Why Trade Pricing Roofing Systems Are Essential in Today’s Roofing Industry
If you’ve been paying attention to the roofing industry over the last few years, you know that rising material costs have become one of the biggest challenges facing contractors, home builders, and property owners across Metro Detroit and the entire U.S. As supply chain disruptions, tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, and ongoing trade tensions continue to raise costs on foreign materials, roofing contractors have had to adapt quickly. Imported steel and aluminum now carry a flat 25% tariff, significantly affecting prices for various roofing materials and components (this could have changed). For us in Detroit, where winters test a roof and summers bring humidity and heavy storms, planning ahead is the only way to protect both homeowners and our business.
That’s where trade pricing roofing systems come into play. Having access to fair pricing through professional supply channels is what allows roofing companies like Roofing Above All to keep jobs affordable, keep crews working, and deliver the same quality workmanship Detroit homeowners have trusted for decades. Without trade pricing, the math simply doesn’t work.
The Rising Costs of Roofing Materials and Why It Matters
The conversation about roofing costs starts with roofing materials themselves. Every roof replacement project involves a combination of asphalt shingles, roofing membranes, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, and other roofing components. In recent years, each of these has seen steady price hikes. Steel nails, metal panels, aluminum imports, and even raw materials for shingles have all gone up, driven in large part by supply chain delays and increased costs of imported construction materials.
The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and other industry groups have been warning about this trend. As the construction industry battles higher material costs, contractors are forced to rework construction budgets and recalculate project costs. Every increase in material prices ripples through to property owners, creating a heavier financial burden.
For roofing contractors in Detroit, this means carefully planning roofing projects to reduce delays, avoid cost overruns, and keep customers informed about why roofing prices are increasing.
Metal Roofing Systems and the Impact of Imported Steel
While asphalt shingles remain the most common choice for Michigan homeowners, we’ve seen growing interest in metal roofing systems. These are especially popular among property owners looking for long-term durability, energy efficiency, and a roof that can withstand Detroit’s wild weather swings. However, metal roofing costs are experiencing price hikes of up to 60% due to tariffs, making them a more significant investment upfront.
The challenge is that steel and aluminum imports have become a flashpoint in the construction industry. Tariffs designed to protect domestic industries have driven up roofing material prices. For contractors, that means every order of metal roofing panels or metal components comes with a higher bill. Whether you’re looking at imported steel, aluminum imports, or foreign materials, the end result is increased costs for both contractors and property owners.
Still, for homeowners committed to a roof that outlasts asphalt and resists Michigan’s storms, metal roofing remains a cost-effective solution in the long run, even if the upfront price is higher.
Supply Chain Disruptions and Their Effect on Roofing Projects
In recent years, every roofing contractor has had to deal with supply chain disruptions. Whether it’s roofing suppliers running out of roofing membranes or construction materials being delayed at ports, the result has been broken supply chains that cause project delays and increase construction costs. Many contractors are reporting longer wait times for roofing orders due to manufacturing slowdowns and bottlenecks at ports, which further complicates project timelines.
For roofers in Detroit, these supply chain delays hit hardest during peak season. When you’ve got multiple tear-offs scheduled, dump trailers ready, and crews waiting, a late truckload of shingles or metal panels can throw off entire project timelines. That’s why planning ahead and securing materials early through trade accounts is more important than ever. Planning for potential delays is crucial due to supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, ensuring projects stay on track.
Trade Pricing as a Lifeline for Roofing Contractors
Here’s the plain truth: roofing contractors can’t survive without trade pricing. Between rising roofing costs, ongoing trade tensions, and constant price increases on construction materials, our profit margins would disappear if we paid retail.
Trade pricing unlocks access to domestic production lines, volume discounts, and professional-exclusive packages. It enables us to lock in prices for upcoming projects, so homeowners won’t face unexpected bills during their roof replacement. Additionally, it allows us to offer fair pricing and value engineering solutions that protect both the homeowner’s budget and the roof’s quality.
The Real Value for Detroit Homeowners
From the outside, homeowners only see the estimate they receive for a new roof. What they don’t see is the complex balancing act behind the scenes: negotiating with roofing suppliers, sourcing building materials at the right time, and securing construction materials before price hikes hit.
Every time we prepare a bid in places like Warren, Novi, Sterling Heights, Troy, or Dearborn, we consider not only today’s roofing costs but also the possibility of raw material price increases next month. That’s why we tell property owners: working with a contractor who has strong supplier relationships is just as important as choosing the right shingle color.
When your roofer has access to trade pricing on roofing systems, you benefit from their buying power. That results in better warranties, more reliable supply, and a stronger guarantee that your roofing system is built with the right components from start to finish.
The Future of Roofing Material Prices and What to Expect
Looking ahead, there’s no sign that material costs will return to what they were a decade ago. Ongoing trade tensions, tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, and instability in the housing market mean that construction costs will remain high. The national association groups are lobbying for solutions, but for now, contractors have to work smarter, not cheaper. The National Association of Home Builders estimates the tariffs could raise the cost of building a new home by as much as $10,000, further emphasizing the need for strategic planning.
That means:
Securing materials early to avoid supply chain delays.
Offering cost-effective solutions like asphalt shingles for homeowners with tighter construction budgets.
Installing metal roofing systems for property owners who want to invest in long-term durability and energy efficiency.
Protecting profit margins by leveraging every available discount through trade pricing.
Why You Should Call Instead of Googling for Prices
If you’re a property owner in Detroit searching for roofing material prices, you won’t find meaningful numbers online. The truth is, roofing prices change constantly. Roofing companies like ours negotiate directly with distributors to secure the best rates on roofing systems. Sometimes the deal is on metal roofing panels, sometimes it’s on asphalt shingles, and sometimes it’s rebates tied to upcoming projects.
Posting numbers on a website wouldn’t be fair to you, because by the time you call, those prices may already have changed. The only way to know how trade pricing roofing systems can work for your project is to speak with a contractor who has access to those numbers right now.
Roofing Above All – Your Partner for Fair Pricing in Metro Detroit
At Roofing Above All, we’ve been navigating these waters for years. We understand how supply chain disruptions affect Detroit homeowners. We’ve seen how imported construction materials and price hikes hit small contractors and property owners alike. And we’ve built the kind of supplier relationships that allow us to keep delivering roofs at fair pricing, even when the market is tough.
Whether you need a roof replacement on an existing roof with asphalt shingles or you’re ready to invest in metal roofing panels for maximum durability, our team knows how to source, plan, and deliver without sacrificing quality. We protect your construction budget, we protect your roof’s integrity, and we protect your peace of mind.
So if you’re in Detroit, Warren, Troy, Novi, Ann Arbor, or anywhere across Metro Detroit, don’t waste time chasing online price lists. Call Roofing Above All today. Let us show you how trade pricing roofing systems, backed by strong supplier networks and decades of experience, can give you the best possible roof at the best possible value.