If you’ve been putting off roof repairs or thinking about replacing your roof sometime in the next year or two, there’s something worth understanding right now: the cost of roofing materials, siding, and gutters is increasingly tied to forces that have nothing to do with your local market. Trade policy, tariffs, and global supply chain disruptions are pushing material prices upward, and the pressure isn’t limited to your contractor’s invoice. Insurance companies are feeling it too, and they’re responding in ways that directly affect homeowners across Anne Arundel County and the broader Maryland region.
Table of Contents
For guidance on roofing standards and contractor qualifications, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is a trusted industry resource for homeowners evaluating roofing projects.
- How Geopolitical Tensions Affect Roofing Material Prices
- Which Materials Are Most at Risk
- How Homeowners Can Lock In Today’s Prices
- Why Dogwood Exteriors Keeps Quotes Valid for 180 Days
- What Insurance Companies Are Now Doing
- What to Do If You Get a Non-Renewal Letter
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Geopolitical Tensions Affect Roofing Material Prices
Roofing isn’t an industry that exists in a vacuum. The shingles on your roof, the aluminum in your gutters, the steel in your flashing, the lumber in your fascia boards, these are global commodities. When trade relationships between major economies shift, the effects ripple through supply chains and eventually land on contractor invoices and homeowner estimates.
Tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, and petroleum-based products have a direct and measurable impact on what contractors pay for materials. When those input costs rise, they get passed down the line. A set of architectural shingles that costs a certain amount today may cost noticeably more six months from now if trade tensions escalate or new duties are imposed on raw materials. The same applies to vinyl siding and aluminum gutters, both of which are heavily dependent on supply chains that span North America and beyond.
Here in Maryland, we sit in a particularly price-sensitive region. Homes in Anne Arundel County, especially in communities like Arnold, Severna Park, Cape St. Claire, and Annapolis, tend to run larger, with more complex rooflines that require more material per job. That means price increases, even modest ones on a per-square basis, translate into real dollars on a full project.
The uncertainty itself is also a factor. When contractors don’t know where prices will land in 90 days, they either build a buffer into their quotes or issue short-validity estimates. Either way, homeowners end up absorbing the risk.
Which Materials Are Most at Risk
Understanding where the exposure lies can help you prioritize which projects to move on sooner rather than later.
Asphalt shingles are the most widely used roofing material in Maryland, and they’re petroleum-based. That means their price is partially tied to oil markets, which are themselves sensitive to geopolitical instability in the Middle East, OPEC decisions, and broader energy policy. When oil prices spike, shingle manufacturers raise their costs.
Steel and aluminum are the primary materials in gutters, metal flashing, drip edges, and ridge vents. Both are subject to tariffs and trade policy. Steel, in particular, has been a target of import duties in recent years, and aluminum pricing swings with global demand and energy costs (smelting aluminum is energy-intensive).
Lumber drives the cost of fascia boards, soffit panels, and roof decking. Global lumber markets have been volatile since the supply chain disruptions of recent years, and tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, which supplies much of the U.S. market, directly affect what decking and dimensional lumber costs.
Vinyl siding is a petroleum derivative, much like asphalt shingles. It’s also subject to anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports from certain countries. Price volatility here is real and ongoing.
How Homeowners Can Lock In Today’s Prices
There are several practical steps Maryland homeowners can take right now to protect themselves from future price increases.
Get your estimates early. The most straightforward move is to get quotes while current pricing holds. Even if you’re not planning to start work immediately, having a signed contract or a quote in hand gives you a benchmark and, depending on the contractor, a locked-in price.
Ask about quote validity before you sign anything. This is a question most homeowners never think to ask, but it matters. Most roofing contractors issue quotes that are valid for only 30 days. After that, they reserve the right to reprice based on current material costs. In a period of rising prices, a 30-day window can evaporate faster than expected.
Ask for a longer validity period explicitly. Many contractors will accommodate a request for an extended quote validity if you ask upfront. It’s a reasonable request, and reputable contractors are willing to have that conversation. The worst they can say is no, and then you at least know where you stand.
Prioritize deferred maintenance. If you’ve been watching a minor repair situation and waiting to see how it develops, this may not be the best environment to keep waiting. Small issues that get addressed now at current material prices may cost significantly more if left until later.
Consider scheduling work for later in the season. Many contractors are willing to lock in current pricing on a signed contract even if the work is scheduled weeks or months out. Getting on the schedule now, with current pricing, can be a smart hedge.
Why Dogwood Exteriors Keeps Quotes Valid for 180 Days
We made a deliberate decision a while back to offer quotes that are valid for 180 days, six full months from the date of the estimate. That’s not standard in this industry. Most roofing contractors issue 30-day quotes. Some push it to 60 days. Six months is genuinely unusual.
The reason we do it is straightforward: we think it’s the right thing to do for homeowners who are making significant financial decisions. A roof replacement or a major siding project isn’t an impulse purchase. It requires planning, budget conversations, sometimes coordination with insurance claims, and often some time to simply think it through. A 30-day window puts artificial pressure on a decision that deserves more space than that.
For homeowners in Anne Arundel County, our 180-day quote validity means you can get an estimate today and take your time deciding, without worrying that prices will be different when you call back. If you’re in Severna Park, Cape St. Claire, Broadneck, Pasadena, or anywhere we serve in the region, call us at (410) 665-6531 or visit dogwoodgc.com to get your estimate on the books.
In an environment where material costs are unpredictable, that 180-day window is a real benefit, and it’s one of the things that sets us apart from larger operations that reprice at the drop of a hat.
What Insurance Companies Are Now Doing
Here’s where the story takes a turn that many Maryland homeowners aren’t fully aware of yet, but will be soon.
Insurance carriers are increasingly using aerial imagery technology to inspect the condition of roofs without ever sending anyone to your property. Companies like EagleView and Nearmap fly high-resolution aircraft and drones over residential neighborhoods, capturing detailed imagery of rooftops. Insurers then use this data, along with AI-driven analysis, to assess the age, condition, and remaining useful life of your roof.
If the aerial analysis flags your roof as being in poor condition, you may receive a letter from your insurance carrier informing you that your policy will not be renewed unless the roof is replaced or repaired by a specified date.
This is happening across Maryland right now, including in communities throughout Anne Arundel County. Homeowners who have owned their homes for 15 to 25 years, and whose roofs may be approaching or past the end of their expected lifespan, are the most likely to receive these letters.
Why are insurance companies doing this? The connection to material prices is direct. When roofing materials cost more, insurance claims cost more. A roof replacement that might have cost $12,000 five years ago may cost $18,000 or more today depending on the materials, roof size, and complexity. Insurance carriers are trying to reduce their exposure to those inflated claim costs by tightening underwriting standards. An aging roof in marginal condition is exactly the kind of risk they want off their books, because if that roof fails during a storm, the replacement claim will be expensive.
The result is that homeowners who have been on the fence about replacing an older roof may find themselves with a deadline they didn’t anticipate.
What to Do If You Get a Non-Renewal Letter
Receiving a non-renewal letter from your insurance company is stressful, but it’s manageable, especially if you act promptly. Here’s how to handle it:
Read the letter carefully. It will specify what the carrier’s concern is (usually roof age or condition) and what the deadline is for providing proof of remediation. Note the deadline and work backward from it.
Get a professional roof inspection first. Before committing to anything, have a licensed roofing contractor assess the actual condition of your roof in person. Aerial imagery is sophisticated, but it’s not infallible. Sometimes roofs that appear marginal from above are in better shape than the imagery suggests. A written inspection report from a qualified contractor can sometimes satisfy your insurance carrier’s concerns without a full replacement.
Get your estimate on the books. If a replacement or significant repair is warranted, get your estimate documented quickly. As discussed above, material prices are not trending in a favorable direction, and acting sooner is almost always better than waiting when insurance timelines are involved.
Communicate with your insurer. Once you have a signed contract with a reputable, licensed contractor, share that documentation with your insurance carrier. Many insurers will grant a short extension to complete the work if they have documentation showing the work is scheduled and underway.
Don’t let the letter expire. If the deadline passes without action, your policy lapses, and finding comparable coverage in today’s market is harder than it used to be. Carriers are getting more selective, and a home with a flagged roof that also has a lapsed policy is a difficult combination to reinsure.
We’ve helped homeowners throughout Arnold, Severna Park, Annapolis, Pasadena, and the surrounding area navigate exactly this kind of situation. If you’ve received a non-renewal letter or you’re concerned about the condition of your roof, give us a call at (410) 665-6531. We’ll give you an honest assessment and work with you on timing and documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much have roofing material prices actually increased due to tariffs?
Price increases vary by material, but across the board contractors in the Maryland market have seen meaningful cost increases on key materials over the past few years. Asphalt shingles, aluminum gutters, and steel flashing have all seen upward price pressure tied to roofing material prices in Maryland and beyond. For a full roof replacement on a typical Anne Arundel County home, the difference between pricing from two or three years ago and today can run into the thousands of dollars.
Why do most contractors only offer 30-day quotes?
Short quote validity protects contractors from absorbing material cost increases between the time they issue an estimate and the time work begins. It’s a standard practice driven by how volatile material pricing can be. That’s exactly why we offer 180-day quote validity at Dogwood Exteriors, we think homeowners deserve more time to make thoughtful decisions without price pressure working against them.
Can I dispute the aerial inspection findings from my insurance company?
Yes, in many cases. A written inspection report from a licensed roofing contractor that contradicts the aerial assessment can carry weight with your carrier, particularly if it includes photos and a professional assessment of the roof’s condition. It’s worth having your roof inspected before simply accepting the insurer’s determination.
How long do I have to respond to a non-renewal notice?
The notice will specify a deadline, but Maryland law also requires insurance carriers to provide advance notice before non-renewal, typically 45 days. Read your notice carefully and note both the carrier’s deadline and your state-mandated notice period. If you’re unsure, contact your insurance agent, who can explain your options and whether there’s room to negotiate a timeline.
Does Dogwood Exteriors work with homeowners on insurance claims?
Yes. We’re experienced with insurance-related roof replacements and repairs across Anne Arundel County. We can provide documentation, inspection reports, and photos that insurers typically require as part of the claims process. We work with homeowners to make sure the process is as straightforward as possible from initial inspection through final approval.
Material prices aren’t going to get simpler anytime soon, and insurance carriers aren’t going to become less attentive to roof conditions as claim costs rise. The good news is that getting ahead of both issues is genuinely achievable with a little planning. If you’re a homeowner in Maryland’s Mid-Atlantic region and you want to understand where your roof stands, or you want to lock in current pricing before things change, Dogwood Exteriors is based right here in Arnold and serves communities throughout Anne Arundel County. Call us at (410) 665-6531 or visit dogwoodgc.com to request your free estimate.
For more on protecting your roof and staying ahead of maintenance, see our Spring Roof Maintenance Checklist for Maryland Homeowners and our guide to Ridge Cap Repair and Roof Ventilation. If storm damage or a recent inspection has raised questions, our hail damage repair and wind damage repair pages cover what to expect.