How to Manage the Roofing Material Shortage in 2026

A long time ago, the only thing a roofing company needed to worry about was the weather. In 2026 and beyond, the real storm brewing is the material shortage sweeping across this and many other industries. 

But what exactly is it, and how are roofers navigating these turbulent times? 

Even the roughest weather passes, and those who plan ahead come out stronger. This article explores: 

• Why there’s a roofing shortage

• Which roofing materials are hardest to find

• What the biggest problems are in the roofing industry

• How commercial roofing projects are impacted

• What steps you can take to manage the shortage

With these clever strategies, you can navigate the shortage and keep your projects moving.  

Why Is There a Roofing Material Shortage?

There are a few reasons behind the current roofing material shortage, such as supply chain disruptions, tariff and price changes, as well as port delays and labor shortages.

For example, manufacturers and distributors cite port backlogs and slower imports that delay shipments and drive up costs. According to Roofing Contractor, asphalt shingle shipments have fallen in 2025 (10 percent) even as residential demand grows. This decline is also partly driven by rising raw material costs, particularly the price of oil—a key ingredient in asphalt shingles—which has increased significantly and pushed overall roofing material prices higher.

Add the recent tariff changes, fewer skilled workers on the market (62 percent of contractors find it difficult to find skilled roofers), and spikes in demand from recent storms and housing booms, and you get a material shortage. 

Read more roofing statistics here. 

Each of these factors contributed to tightened material availability, driving an increase in price and lengthening lead times. 

But which materials are rarest now? Let’s find out. 

Which Roofing Materials Are Hardest to Find?

The roofing industry uses a lot of materials, but there are a few that are bearing the brunt more than others. 

Here’s a list of the most common: 

• Asphalt shingles: In previous times, there was a steady supply of asphalt shingles. Now, rising costs of asphalt, fiberglass mats, and transport have led some manufacturers to scale back production runs, according to Roof Crafters. 

• Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO): Demand remains strong for this key membrane used in flat or low-slope roofs, but the shortage of raw resin is constraining how fast new rolls can be made and shipped. 

• Insulation: Low supply of resin and other binding agents has slowed production of rigid foam boards, so some deliveries are delayed by weeks and the price is more volatile than in previous years (20 percent increase, according to Ecohome Insulation). 

• Fasteners and glass mat: While the flat-roof fasteners market size is projected to grow to $1,115.7 million by 2033, they’re increasingly hard to source, especially galvanized and stainless steel variations. 

• Specialty products (cool-roof coatings, stone veneer sheets, etc.): These items often come through niche manufacturers, so because their production runs are lower volume, they’re more vulnerable to delays and longer lead times. 

Keeping an eye on these materials can help you plan ahead and mitigate surprises. 

But before we get to how you do that, let’s talk about the biggest problems roofers face during the material shortage. 

What Are the Biggest Problems Roofers Face During Shortages?

Roofing companies aren’t just battling to locate and secure enough materials for their many projects. They’re also dealing with the fallout when those materials aren’t available, including: 

Let’s expand on them. 

Difficulty sourcing materials

Finding roofing materials in 2026 is like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

Most distributors report that popular roofing products like asphalt shingles, TPO membranes, and polyiso insulation are often on back order for weeks at a time. 

That’s why it’s advisable to pre-order materials months in advance or switch suppliers mid-project to stay on schedule. But there’s no doubt that an unpredictable supply chain adds stress and uncertainty to every roofing job. 

Unpredictable pricing

Pricing is also volatile during a shortage, and it’s one of the toughest problems to solve. Costs for key materials like asphalt, steel, and insulation continue to fluctuate due to global supply constraints and energy price swings. 

With material prices constantly changing, a lot of contractors get material quotes that expire, forcing them to renegotiate prices mid-project or absorb unexpected increases in cost. 

This constant uncertainty makes it difficult to bid competitively, protect profit margins, and maintain customer trust. 

Managing client expectations

When lead times stretch, keeping customers informed about potential delays becomes critical. Because if you don’t update homeowners or property managers, they may grow frustrated with delays, changing schedules, and higher costs. 

Proactive communication is essential. You need to explain potential shortages, provide realistic timelines, and offer alternative solutions when necessary. 

By setting clear expectations early, contractors maintain trust, reduce disputes, and help clients understand that delays are a result of industry-wide challenges, not poor planning on their part. 

Scheduling disruptions

Material shortage equals production and transportation delays, which in turn lead to schedule delays. This forces contractors to constantly adjust timelines as jobs that once took a day may stretch into weeks if key parts are delayed or partially delivered. 

Weather dependencies

Roofing work is also inherently tied to the weather, and material shortage makes this dependency even more critical. Delays in material shipment leave roofs exposed to rain, wind, or extreme heat, even though your crew is ready to work. 

Contractors report that even short weather events can transform into a week of schedule adjustments, which becomes a hassle when combined with supply shortages. 

You now understand how material shortages affect residential homes. But what about commercial properties?

How Are Commercial Roofing Projects Impacted?

It might not come as a surprise that commercial roofing projects are hit harder by material shortages due to their larger scale, tighter deadlines, and higher volume requirements. 

Long lead times for bulk shipments of asphalt shingles, for example, can stall entire projects, forcing contractors to adjust schedules and deadlines. Plus, budgeting is more complicated as material costs fluctuate, creating unexpected expenses for customers and reducing profit margins for roofing businesses. 

Delays also affect occupancy timelines, lease agreements, and regulatory compliance, so the stakes are already higher than residential properties. 

If you want to learn more about the current landscape of the industry, here are some podcasts you can check. 

To navigate these challenges, you need to follow the steps outlined in the next section. 

What Steps Can Contractors Take to Manage Shortages?

The roofing material shortage probably won’t end anytime soon, but at least you can adopt proactive strategies to help you stay on track. 

These strategies include:

1. Build smarter material lists

Technology can help contractors create accurate, detailed material lists. With it, you forecast demand better, spot at-risk materials, and identify alternative products before shortages throw schedules off track. 

ServiceTitan has a handy feature that automates this process, pulling data directly from job estimates and project scopes to create precise lists in seconds.

This automation helps reduce human error, eliminates manual tracking, and provides real-time visibility into what each project needs. 

2. Streamline job-specific ordering

Every order counts when materials are limited. It’s a good idea to review your material needs on a per-project basis and assign specific warehouses or vendors in order to stay organized and avoid mix-ups. 

In short, centralizing procurement ensures each job gets exactly what it needs, without over-ordering, under-ordering, or wasting trips to the supply yard. 

Once again, ServiceTitan comes to the rescue. You can take this process further by tracking every order from request to delivery. Users can also quickly switch suppliers if inventory runs low, monitor fulfillment status in real time, and keep projects moving even amid fluctuating stock levels. 

As a result, you stay within budget and maintain momentum despite ongoing material shortages.

3. Maintain reliable warehouse stock

During the material shortage, a well-managed warehouse can truly make a difference. This means closely monitoring inventory levels and identifying key items that frequently run low.

ServiceTitan can help with that. Its inventory management software helps you track the quantity of each type of asset and inventory, complete with its exact location and part number. 

As a result, you know how much stock is in each warehouse and truck, as well as when to replenish each location. Also, you can set minimum stock thresholds and automatic reorder points that ensure essential materials are always available. 

This proactive approach reduces the scramble to find last-minute replacements, which leads to smoother workflows and on-schedule projects. 

4. Stay connected from the field

Field crews often need instant access to material information to keep work on track, especially in a fast-moving industry like roofing. Real-time visibility into inventory levels helps managers check what’s in stock, confirm delivery timelines, and reorder supplies without leaving the office. 

ServiceTitan has a feature that does just that. It gives teams the power to view current stock while in the field, track order status, and request materials directly from their devices. 

This mobility prevents wasted trips to job sites, reduces downtime, and ensures teams always have what they need to stay productive. In addition, with ServiceTitan, teams can make quick, more informed decisions and respond immediately when shortages arise. 

5. Communicate proactively with customers

Clear, honest communication is hugely appreciated during material shortages. In short, you have to set expectations as early as possible about possible pricing changes or delays to build trust with customers and prevent later misunderstandings. 

Regular updates keep clients informed and confident that their contractor is managing the situation professionally. Those who maintain transparency are more likely to build strong customer relationships, even amid disruptions. 

6. Diversify sourcing and materials

Relying on a single supplier during the material shortage is a bad idea. Even if this supplier has been with you for years, it can leave you vulnerable when shortages inevitably occur. 

So, build relationships with multiple vendors, explore regional suppliers, and consider substitute materials that meet the performance and code requirements of your projects. 

In these trying times, flexibility is key. That’s why ServiceTitan supports this strategy by centralizing material data and order history, giving teams full visibility into pricing, lead times, and availability across all suppliers. 

With this information in one place, you can quickly compare options, make smarter purchasing decisions, and adapt your sourcing strategy to what’s currently available. 

7. Adjust scheduling and forecasting

Smart scheduling becomes just as important as sourcing when materials are delayed. Using ServiceTitan, contractors can minimize downtime by viewing project start dates and shift timelines based on confirmed delivery dates. 

Since ServiceTitan gives you a clear view of the entire workload, teams can visualize how material delays affect project timelines, reassign crews, and make data-driven adjustments without too many schedule changes. 

Using these tips, you can grow your roofing business and navigate the material shortage like a pro. 

Over to You

The roofing material shortage isn’t something that’ll go away soon, so learning how to navigate it is crucial for roofing companies that want to be profitable. 

By planning ahead, diversifying suppliers, and maintaining clear communication with clients, roofing companies can keep projects running smoothly and protect profitability even when the market is unpredictable. 

ServiceTitan is an all-in-one software platform built to help roofing companies streamline operations and maintain profitability even during material shortages. With real-time insights, automation tools, and field connectivity, ServiceTitan empowers contractors to manage material shortages efficiently and deliver exceptional service, no matter what.