Has it come time to replace that old roof? If it is, you have a choice to make. You can go with a boring old shingle roof or you could upgrade to a more durable or more attractive roof. Lets discuss your options.
One popular choice for roof upgrades is slate. Slate makes for a very attractive roof that also offers excellent fire protection and a long life. There is just nothing like the look of a natural slate roof. It is a hard to install roof however and this does make it considerably more expensive than a standard asphalt shingle roof.

Another option is concrete tile roofs. With concrete tiles, you can get a variety of different looks. Concrete can be made in just about any style and color that you desire (including a slate look). It has much of the same benefits of slate in that it is very durable and provides excellent fire resistance. The drawbacks of a concrete roof are that it can be damaged by hail and requires an extensive roof structure due to the weight of the tile.

A third option is a metal roof. Metal roofs are extremely durable. They resist hail, wind and come in a great variety of styles and colors. Since most of the steel used to make a metal roof is recycled, they are also quite environmentally friendly. The drawback of a metal roof is that it is hard to install which makes it more expensive but it will last a very long time. It can also be loud in the rain. Some people love the sound of rain bouncing off a metal roof but you may not.

As you can see, you have a lot of choices when it comes to roofs. So before you just put up the standard asphalt shingle roof, take a little time to consider the other possibilities. It might just be the best improvement you ever make to your home.