Jimmy Davidson founded Silver Loon Roofing in Crosby, Minnesota, in 2026. Before that he spent more than 30 years building custom homes in the Crested Butte area of the Colorado Rockies, mostly framing, interior and exterior trim, and roofing, with plumbing, electrical, painting and drywall work along the way. He lives in Crosby with his four kids, scopes every estimate himself and checks every job.
Roofing materials cost more in 2026 than they did a year ago, and most of the rise came in two rounds this spring and summer. Shingle makers raised prices in the spring and again around June 1, and steel tariffs are pushing up the cost of metal parts.
We buy materials every week, so we watch these notices. Below is what we could verify, with sources. Where the numbers come from distributors and trade pages rather than the makers themselves, we say so.
Shingles: two rounds of increases
A May 2026 report, updated October 6, compiled price letters that distributor SRS posted in February. It lists these spring increases:
- CertainTeed: up to 8%
- GAF: 5% to 8%
- Owens Corning: 5% to 8%
- Malarkey: up to 8%
- TAMKO: 4% to 5%
It says all were in place by April 15, 2026. That page does not give a date for each maker. ABC Supply's notice page shows 2026 notices from CertainTeed, GAF, Owens Corning, Malarkey, and TAMKO, plus freight surcharges, but it does not show percentages.
The second round came in the summer. The same report says SRS announced 6% to 10% on its residential roofing products, effective June 1. Distributor Mueller posted up to 9% on steep-slope roofing and accessories, for products shipped from June 22, 2026. We could not read the individual maker letters for the second round, so we are not quoting per-brand numbers for it.
The two rounds stack, so a roofer's material bill is up by more than any one notice shows. We have not found a published total, so we will not put a number on it.
Metal: steel tariffs and parts
Steel is where tariffs bite directly. A trade law firm's tracker of Section 232 tariffs shows a 50% tariff on articles made entirely or almost entirely of steel or aluminum, and 25% on derivative articles. Since April 6, 2026, the duty is charged on the full value of the product, not just the metal inside. A June 2026 proclamation changed some rates again. Congress's research service explains the 50% rate, which took effect in June 2025.
We could not find a published figure for how much those tariffs add to a standing seam metal roof. Some contractor blogs claim big percentages. We could not trace them to a source, so we left them out.
What we can show is parts. In the Mueller notices, Gibraltar raised steel products up to 8% for orders from June 1, and aluminum up to 10%. The roofing report above lists Gibraltar trim and flashing at 5% for galvanized steel and 10% to 13% for aluminum earlier in the year. Flashing, drip edge, and trim go on every roof, shingle or metal.
Insurance adds pressure
Material cost is not the only squeeze. A CBS Minnesota story from January 2025 reported hail deductibles often set at about 2% of a home's value. It also described insurers paying actual cash value on roofs, meaning what the old roof was worth, not what a new one costs. That article is almost two years old, so read your own policy, because terms change at renewal.
For a lake home, the gap between what the policy pays and what a new roof costs can be thousands of dollars. Check whether your roof is covered at replacement cost, and what your wind and hail deductible is.
What this means for Brainerd Lakes homeowners
- Do not wait for prices to fall. We found no sign they are headed down. We also cannot promise they will rise again. Plan on today's numbers.
- Do not stretch a worn roof. A leak into the ceiling costs more than any price notice.
- Get a written quote and ask how long it holds. Prices can change between quote and order. Ask what happens if the maker raises prices.
- Compare shingle and metal on the same visit. Metal costs more upfront. Our metal vs. asphalt guide lays out the lifespan math.
Most full replacements we quote land between $9,000 and $22,000 installed, depending on roof size, pitch, and material.
Bottom line
Shingle prices rose in two rounds in 2026, steel tariffs are pressing on metal, and insurance may pay less than a new roof costs. If your roof is near the end of its life, get a quote now.
Book a free inspection or contact us. You can also read about roof replacement or our standing seam metal option.
Jimmy Davidson founded Silver Loon Roofing in Crosby, Minnesota, in 2026. Before that he spent more than 30 years building custom homes in the Crested Butte area of the Colorado Rockies, mostly framing, interior and exterior trim, and roofing, with plumbing, electrical, painting and drywall work along the way. He lives in Crosby with his four kids, scopes every estimate himself and checks every job.
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