A useful roofing material comparison weighs five things at once: the installed price, the service life, how the surface stands up to hail, wind, snow and ice, the upkeep it asks for, and how it looks on your house. In the Chicago suburbs, the weather settles much of that before style enters the conversation.
Below we compare the roofing systems we install on homes here: three grades of asphalt shingle, standing seam metal, synthetic slate and shake, and the membranes that cover flat and low-slope sections. Each one is judged against the conditions it will actually face. If you would rather scan a grid, open the side-by-side material chart.
Four threats every northern Illinois roof has to survive
Rank the threats before you compare products. A roof in our service area has to handle:
- Snow and ice. Weeks of snow cover, ice dams at the eaves, and freeze-thaw swings that drive water into any weak joint.
- Hail. Spring and summer supercells can drop stones 2 inches across or larger. The storms of March 10, 2026 did exactly that in several DuPage County communities.
- Wind. Straight-line thunderstorm gusts and strong winter winds test shingle seals and edge details.
- Summer heat. A hot, poorly ventilated attic ages asphalt faster.
Then add your own factors: how long you plan to stay, the budget, the slope of each roof section, the style of the house, and any homeowners association or historic-district rules.
Quick picks: which roofing material fits your plans
If you already know your situation, start here. The sections that follow explain the reasoning behind each pick.
- Selling within 5–7 years: architectural shingles in a neutral color usually make the most sense on a short horizon.
- Hail keeps finding your street: Class 4 shingles, once you have asked your insurer about premium credits and cosmetic-damage exclusions.
- Staying for decades: metal or synthetic slate can come out ahead on cost per year of service.
- A slate or shake look without the weight: designer shingles on a tighter budget, synthetic tiles for the most convincing result.
- A nearly flat garage, porch or addition roof: a membrane on that section, whatever covers the rest of the house.
- Historic district or HOA: get the approved materials list before you shop.
Asphalt shingles in three grades: architectural, Class 4 and designer
Asphalt covers most suburban roofs because it balances cost, appearance and performance. The category splits into three grades that behave quite differently.
Architectural shingles
Laminated, dimensional shingles are where most replacements start. With good attic ventilation, expect roughly 20–30 years in our climate. Mainstream lines carry a Class A fire rating and strong wind ratings when installed to the manufacturer’s specification. Standard versions are not impact rated.
Impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles
These are tested to UL 2218, which drops steel balls of increasing size onto the roof covering. Class 4 is the top rating, earned against the largest ball. Most use a reinforced mat or a rubbery polymer-modified asphalt that flexes instead of fracturing. They cost more than standard architectural shingles, and some insurers offer premium credits for them. Class 4 means the shingle passed a standardized test, not that it is hailproof: very large hail can still damage it. Our page on impact-resistant shingles explains what the rating does and does not prove.
Designer shingles
Heavier, multi-layer shingles cut to suggest slate or wood shake, with deeper shadow lines. They are the most expensive asphalt grade and give noticeable character to the street-facing slopes of colonial, Tudor and French-inspired homes. Their extra weight helps in wind, but they are not automatically impact rated, so check each product line.
Standing seam metal roofing: long life and sliding snow
Standing seam panels run from eave to ridge, joined by raised interlocking seams with the fasteners hidden. In Illinois the appeal is longevity, commonly 40 years or more, and the way the panels shed snow. Weigh these trade-offs:
- Snow slides. A metal roof can drop its whole snow load at once. Snow guards matter above entries, walkways, decks and lower roofs.
- Hail dents. Large hail can dent panels that still keep water out. Some policies exclude cosmetic damage to metal roofs, so read that endorsement before you choose metal for hail resistance.
- Lower slopes. Standing seam can go on gentler slopes than shingles allow, which makes it useful over porches and additions.
- Noise. Over a solid deck and underlayment, as on most houses, rain on metal is not dramatically louder than rain on shingles.
- Installation skill. Panel layout, room for expansion and contraction, and trim details take experience, and poor detailing is easy to see from the street.
Metal is a top-tier investment best suited to owners who plan to stay a long time. Panel profiles and finishes are on our metal roofing page.
Synthetic slate and shake: the look of stone or cedar at a fraction of the weight
Composite tiles molded from polymers reproduce the look of natural slate or cedar shake at a fraction of real slate’s weight. A house that could not carry natural slate without structural work can usually take synthetic tiles on a standard deck. Many products are tested for impact resistance and several carry a Class 4 rating, but ratings differ by product, so confirm the specific line. Fire ratings can also depend on the underlayment installed beneath the tiles.
Synthetic tiles do not rot or split the way real cedar can, and blended color ranges avoid a flat, uniform look. Cost sits in the top tier alongside metal. Repairs need matching tiles, so keep a few spares from the original installation. Details are on our synthetic slate and shake page.
Flat and low-slope sections: TPO, EPDM and modified bitumen
Shingles shed water by overlapping, so they need slope. Codes based on the International Residential Code do not allow asphalt shingles below a 2:12 pitch and call for extra underlayment between 2:12 and 4:12. Anything flatter needs a continuous membrane. Plenty of suburban houses have at least one such area: the roof over a split-level garage, an enclosed porch, a rear addition or a shed dormer.
- TPO: a single-ply thermoplastic sheet with heat-welded seams, usually white to reflect summer sun.
- EPDM: a synthetic rubber membrane, typically black, fully adhered or mechanically fastened, with taped or glued seams.
- Modified bitumen: asphalt-based rolls applied in layers, a traditional choice for small residential flat sections.
Drainage decides how long a low-slope roof lasts. Water that sits for days after rain, or snow drifted against a wall, finds every weak seam. Keep drains and scuppers clear, and have seams checked after severe weather. Our flat roof membranes page compares the systems in more depth.
Chicago weather scorecard: hail, wind, ice and heat by material
- Hail: Class 4 shingles and Class 4–rated synthetic tiles resist best among common choices. Metal keeps water out but may dent. Standard architectural and designer shingles can bruise in large hail.
- Wind: All of these perform well when installed to the manufacturer’s specification. Edge metal, starter rows and fastening patterns matter more than the material name.
- Snow and ice dams: Metal sheds snow fastest; shingles and synthetics hold it longer. None of them prevents ice dams on its own. Ice barrier at the eaves and a well-sealed, ventilated attic do that work.
- Freeze-thaw: Polymer-modified shingles and synthetic tiles stay more flexible in the cold, while aging standard shingles turn brittle. Flat membranes depend on sound seams and good drainage.
- Summer heat: Light-colored metal and white TPO reflect more sunlight. Dark asphalt absorbs it, so attic ventilation matters most under shingles.
Roofing material comparison by cost: installed price per square
Installed price ranges per square, meaning per 100 square feet of roof, for the Chicago suburbs:
| Material | Per square | Reference home* |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural shingles | $525–$775 | $16,400–$24,300 |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles | $650–$950 | $20,300–$29,700 |
| Designer / luxury shingles | $800–$1,200 | $25,000–$37,600 |
| Standing seam metal | $1,300–$1,900 | $40,700–$59,500 |
| Synthetic slate or shake | $1,400–$2,100 | $43,800–$65,700 |
| TPO membrane (flat / low-slope) | $850–$1,350 | $26,600–$42,300 |
*Reference home: 2,000 sq ft footprint, two stories, medium pitch, moderate complexity, one layer to remove (27.6 squares). Estimates, not quotes.
The table falls into four tiers. Architectural shingles are the entry point. Impact-resistant shingles are a step up. Designer shingles and TPO for low-slope sections fill the upper middle. Standing seam metal and synthetic slate or shake form the top tier.
Cost per year of service narrows the gaps. A material that costs far more up front but lasts decades longer can come out close on an annual basis, provided you stay in the house long enough to collect those years. Any project total also depends on squares, pitch, tear-off and details. Our roof cost calculator applies these rates to the measurements of your own house.
Upkeep and curb appeal over the life of the roof
- Asphalt shingles: Keep gutters clear, trim overhanging branches and look the roof over after big storms. Repairs are simple and inexpensive while matching shingles are still available.
- Metal: Check sealant at penetrations and the fasteners on trim from time to time, and keep snow guards secure. Touch up scratches with the manufacturer’s matching paint.
- Synthetic slate and shake: Little routine care is needed. Repairs call for matching tiles and an installer who knows the system.
- Membranes: Clear drains, check seams and wall flashing, and keep foot traffic to a minimum.
For curb appeal, match the material to the architecture. Architectural shingles suit nearly any ranch, split-level or two-story. Designer shingles and synthetic slate lift a colonial, Tudor or Victorian. Standing seam looks at home on modern farmhouse and contemporary designs, and works as an accent over a porch or bay window on a traditional house. Samples held up against the house in daylight will tell you more than any photo.
Questions readers ask
Which roofing material lasts longest in the Chicago area?
Standing seam metal and quality synthetic slate are built for the longest service, commonly several decades. Architectural asphalt typically delivers about 20–30 years here. With any material, installation details and attic ventilation shape real-world life as much as the product itself.
Can synthetic slate go on a house that had asphalt shingles?
Usually, yes. Synthetic tiles weigh far less than natural slate, so a standard deck in sound condition generally carries them. The roof needs enough slope for the product, the deck has to be inspected after tear-off, and the manufacturer’s underlayment requirements must be met.
Are Class 4 shingles worth the extra cost near Chicago?
They can be, especially if hail is a repeat visitor where you live and you plan to stay. Some insurers offer a premium credit for a Class 4 roof, others do not, and the amount varies. Ask your agent before buying, and ask whether the policy pays differently for cosmetic hail marks, so you know exactly what the upgrade earns you.
Can one house use more than one roofing material?
Yes, and many do. A common combination is architectural or designer shingles on the main roof, a membrane on a nearly flat porch or garage section, and standing seam metal as an accent over a bay window. What matters is that the transitions between materials are flashed correctly.