Roofing in 2025 looks very different from a few years ago. Today, contractors are squeezed by higher costs, persistent labor shortages, and unpredictable weather. This article breaks down the biggest challenges roofers are facing and shares real advice from industry pros on how to tackle them.
Meet the Experts
Brendan Anderson, Founder, Brix Systems:"Roofing is about more than materials and labor; it's about trust."
Michael Casolaro, President & CEO, MCAS Roofing & Contracting:“Once you earn their [customers’] trust, they’ll come back to you for a large roofing project. That’s how we grew, and it still works today.”
Michael Feazel, Founder, Roof Maxx:"Companies that innovate, adapt, and prioritize long-term trust will continue to grow."
Roofing Businesses' Pain Points
Pain Point | Impact on Roofers |
|---|---|
Labor Shortages & Immigration | Reduced crew sizes, higher wages, fear of raids |
Material Costs | Tighter profit margins, pricing pressure, strain on customer relationships |
Supply Chain Issues | Long lead times, inconsistent availability |
Insurance & Climate Risks | Higher premiums, stricter claims, weather-related delays |
Regulatory & Safety Burden | Compliance complexity, added safety rules, heat exposure |
Operational Overhead | Inefficient scheduling, admin overload, seasonal fluctuations |
Marketing & Digital Pressure | High customer expectations, lead generation hurdles |
The Labor Challenge: Finding and Keeping Workers
The Problem:
The construction industry is facing a major labor shortage. The Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry estimates a need for 439,000 new workers in 2025 to meet demand. This gap is a top concern for roofers, especially as many crews rely on immigrant labor. In fact, immigrants make up 52% of the roofing workforce, and an estimated 75,000 roofers are undocumented workers. Roofers may also have been among the first targeted by new workplace raids because of their visibility on job sites.
Impact:
The shortage leads to project delays, extended timelines, and higher wages to attract talent. The safety risks, with falls being the leading cause of fatalities, increase a company's liability and make it harder to attract new talent to the trade.
Solutions:
Invest in Your Team's Growth: To combat labor shortages, invest in formal apprenticeships and training programs to cultivate a talent pipeline. As Feazel points out, his company addresses this challenge by "investing in training programs and promoting from within."
Company Culture Matters: Build a strong company culture where employees feel valued and have steady work. As Casolaro says, "when we find good people, they stay."
Optimize Operations: Respond to a tighter labor pool by optimizing your processes. This could mean using downtime between projects for training and administrative work. Feazel states that his company has tried to manage this challenge by "improving workflow efficiency" and "being selective with projects" to ensure a steady pace and high-quality results, rather than over-committing with a limited team.
Prioritize Safety: Mandate comprehensive harness training and prioritize an on-site safety culture to protect your team and attract new workers. Implementing a robust safety program can also lower your workers' compensation premiums.
Embrace Technology: Adopt drones for inspections to increase crew efficiency and reduce time spent in dangerous situations. Using technology not only improves safety but also makes the job more appealing to a younger, more tech-savvy workforce.
Economic Pressures: Rising Costs
The Problem:
Pricing a job is harder than ever.Major shingle manufacturers have announced price increases of 6-10% in early 2025. On top of that, new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum have added a 25% tax on components like flashing and gutters. Since 2020, asphalt manufacturing costs have pushed shingle prices up by roughly 41%.
Impact:
These pressures make it difficult to provide competitive bids and squeeze profit margins. Supply chain issues cause frustrating project delays and put smaller contractors at a major disadvantage.
Solutions:
Secure Contracts: Lock in long-term supplier contracts to hedge against price fluctuations. Feazel notes, “Material costs, particularly shingles, remain pretty volatile. We counter this by forecasting demand early and securing bulk pricing.”
Stay Agile: Diversify your sourcing and explore alternative materials, like synthetic shingles, that may be more readily available or less susceptible to price volatility.
Communicate Clearly: Be upfront and transparent about pricing and timelines. Anderson explains, “We deal with it by (...) helping clients understand the long-term value of investing in quality materials despite higher upfront costs.” Casolaro adds, “We (...) guide customers toward materials that balance quality, durability, and availability.”
Offer Financing: Providing flexible payment options can make projects more affordable for homeowners, particularly for large, unexpected repairs. This strategy not only helps close more deals but also ensures a healthy cash flow for the contractor.
External Factors: Weather, Insurance, and Regulations
The Problem:
Extreme weather events are increasing, which drives up insurance premiums for both contractors and homeowners. The regulatory landscape is also changing, with OSHA's Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rule placing a renewed focus on heat injury prevention and states like California implementing fire-resistant material codes.
Impact:
These external pressures can translate into higher operating costs, tighter margins, and greater operational risk. Rising insurance premiums and stricter claim scrutiny increase overhead, while volatile material prices and weather-related delays make it harder to keep projects on schedule and within budget. Extreme heat and unpredictable storms also reduce productive work hours and heighten safety risks, leading to more downtime and potential liability issues. At the same time, evolving regulations demand additional training, compliance tracking, and investment in approved materials. Contractors who fail to adapt risk losing their competitive edge to companies that proactively manage these challenges.
Solutions:
Control Insurance and Liability Costs: Stay on top of insurance and liability by checking your policies each year with a specialized broker to make sure you’re getting the best rates. Prioritize crew safety and maintain high work quality, as fewer claims mean lower premiums. Joining trade associations can also save you money through group-rate discounts and shared risk programs. Plus, you can help your clients too by suggesting upgrades like fire-resistant siding or impact-rated roofing—things that might even lower their insurance premiums.
Plan for Weather Resilience: Use advanced forecasting tools to schedule jobs around extreme weather patterns and include weather-delay clauses in your contracts to protect profitability. It also helps to have temporary protective materials on hand to shield active job sites from damage. Offering off-season services, like maintenance or inspections, is another smart way to keep cash flow steady when the weather slows things down.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance: To ensure regulatory compliance, you must provide crew training for safety requirements and new material codes. Make sure to adjust work schedules during heat waves and to include shaded rest areas and hydration stations. Using compliance-tracking software can help log safety protocols and crew training for audit readiness.
The Business Environment: Competition and Operations
The Problem:
The market is increasingly competitive, with private equity firms aggressively acquiring regional contractors. Daily tasks like scheduling and paperwork also eat up valuable time that could be spent on-site. Homeowners expect real-time updates and seamless communication.
Impact:
It’s harder for small businesses to compete on price, scale, and resources. Administrative overload means less time for on-the-job work, and contractors risk being outmaneuvered by larger, more technologically advanced competitors.
Solutions:
Find a Niche: Specialize in a high-demand area like historical roofing or solar installation to stand out.
Build Your Reputation and Trust: Use transparent communication, provide excellent service, and showcase your work with photos and reviews. As Casolaro describes, his company combats lack of trust by "sharing tons of project photos showing our finished work, building reviews, being certified by top roofing manufacturers, and offering warranties on both labor and materials that back up our work." Anderson adds that he adapts by "leaning into transparency, showing our process, and building trust through communication and consistency."
Embrace Technology: Adopt CRM systems and AI-powered scheduling tools to streamline your operations and save time. Feazel notes that his company has "leaned more into SEO, referral incentives, and community partnerships to drive leads cost-effectively."
Partner with Lead Generation Platforms: Use platforms like Fixr.com to connect directly with homeowners who are ready to hire. This can streamline your lead acquisition, reduce marketing spend, and help you compete with larger firms.
Navigating the Future of Roofing
Roofing contractors in 2025 are facing a perfect storm of challenges, from labor issues and economic pressures to climate risks and a competitive market. To not only survive but thrive, contractors must adapt. By strategically investing in technology like AI, drones, and CRM systems, prioritizing team training, and embracing transparent customer communication, roofing professionals can turn these industry pain points into opportunities for growth.
Feazel's broad advice is to "embrace the changes. Companies that innovate, adapt, and prioritize long-term trust will continue to grow." Anderson agrees, advising fellow roofers to "focus on relationships — with your team, suppliers, and clients. Roofing is about more than materials and labor; it’s about trust." Casolaro provides a final thought for the industry: "Always remember that it's all about your customers; do what you can to put their minds at ease, and you'll be successful."