Roof Type | House Style | Advantage | Disadvantage |
Composite
| Any | - Cheap
- Variety of low cost to architectural shingles with more durability and style
- Variety of color, types, and manufacturers
- Easily repaired
- Resistant to fire
| - Short lifetime
- If hot, scars
- Vulnerable to mildew and moss
- Unfriendly to environment
|
Wood Shingles
 | Bungalows, ranches, contemporary, cottage, historic | - Natural look
- Insulating
- Blends well with nature
- Easily repaired and/or replaced
- If maintained well, can last 30-50 years
| - Eexpensive
- Professionals must install
- High maintenance
- Subject to rotting, mildew, and mold
- Doesn’t respond well to fire
|
Metal
 | Any | - Many different looks available
- Variety of colors
- Lightweight
- Flexible
- Can last 50 years
- Low maintenance
- Performs well in bad weather
- Environmental friendly
| - Hard to install
- Possibly expensive
- Painting required periodically
|
Slate
 | Colonial, French, Exotic Revivals, Chateauesque, Beaux Arts | - Distinct appearance
- Fireproof
- Long lasting
| - Very expensive
- Particular installation required
- Weighty
- Fragile
- Requires high maintenance
|
Concrete
 | Any | - Variety of colors and styles
- Lightweight
- Resistant to fire and insects
- Low maintenance
- Very durable
- Efficient
| - Possibly expensive
- Quality among products is quite inconsistent
|
Asphalt with decorative stone | Flat roofed California, modern | - Cheap
- Easily repaired
| - Smells bad
- Health hazard to installers
- Gases emitted produce smog
|
Engineered rubber or plastic | Any | - Lightweight
- Long life span
- Money well spent
- Attractive, variety of styles and colors
| - Not a very well known product
|
Eco-roofs
 | Flat or slightly slanted roofs | - Environmentally friendly
- Gives the house insulation
- Rrelatively no maintenance required
- Attractive
| - At first, inexpensive
- New in United States- has been used in Europe past few decades
|
Roof Types
