How to Tell What Material the Roof of Your House Is Made Of

When getting a home insurance quote, one of the questions you’re asked is what material your roof is made of. It might seem like an easy answer, but many homeowners aren’t actually sure until they take a closer look. 

The material and age of your roof play an important role in how insurers calculate your premium and assess risk. Since your roof is the first line of defence against weather like heavy rain, hail, and wind, it directly impacts your coverage, potential repair costs, and how easy it is to replace. 

More durable materials like metal or slate can help lower your premium, while older or more vulnerable roofs, like aging shingles or wood, can increase it. Newer roofs may even qualify for discounts, while older ones can lead to higher costs or more limited coverage.

In this blog, you’ll learn how to identify what your roof is made of and get familiar with the most common roofing materials on homes across Canada. 

Key takeaways

The most common types of roofs in Canada include asphalt, metal, clay or slate, rubber tar or gravel, and wood. You can check the material of your roof by:

• Looking for distinctive shapes or patterns
• Checking the texture up close 
• Listening when it rains 
• Checking your home inspection report

How to check what material your roof is made of 

In most cases, you can easily identify the material of your roof with a few quick checks. Here’s how: 

On the ground, look for any distinctive shapes or patterns

Stand back and look at your roof from multiple angles. Look for distinctive shapes, patterns, or seams that repeat across the surface. A few clues that can help you identify the material: 

• Flat, layered strips: asphalt shingles 
• Large vertical panels: metal 
• Curved or barrel-shaped pieces: clay or concrete tile 

If it’s hard to see clearly, try grabbing a pair of binoculars or zooming in with your phone camera. 

If it’s safe, check the texture up close

If you can safely get a closer look (ex. from a ladder), pay attention to how the material looks and feels. You’re looking for texture and thickness:

• Gritty surface: asphalt 
• Smooth or slick surface: metal 
• Rough wood grain: wood shingles 
• Rubbery or seamless surface: flat roofing materials (like EPDM)

The next time it rains, listen from inside and outside

Take a moment to listen to how the rain falls on your roof from both inside and outside your home, if possible. Different materials affect the way sound travels:

• Loud or echoey sounds: metal roofing
• Softer and muffled: asphalt shingles or wood 

Check your home inspection report

If you bought your home and had it inspected, you might already have the answer. Your home inspection and purchase documents often include:

• The roof material (ex. asphalt shingles, EPDM roof, or metal roofing system) 
• The age of the roof
• Its overall condition 

This is usually the most reliable way to confirm what your roof is made of without guessing. 

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5 of the most common types of roofs for houses in Canada

Roofs come in various materials, each with its own look, lifespan, and durability. Here are five of the most common types of roofs you’ll find on homes across Canada: 

• Asphalt shingles
• Clay or slate tile
• Metal
• Rubber tar or gravel
• Wood shingles 

Asphalt shingles 

Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in North America, especially in residential homes. They’re made from a fibreglass base coated with asphalt and UV-resistant granules, which give them colour and weather protection. They’re affordable, easy to install, and hold up well in a range of climates. However, they only have a lifespan of about 15 to 30 years. 

• Appearance: Flat, overlapping rectangular strips with a slightly gritty texture, in colours like black, grey, and brown
• Common in: Most suburban and urban homes across Canada
• Weight: Moderate
• Sound: Soft and muffled during rain or hail
• Typical lifespan range: 15-30 years
• Installation style: Overlapping rows to create a layered, waterproof surface

Clay or slate tile 

Clay and slate tiles are both durable, higher-end roofing materials that can last anywhere between 50 and 100 years. Clay tiles are made from natural baked clay, and slate is a natural stone cut into thin tiles. They are both highly resistant to fire, rot, and harsh weather, but they’re heavier and more expensive than most other roofing materials. 

• Appearance: Thick, rigid tiles. Clay is curved or barrel-shaped in many colours (traditionally red), while slate is flat, stone-like, and typically grey or dark 
• Common in: Higher-end homes, historic properties, and certain architectural styles 
• Weight: Heavy
• Sound: Quiet and well-insulated, with minimal noise during bad weather 
• Typical lifespan range: 50-100+ years
• Installation style: Overlapping tiles, often requiring reinforced roof structures because of the weight 

Metal 

Metal is a durable, long-lasting material, often made from steel or aluminum. It’s designed to withstand harsh Canadian weather, including heavy snow, rain, and wind. Metal roofs are more expensive to install upfront, but they last longer than most other roofing materials. 

• Appearance: Large panels or metal shingles, often in grey, black, or matte finishes
• Common in: Rural homes, cottages, and areas with heavy snow or extreme weather 
• Weight: Light
• Sound: Loud and echoey during rain or hail
• Typical lifespan range: 40-70+ years
• Installation style: Large interlocking panels or metal shingles with visible seams or ridges

Rubber tar or gravel 

Rubber and tar-and-gravel are popular, durable options for flat or low-slope roofs. They’re made from materials like EPDM (a synthetic rubber membrane), modified bitumen (tar layers), or built-up roofing (layers of tar and gravel) to create a continuous, waterproof surface rather than individual shingles or tiles. 

Rubber roofing is lightweight, offers better UV resistance, and is typically longer-lasting, while tar-and-gravel roofing offers better fire resistance, durability, and is more cost-effective.  

• Appearance: Flat or low-slope surface; can look smooth and rubbery, slightly textured with seams, or covered in small stones 
• Common in: Urban areas with older homes and commercial buildings 
• Weight: Light to moderate; heavier if gravel is used 
• Sound: Generally quiet and muted during rain 
• Typical lifespan range: Around 20-35 years, depending on material and maintenance 
• Installation style: Continuous layers or sheets 

Wood shingles

Wood shingles and shakes are natural roofing materials, typically made from cedar. Shingles are cut for a more uniform look, whereas shakes are split for a thicker, more rustic appearance. They give your roof a warm, natural aesthetic and decent insulation, but require more maintenance than other roofing types. They are less common in many parts of Canada because of fire and moisture concerns. 

• Appearance: Natural wood colour (turns grey over time), with a textured surface
• Common in: Cottages, heritage homes, and rustic properties, in coastal or wooded areas 
• Weight: Moderate
• Sound: Soft and well-insulated, minimal noise during rain
• Typical lifespan range: 20-40 years, depending on maintenance and climate 
• Installation style: Individual overlapping wood pieces in rows