Roofing materials come in a very wide range of forms – slate and wood may lead the way in terms of natural materials, but manmade materials may be better in terms of both appearance and performance.  Which you should choose will be determined by a number of factors including their appearance but also:

• Ability to withstand natural and environmental conditions such as high winds during a hurricane or heat resistance if you are in an area prone to wildfires;
• The weight of the materials being used and whether the roof framing is able to support the roof;
• How long will the roofing material last – some products may last 20 years while others are good for a hundred;
• What do the local building codes or other restrictions have to say about the use of the material – is the proposed roofing material allowed or mandated by local regulations;
• Ease of maintenance and cleaning – the last thing you want is a great looking roof which requires a regular visit topside when you are afraid of heights; and
• What is it all going to cost?

The most popular roofing material are asphalt shingles with more than three-quarters of American homes using them.  They can be made using organic matting which is good for cold weather or be based upon fiberglass, which provides greater fire and water resistance, and then they are coated with granules.  They are a cheap roofing material and come in a wide variety of color variations so you are pretty well assured that you can get the appearance you are looking for.

Metal roofing is great for a traditional look and nothing beats the sound of the rain on a metal roof!  Usually made from a combination of the following – steel, aluminum, copper and zinc – they provide a long lasting roof which is lightweight and can be painted or if copper coated, can be left to acquire a green color as it ages.  They also allow for less heat absorption than asphalt and offer very high fire resistance but they are more expensive.

Clay tile is excellent for providing a Spanish, hacienda-look but the color can fade despite the long-life.  They offer low maintenance and excleent fire resistance but are easy to break and not such a good idea in areas where high winds are likely to be experienced – they are also very heavy and need appropriate roof support.  Concrete tile is a good substitute for clay tile if you are looking to cut the price tag but they are still not cheap however, they do everything a clay tile can do and can be made to look just the same.

Slate is one of the oldest roofing materials known to man and it offers very high fire, wind and water resistance but it is very expensive and needs trained roofers to fit it.  Slate also needs a high slope to be fitted onto and it is not suitable for a low pitched roof, while it is heavy and needs strong roof support.  It will last for more than a hundred years but the quality depends on where it originates from.

Finally, wood has long been used as a roofing material and it can come in sawn shingles or split shakes and while cedar is very popular, there are other rot and infestation resistant woods used as well.  Wood provides the ultimate natural look, but it comes with a relatively short lifespan and requires a lot of maintenance.  Obviously, not highly rated when it comes to fire resistance either though it can be treated with a retardant.