Asphalt shingles cover about 80% of homes in the United States, making them by far the most popular roofing material in the country. Despite this massive popularity, asphalt shingles remain relatively uncommon in Europe – you can obviously find them in virtually every European country, but they are significantly less visible than clay tiles or metal roofs. This difference comes down to a mix of historical, cultural, climatic, and economic factors that shape roofing choices on each continent.
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Americans Love Asphalt Shingles Because of Their Affordability and Ease of Installation
One of the biggest reasons asphalt shingles are so widely used in the U.S. is their cost-effectiveness. On average, one square of high-quality asphalt shingles costs as little as $200, while clay tiles or cedar shakes often exceed even $800. Even after taking labor costs into account, placing asphalt shingles on your roof will not ruin your budget.
Additionally, asphalt shingles are easy to install. Producers such as GAF, Owens Corning and Atlas took months of work in order to make installation of their products as simple as possible. In many cases, shingles can be applied right over an existing roof without the need to remove old shingles or shakes first. We don’t recommend it, but it’s still completely possible and quite common, especially for those with a tight budget.
Asphalt shingles are cheap, so they are broadly available in big stores, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. As an American, you can simply get into your truck, buy some bundles paying less than $5,000 and install your new roof during the weekend with your brother in law or 17-years-old son. However, if you prefer to hire a roofing contractor, you won’t need to pay tens of thousand of dollars for a new roof, as there is a huge competition on the market and everyone can reroof your home.
Asphalt Shingles Can Last Long Enough
No one treats asphalt shingles as an eternal rooftop material. And you know what? It’s not a problem at all. The average American moves 11.7 times in their life. People usually spend no more than 7 or 8 years in one place and just don’t want to invest in better roof, gutters or attic vents. They simply don’t see it and twice more expensive shingles will not satisfy them more.
As the typical lifespan of medium range asphalt shingles ranges from 20 to 30 years, most of homeowners will not see their roof leaking. There are obviously people who live in one place for all of their lives, but they can probably afford a much more expensive rooftop.
We won’t be lying when saying that asphalt shingles are optimized for use in the United States. Variety of weather conditions, such as intense heat, snowfalls and hailstorms are usually not destructive for properly installed shingle roof. The main destructive factor is UV radiation and long exposition for temperature exceeding 85°F (~30°C).
Aesthetic Flexibility Appeals to Homeowners
Another factor behind the popularity of asphalt shingles in the United States is their wide range of colors and styles. Virtually average American homeowner can find adequate shade of brown or gray for their siding. If you are more extravagant and looking for something special, it won’t be that difficult to find green, red or even white shingles.
Homeowners can choose from many options, including architectural shingles that mimic the look of more expensive materials like slate or wood (cedar) shakes. This means people don’t have to sacrifice curb appeal to get a durable and affordable roof. Asphalt shingles suit many home styles, from traditional to modern.
The Growing Market Reflects Ongoing Demand
The size and growth of the U.S. housing market also contribute to the dominance of asphalt shingles. With a population expected to reach 345 million by 2025 and steady demand for new homes and reroofing projects, the market for asphalt shingles was valued at around $8.8 billion in 2024 and continues to grow.
Americans build about 1.5 mln new houses each year and replace another 5 mln roofs anually. In total, it’s more than 6 milion of roofs to be installed. As there are 100,000 roofing contractors in this country, each company on average replaces 1 roof for every 6 days. It won’t be possible if American use materials such as shakes or tiles.
So Why Do Europeans Prefer Different Roofing Materials?
At the same time, average French person moves three to four times during their lifetime. Average Polish citizen moves less than 3 times. Europeans simply spend more than 20 or even 30 years in one place and it’s common to pass the property to the next generation. Usually, European families live in the same city or even family members live next door.
European houses are generally designed to be livable for at least 100 years. For this reason, walls, roofs and foundations are usually significantly more durable and are made of significantly higher quality materials. It obviously translates to higher property prices – while average American house is worth 7.56 times more than average yearly wage, average Brit needs to work as much as 11.4 years to buy a house of similar floor area.
In Europe, more important than ease of installation or price are insulation and energy efficiency properties. Citizens of Germany, France or Spain simply tend to pay more for the same amount of electricity or heat, so they don’t want to have their roof leaking.
Tradition is also important. Europeans tend to restore instead of building new houses, so they often spend thousands of dollars on renovating buildings that are over a hundred years ago. While local authorities care about the appearance of especially smaller cities, sometimes the only possibility is to use the same materials as neighbors, which are usually clay tiles.
Europeans Care About Ecology, Americans Not That Much
European Union prioritizes ecology – governments tend to ban technologies with harmful impact on the environment, such as asbestos, some kinds of plastic and non-recyclable materials. While an extensive research is being conducted, asphalt shingles are virtually non-recyclable now. Not states try to use degraded shingles as a construction material, it’s not as simple as in case of clay, concrete or steel.
Summary
Asphalt shingles are the go-to roofing solution in the United States because they offer a unique combination of affordability, durability, ease of installation, and design options. They are simply cheap, tough and attractive for average American. At the same time, in Europe, long-standing traditions, high energy prices and local policies favor other materials such as clay, slate or metal, keeping asphalt shingles on the sidelines.
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