Data sources

This is the registry of sources we research against, ranked by reliability tier, with what each one is used for and when we last reviewed it. Production pricing assumptions are intended to be linked to a row here. That work is still in progress: the working assumptions currently behind the calculator are explicitly unverified and are labeled as such wherever an estimate is shown.

Registering a source does not make its numbers live. Values read out of a source are stored first as raw observations and reviewed for scope, date and geography before any of them are promoted into the pricing the calculator uses. An internal working or demo entry may appear in this registry so that placeholder assumptions are traceable — that is bookkeeping, not independent validation. See the methodology for the review process.

Tier 1 — Government / statistical agency

Public statistical series. Reliable for regional wage and cost signals, but never a finished installed price.

government

CFPB — What You Should Know About Home Equity Lines of Credit
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Reviewed
Used for:
consumer-finance
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Reference:
CFPB HELOC disclosure booklet
Statutory HELOC disclosure booklet. Supports the draw/repayment and rate-variability explanation on the roof financing page.
Open source →
FTC — How to avoid a home improvement scam
US Federal Trade Commission
Reviewed
Used for:
consumer-protection
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Reference:
FTC consumer guidance
Basis for the pressure-selling and door-to-door financing warnings on the roof financing page.
Open source →
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Roofers (SOC 47-2181)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Reviewed
Used for:
labor
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Employee wage statistics. Not equivalent to contractor billing rates; intended as one regional labor signal only.
Open source →
Energy Saver — home energy and roofing education
U.S. Department of Energy
Reviewed
Used for:
education
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Educational reference for roofing and energy topics. Not a price source.
Open source →
FTC — Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law
US Federal Trade Commission
Reviewed
Used for:
warranty
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Reference:
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. 2301-2312
Disclosure requirements for written consumer product warranties. Cited on the roofing warranties page.
Open source →
CFPB — Home equity loan vs. HELOC
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Reviewed
Used for:
consumer-finance
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Reference:
Ask CFPB en-247
Definitions of secured home equity borrowing products used on the roof financing page. Educational only; no rates published.
Open source →

Tier 2 — Manufacturer or industry body

Published by a manufacturer or trade body. Useful for product cost and scope, read with the publisher's interest in mind.

industry-body

ARMA — Asphalt shingle product and test standards
Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
Reviewed
Used for:
material-performance
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Reference:
ARMA standards index
Index of ASTM and UL test standards applicable to asphalt shingles. Used to keep shingle comparison claims tied to per-product published specifications.
Open source →
NRCA Consumer Advisory Bulletin — Roof System Warranties
National Roofing Contractors Association
Reviewed
Used for:
warranty
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Reference:
Consumer Advisory Bulletin, Issue 1
Establishes that warranty term is a legal/marketing instrument distinct from roof service life. Basis for our refusal to publish material lifespan tables.
Open source →

manufacturer

Manufacturer product specifications and warranty categories
Roofing manufacturers
Not yet reviewed
Used for:
product specs
Geography:
US
Factual product specification and warranty-category reference only. Manufacturer claims are labeled as such and are not independent analysis.

standard

UL 2218 — Impact Resistance of Prepared Roof Covering Materials
UL Standards & Engagement
Reviewed
Used for:
material-performance
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Reference:
UL 2218, Edition 2
Defines the Class 1-4 impact classification for roof coverings using controlled steel-ball drop testing. Cited on the Class 4 impact-resistant shingles page. Test method only; not a price source.
Open source →

research

IBHS impact resistance test protocol for asphalt shingles
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
Reviewed
Used for:
material-performance
Geography:
US
Last reviewed:
2026-08-21
Reference:
IBHS hail research program
Laboratory protocol simulating natural hailstone impacts, distinct from UL 2218 steel-ball testing. Used to explain why Class 4 is not a hail-proof claim.
Open source →

Tier 4 — Local, contractor-submitted or proprietary market observation

Local records, contractor-submitted figures and proprietary market observations. Weighted lowest and used only with corroboration.

internal

RoofPriceGuide demo pricing assumptions
RoofPriceGuide
Not yet reviewed
Used for:
pricing
Geography:
US
DEMO / PLACEHOLDER assumptions used to exercise the calculation engine. Requires source verification before production publishing.

How these sources feed the estimate is documented in full on our methodology page.