New tariffs on construction materials, such as steel, aluminum, and timber, have led to an increase in the total cost of roofing jobs. Contractors need to raise prices to maintain consistent profit margins, but many fear losing customers. In addition, many roofing businesses are facing challenges in keeping up with changing tariffs and material availability, impacting the accuracy of their estimates.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss:
- What kind of tariffs are affecting the roofing industry?
- How tariffs impact your estimates
- Keeping customers satisfied even when prices increase
- Staying ahead of construction tariffs
What kind of tariffs are affecting the roofing industry?
By far, the most impactful tariff for the roofing industry is on imported steel and aluminum. Currently, all imported steel and aluminum entering the United States is subject to a 50% tariff, up from 25% earlier in 2025. The tariff not only applies to the raw materials, but also covers imported products that contain steel and aluminum. This means that importing screws, nails, roof flashing, and other essential roofing products is now significantly more expensive.
The increased costs of importing metal products have more companies turning to U.S.-based steel and aluminum manufacturers to fulfill their needs and avoiding foreign manufacturers. Since they’re no longer competing with cheap imports, many U.S. manufacturers have raised their prices. Some experts estimate that U.S. steel prices have increased by as much as 16% in 2025.
A new 10% tariff has also been placed on imported softwood timber and lumber. Unlike the steel and aluminum tariff, this rate only applies to the raw materials. However, a new 25% tariff has been levied on imported wood kitchen cabinets and furniture, which could impact other aspects of homeowners’ renovation projects and make them more price-sensitive.
How tariffs impact your estimates
Tariff policy can change quickly, making it difficult to keep up with current prices and predict future costs. For example, the tariff on imported steel and metal was initially implemented in February 2025 at a rate of 25%. By June 2025, this tariff had increased to 50%. In addition, tariffs often impact product availability. U.S.-based manufacturers who use imported materials in their goods may be unable to produce as many products due to higher costs. The process of levying tariffs on imported goods can cause slowdowns at ports or other entry points, backing up deliveries and leading to longer wait times.
When prices are in flux and there are issues with material availability, it’s very easy to underestimate the costs needed for a roofing job. You may find yourself creating multiple versions of a single estimate as you try to keep up with pricing changes, or getting to the end of a job and realizing the costs are higher than you initially told the customer. Without a way to see material pricing in real time, track deliveries, and seamlessly incorporate changes into your estimate, you could end up losing out on profits.
One way to mitigate the impact of tariffs is to use roof estimating software that tracks price changes as they happen. The material supplier integrations in AccuLynx give you access to a catalog of real-time prices that you can automatically add to your estimates. Because AccuLynx also has mobile estimating, you can build these accurate, up-to-date quotes right from the job site rather than waiting until you’re back at your computer. And once you order materials, you can also use the software to track deliveries, so you can stay on top of any delays.
Keeping customers satisfied even when prices increase
An accurate estimate for a roofing job in this current market will likely be higher than it might have been a year ago. This can make contractors nervous about losing customers, especially if other roofing companies in their area are lowballing their bids. While homeowners are more price-sensitive than usual due to the rising costs of many goods and services, this does not necessarily mean you will lose business. Many customers are still willing to pay a higher price if they understand the reasons behind the costs and trust that they are getting a high-quality product.
In order to overcome pricing objections, it’s important to communicate clearly with homeowners. They may not be aware of the ways that tariffs are impacting the roofing industry, or the other issues causing price increases. Being straightforward and transparent about the reasons for higher prices and the real costs of roofing jobs will help you establish your business as trustworthy and may convince homeowners to work with you despite higher prices.
Creating a brochure or fact sheet about tariffs and the roofing industry can help you get this point across to homeowners. You might also consider adding some FAQs to your website about tariffs and material costs, or offering to answer questions about cost increases as part of your pitch. You could also add a line item to your estimates that specifically highlights costs from tariffs, so homeowners are more aware. Taking steps like these can help you overcome pricing objections and clearly explain the reasons behind the costs.
Staying ahead of construction tariffs
New and ongoing construction tariffs are causing confusion and impacting prices throughout the roofing industry. However, incorporating real-time pricing changes into your estimates and communicating clearly with customers can help you stay profitable despite these challenges. If you’d like to learn more about how roofing software like AccuLynx can help you estimate more accurately, no matter the market, schedule a custom demo today.
