In a year marked by economic downturns, increased immigration enforcement and the rapid encroachment of artificial intelligence, roofing contractors endured, according to RC’s annual State of the Industry Report.

RC once again sought input from the people who know the industry best: roofing contractors. We sent our annual survey to contractors and industry stakeholders last fall to determine what trends and challenges they’re experiencing.

With the expertise of myCLEARopinion Insights Hub — the survey and research arm of RC’s parent company, BNP Media — roofing contractors nationwide shared insights about the year they had and expectations for the future. 

The series of questions identified pain points, product trends and best practices. Respondents consisted of roofing contractors who subscribe to RC and are registered on roofingcontractor.com. Full disclosure: each participant received a $20 gift card. 

Contractors identified themselves as commercial, residential, or a mix. They are considered residential if they generate more than 50% of overall revenue from residential projects, while commercial contractors draw revenue from more than 50% of commercial projects. This year, 69% were residential, 22% were commercial and 9% were mixed. 

Current Challenges

Economic uncertainties weighed on contractors’ minds as the second Trump administration implemented sweeping changes. These included aggressive immigration policies and a litany of tariffs that disrupted both pricing and the workforce.

Taking all that into account, half of all respondents said the current economy and inflation are the biggest perceived business challenges.

Such was the case for both residential and commercial contractors, who listed the economy as a top concern at 49% and 50%, respectively. Next on the worry list was increased building material costs at 38% overall, 42% for residential, but only 32% in commercial.

The next largest worry was a lack of qualified workers at 36%. Residential contractors were slightly more concerned about it at 38%, while 36% of commercial contractors listed it as a problem.

Compared to last year’s survey, those top three challenges remained similar for all respondents. The 2024 results had the economy at 52%, increased building material costs at 44%, and a lack of qualified workers at 43%.

The biggest difference between this and last year’s results was an increased concern about government intervention and regulations. In 2024, only 11% of contractors were worried about them. That jumped to 29% this year, making it the fourth highest worry on contractors’ minds.

Product Placement

Sales volumes held strong for roofers, with 64% indicating overall 2025 sales would exceed 2024 totals. Of that, 28% expect sales to remain the same, while 10% say they’ll see major increases. Only 1% expect sales to significantly decline compared to 2024.

Robust sales inspired most commercial roofing contractors (66%) to report slightly or greatly increased growth in total sales volume from last year to 2025. About 62% of residential contractors had the same outlook.

Peering ahead, 89% of contractors anticipate total sales volumes to grow over the next three years. Of them, 35% say those sales will greatly increase, and 9% expect stagnant growth. Three percent are expecting a drop in sales through 2028.

Fueling these optimistic predictions is the diverse set of services offered by contractors. On average, respondents said their companies are involved with five to six roofing systems. Steep-slope asphalt shingles are the most popular, with three-fourths of contractors involved with them. Next is low-slope asphalt at 72%, single-ply roofing at 70%, metal roofing at 67%, coatings at 64%, and metal accessories at 60%.

Steep-slope asphalt shingles remained a key source of revenue for residential contractors, accounting for an average of 22% of their overall sales. About 80% of residential contractors say they are involved with asphalt shingles.

Shingles were followed by low-slope asphalt products, accounting for 12% of residential sales revenue, and single-ply roofing at 11%. Just under three-fourths (73%) sell low-slope asphalt products and 68% are involved with single-ply.

The most popular steep-slope product is laminate shingles, which accounts for 30% of revenue for both commercial and residential contractors. While shingles may dominate, niche roofing products and systems still hold their own in particular markets.

Brad Nally, vice president of Diversified Roofing Corp. in Phoenix, said sandcast tile and black matte tile products were very popular in their markets, where color variation and modern looks are at a premium.

“Another popular roof design we have seen many people move towards is a black flat concrete tile,” Nally said. “The concrete is much stronger and easier to maintain in comparison to something like a sandcast roof and is typically more affordable.”  

On the commercial side, the products fueling sales are relatively the same as in past years. Single-ply (80%), low-slope asphalt (77%), and metal roofing systems (75%) were the most frequently identified product categories in the survey. 

Single-ply made up a 28% average share of overall commercial contractor revenue, followed by metal (15%) and low-slope asphalt.

About 37% of respondents said TPO was their chief product category, followed by PVC (28%) and EPDM (24%). Last year, just under half (49%) identified TPO as the product category leader, and PVC trailed EPDM (23%) at roughly 20%.

Projecting ahead is difficult for many commercial roofing contractors, given the drop in industrial and commercial facility starts in the current economic climate. Kayhan Fatemi, executive vice president of Best Contracting Services in California, said he and most of his peers that he’s talked to view 2025’s economic performance as flat, with similar expectations for the year ahead.

“The consensus is, essentially, that 2026 is going to be stable, but uncomfortable because of all the uncertainties out there,” he said. “But it’s confusing. We’re hearing all this horrible economic data, but I can tell you that we had a ton of bidding opportunities in Southern California last year, and we’re already getting big bidding opportunities from the public sector this year.” 

Metal roofing systems, which have grown in popularity over the years, might be on the decline as customers become more conservative in their spending. Last year, 79% of contractors sold metal roofing systems. This year, that dropped to 67%. Pricing uncertainty over tariffs and concerns over consistent availability could also be a factor. However, that’s not stunting interest in metal on the residential side as severe weather conditions escalate.

Aaron Christy, owner of Indy Roof & Restoration in Indianapolis, said metal residential roofs grew into about 5% of their overall business in just a few years.

“I think we're doing better than we've ever done with it,” he said. “We don't pitch it at every single house, and we're not known for metal. But, within the last few years, it’s emerged as a better option for people that maybe want more longevity out of their roof.”

Technology Takeover

Technology continues to play a key role in how roofing contractors acquire, qualify and sell to clients. Among them, AI might be making the biggest impact, but it has yet to gain widespread use.

According to the survey, 40% of all contractors currently use some form of AI, while another 36% say they’re discussing how to implement it over the next two years. That is a significant jump from last year’s survey, when just 29% of contractors indicated using AI. Another 25% said they planned to implement it in the next year or two.

Last year, about 13% of contractors said they didn’t know if they’d be using AI. That number shrank to 6% in 2025. 

In this year’s survey, 9% said they had no plans to use AI in their business model. Meanwhile, 32% of last year’s survey respondents had no plans of using AI or predictive data analytics.

As for the most popular tech adopted by contractors, business process software and cloud computing were the most popular types adopted recently, at 74% and 69%, respectively. 

Data showed more than half also used business or accounting software, estimating software and aerial measurement tools. Customer Relationship Management systems and drones are also popular, with 58% and 54% currently using them, respectively.

Solar Sales

Roofing contractors scrambled to make the most of energy tax credits that expired in 2025, and it wasn’t an insignificant portion of respondents, either.

Overall, 41% of contractors reported involvement with solar, which made up an average of 5% of overall sales revenue. Compare this to 2024, where only 31% sold solar and made up an average 3% of sales revenue.

Around 44% of residential contractors said they sell solar, an increase from 2024’s 24%. The impact of solar shows up in overall revenue averages — in 2024, it was only 2%, while in 2025, it rose to 6%.

A similar sunny story is found in commercial roofing, where 39% of respondents offer solar services, up from 25% in 2024. As a result, the overall average revenue brought in by solar grew from 1% in 2024 to 3% in 2025.

The impact of the Trump administration's sunset of energy tax credits has yet to be seen, but contractors remain optimistic. Three-fourths of residential contractors expect solar sales to grow in 2026, as do 72% of commercial contractors.

Recruitment and Retention

Perhaps it’s a sign of the shifting times, but as of 2025, online recruitment methods are the top ways roofing contractors seek out talent. Online job postings are the most used method at 59%.

Social media and employee referrals tied for the second most-used method at 57% each. This was the top method in 2024 at 63%. Online job postings on job boards like Indeed are the third method for residential contractors at 53% (down from 55% in 2024).

Fifty-nine percent of residential roofing contractors use social media as their primary talent pipeline. Compare this to 2024’s survey, where only 40% sought workers on social platforms. Social media use by commercial contractors shrank 1% to 55% in 2025.

A total of 72% of roofing contractors say offering competitive pay and bonuses is the primary method for retaining workers, followed by 63% saying it’s ensuring there’s enough work for them. Creating a safe work environment (61%) rounds out the top three retention methods.

Training Procedures

Providing training is a main avenue for retention, with 59% of respondents listing it as a great way to keep workers on their team.

To keep their crews in top shape, roofing contractors rely on in-house, on-the-job training, with 75% saying they prefer this method. Another 60% make use of in-house formal training programs, while just over half take part in manufacturer-provided training.

Apprenticeships are far more common for residential contractors in the past year, with 41% saying they take new workers under their wing. In 2024, 21% used apprenticeships for training. Commercial contractor apprenticeships dropped, as only 27% use them for training, versus 32% in 2024.

Meanwhile, contractors are recognizing the value of vocational or technical schools. In 2024, only 24% of all contractors used vocational schools for training. This year, that rose to 33%. Of them, 35% of residential contractors utilize technical schools, while 18% of commercial contractors enroll their workers.

In Massachusetts, roofers took the lead in developing roofing talent through a unique partnership, creating the first student commercial roofing competition held during the SkillsUSA Massachusetts State Leadership and Skills Conference in May.

Organized in partnership between Fitchburg-based Red Dog’s Roofing and SkillsUSA Massachusetts, the event was designed to inspire students and raise awareness of roofing as a viable, rewarding career. Roofers partnered with roofing manufacturers and vendors to provide student competitors with high-quality, professional-grade supplies for the event.

Company officials viewed the event as part of a broader mission to build career pathways for young people while restoring respect and excitement for the roofing trade.

“By organizing this competition and partnering with vendors to supply tools and materials, we’ve helped students gain real-world experience and take pride in their craftsmanship,” said Red Dog’s Roofing President and CEO Patrick Cochran, a third-generation owner of the family business.

Summing Up

Roofing contractors, in general, are finding reasons to feel good about the state of the industry. 

According to the data outlined above, there are several reasons why — ranging from anticipated demand to emerging new technology and innovations with potential to revolutionize the current roof-buying experience. Roofers that also survived the post-COVID supply-chain crisis and couldn’t rely on as much storm-related work as in previous years evolved. 

They’ve added new service offerings and enhanced training to meet not only demand, but product availability to gain market share. Companies once reliant on storms are recognizing the value — and challenge — of running retail roofing enterprises, and will continue changing the game.

So, too, will regulators, insurance carriers, financing partners and software developers that enhance the roofing trade while also applying more pressure to change it. Workforce concerns aside, those outside factors alone could say more about the future of roofing as we close the first quarter of this century.

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