.
Should I get multiple estimates for a new roof?
Yes. Get estimates from more than one reputable roofing contractor before choosing a professional. Comparing proposals can help clarify the scope of work, materials, warranties and total cost.
Installing a new roof is an expensive purchase, but choosing the right materials, upgrades and contractor can help protect your home and prevent costly problems down the road.
Get a Homeowners Insurance Quote
Have you recently done a roofing renovation to your house? Tell us about it in the comments.
Last updated on September 10, 2026 by AAA Staff
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Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of advertisements for metal roofs. I don’t know how long a coated steel product will last before it starts to rust. So what’s the word on modern metal roofs?
As an aside, friends who have homes with Spanish tile roofs say that the roofs have been leak-free for several generations.If you buy a house with an existing Spanish tile roof you are very lucky. However, repairs to a damaged tile roof are really costly. So hope a tree branch never hits it!
About 6 years ago my wife and I installed a roof option and technology missing from your article – a Tesla Roof. It has functioned flawlessly and produces, on average, about twice as much electricity as we consume. Normally, on sunny (and lightly cloudy!) days the roof powers our entire house, while any excess goes first into our rechargeable Tesla battery, and the rest into the grid to earn credits from our power company – which we can draw upon at any time for grid power if needed. On very cloudy days and at night, our battery provides all of our power until it reaches the minimum reserve I select – usually 20%. In addition, Tesla or I can place our system on “storm watch”, which saves 100% of the battery for us during a storm, and can power the house for about a day and a half.
The solar cells are not installed on top of the roof – they ARE the roof. The entire roof of our ranch house is uniformly covered with rugged glass Tesla tiles, and from the ground you can’t tell which ones contain solar cells and which are the dummy tiles installed to smoothly fill out the roof. While this is more expensive than any of the options described in your article and has about a two decade payback period, we are as close to home energy independence as you can get and have no regrets about the initial expense (which included the new roof, the battery, and repairs to the wooden structure underneath). We have not had to pay an electric bill since the roof went on line!
FYI, we were the first house in our town with a Tesla roof, and the second in Connecticut. The roof is guaranteed for the life of the house, and the battery guarantee says that 85% capacity will be still available after 10 years.
Can AAA cancel my roof insurance if my roof is over 26 years old and need minor repairs
I have recently put on a new roof with the higher end class 4 shingles . i know many insurance companys give a premium discount for this higher quality roof . does AAA also do this
Hi Ken, thanks for your question. I’ve forwarded your comment to one of our insurance specialists. You should be hearing from someone soon. -Marisa
Ken,
Did you ever get an answer about your upgraded roof?
Thanks
Interesting information regarding roofing costs, etc