Which Type of Roofing Is Best?
Roofs: they're why you buy gutters. OK, maybe that's not the greatest slogan, but it is true that the type of roof you have will have an impact on your entire house, and not just by keeping the rain off your fashionable hairdo. Here's a look at the materials you can use to cover your roof, and the pros and cons of each.
Composition Shingles
One of the most common choices for two simple reasons: they're cheap and durable. There are dozens of brands in a huge variety of colors and styles. Composition shingles are generally made by soaking felt or fiberglass in asphalt, coating them in tar or more asphalt, then adding crushed rock. You can walk on composition shingles without worrying about damaging them, and they're incredibly easy to install. They're also nicely fire-resistant.
On the downside, they can blow off more easily than other options, although they can stand up to some surprisingly stiff winds. They can also begin to erode, something you'll need to watch out for.
Metal
If you want something you barely have to think about, and might not even have to remove anything to install, a metal roof might be for you. Metal used to be an incredibly popular roofing material, and it's making a comeback for environmental reasons, as metal roofs reflect heat away from your attic, driving down your cooling bills by up to 20% during the summer.
Metal roofs can be formed to look like anything: old Victorian roofs, wood shake roofing, composition tiles, you name it. They can be installed fairly quickly, and they're light, so they might be installed on your old roof without a problem. It's not something you can install yourself, and even without labor, it's not cheap. On the other hand, it's probably the lowest-maintenance roof you can install, and if you don't like ladders, it might be worth it.
Slate
Slate is, of course, actual thin slices of rock that are laid out on your roof in a pattern. Slate has a big advantage: treated properly, a slate roof will outlast the house it's sitting on! Obviously, it's also about as fire proof as it gets, and will never, ever rot.
On the downside, being rock, it's heavy: you may have to put more support under your roof to use slate shingles. It also costs a fortune, and it's going to keep costing you a fortune: slate shingles are brittle, and walking on them has to be done carefully and avoided if possible. That means a lot more work doing roof maintenance or doing any repairs at the top of your house.
Clay Tile
Mostly popular in the Southwest and on specific types of housing, clay tile deserves a wider audience.
It has the same benefits as slate: long-lasting, fire-proof, rot-proof, low maintenance once it's been put up. It does also, unfortunately, have the same drawbacks, with the tiles being heavy and easy to break. But clay tiles are much cheaper than slate shingles, and a bit more friendly to carefully placed feet. They don't fit in every design, but they're worth looking at.
Concrete Tiles
Striking a nice balance, concrete tiles are a good option. They can be coated with metals, enamels, or other materials to add extra benefits, they're fairly simple to install, and fairly light. There have been problems with older panels, so check any brand online for complaints before buying, but concrete might be a good choice if you don't want composition shingles, yet don't want to pay for slate.
Wood
Finally, there are wood shakes, the “traditional” roofing. It's really hard to recommend these, unfortunately. Traditional shakes are just plain dangerous: their fire retardant coatings don't last as long as other roofing materials. Even pressure-treated materials will have problems with mold and insects. Unless you absolutely have to, avoid wood.