Illinois Roofing License IDFPR #19HC00108700 · GAF Certified Contractor
Asphalt shingles cover about 80% of Illinois roofs because they hit the right balance of cost, performance, and ease of installation. But they’re not the only option. Standing seam metal is increasingly common on premium homes. Clay and concrete tile, while rare in our region, appear on certain architectural styles. This guide compares all three across the dimensions that matter for an Illinois homeowner.
Asphalt shingles – the baseline
Asphalt shingles dominate the IL residential market for clear reasons:
- Cost: $4.50-$8.50 per square foot installed for architectural; less for 3-tab; more for Class 4 impact-resistant
- Lifespan: 20-30 years for architectural; 15-25 for 3-tab
- Weight: 200-340 lbs per square – standard roof framing handles easily
- Installation labor: standardized, available from any local roofer
- Warranty: 30-50 year manufacturer warranties standard
- Repair-ability: easy to repair, individual shingles can be replaced
- Aesthetic flexibility: wide range of colors, textures, and styles (including slate-look and shake-look)
For most Illinois homes, asphalt is the right answer. The other materials make sense in specific situations.
Standing seam metal roofing
Metal roofing on residential homes typically means standing seam – panels with raised vertical seams running from eave to ridge. The seams are mechanically locked or snap-lock and the panels are concealed-fastener (no exposed nails or screws on the visible roof).
Specs:
- Cost: $9-$16 per square foot installed (1.5-2x asphalt)
- Lifespan: 50+ years (often 60-70 with proper maintenance)
- Weight: 100-150 lbs per square – lighter than asphalt
- Wind rating: 130-180 mph on properly installed systems
- Snow shed: excellent (sheds rather than accumulating)
- Energy: reflective surface reduces summer cooling load
- Recyclable: 100% recyclable at end of life
Drawbacks:
- Higher upfront cost
- Smaller pool of qualified installers (not every roofer does metal)
- Noise during heavy rain (often less than expected with proper underlayment)
- Walking damage – denting from foot traffic on softer aluminum panels
- Can look industrial on traditional homes if not carefully spec’d
Standing seam makes sense in IL for: contemporary or farmhouse-style architecture, homes where lifespan is prioritized over upfront cost, low-slope sections where asphalt isn’t viable.
Clay and concrete tile
Tile roofing – clay or concrete – is uncommon in Illinois. It’s most common in the Southwest US and parts of California where the architectural tradition supports it. In Illinois you might see tile on Mediterranean Revival homes (rare) or on architectural one-offs.
Specs:
- Cost: $12-$25 per square foot installed (2-3x asphalt)
- Lifespan: 50-100 years (genuinely lifetime-of-the-structure on premium clay)
- Weight: 600-1,200 lbs per square (3-4x asphalt) – requires reinforced roof framing
- Fire rating: Class A (best available; tile is non-combustible)
- Wind rating: high if properly installed, but tiles can blow off in extreme events
Drawbacks for IL:
- Heavy – most existing IL homes need framing reinforcement before tile can be installed
- Freeze-thaw vulnerability – IL winters can crack tile if it’s not high-quality (premium clay handles it; cheap concrete tile can fail)
- Walking damage – tiles crack underfoot
- Very few qualified installers in our region
- Aesthetic – looks out of place on most IL home styles
We rarely recommend tile in our service area. When customers ask about it, the answer is usually a Class A asphalt shingle or metal alternative that achieves similar aesthetic goals at lower weight and cost.
Side-by-side comparison
| Spec | Asphalt | Metal | Tile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per sq ft | $4.50-$8.50 | $9-$16 | $12-$25 |
| Lifespan | 20-30 yr | 50+ yr | 50-100 yr |
| Weight per square | 200-340 lbs | 100-150 lbs | 600-1,200 lbs |
| Wind rating | 110-130 mph | 130-180 mph | 120-150 mph |
| Fire rating | Class A possible | Class A | Class A |
| Hail performance | Class 4 available | Excellent | Can crack |
| Snow shed | Holds snow | Sheds well | Mixed |
| Walkability | Good | Carefully | Fragile |
| IL installer availability | Universal | Limited | Rare |
What we install
Trill Roofing’s primary focus is asphalt shingles – the right answer for the vast majority of our service area. We also install standing seam metal roofs for homeowners specifically choosing that material. We don’t install tile (we’d refer to a specialist firm for that work).
For metal projects, we work with manufacturer-spec panels (Englert, Drexel Metals, McElroy) and concealed-fastener systems. We can quote both standing seam and asphalt side-by-side so you can compare apples to apples on your specific home.
Schedule an inspection at /free-inspection/ to discuss material options for your home.
Related Trill Roofing Services
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No-pressure, written estimate. Family-owned. IL-licensed. Serving Godfrey and the Riverbend.