There are many different types of roofing materials to consider, and a little research might lead you to look at a new type of roofing instead of simply substituting the same material you have now. To choose the proper roofing material, you have to really weigh longevity, appearance, structural issues and costs. Below you will find 12 roofing materials to consider when replacing your roof.
Rolled Roofing
Rolled roofing material is the backbone of low-slope residential roofs, as well as outbuildings like stores, sheds, and other utility structures. Rolled roofing is formed from long rolls of mineral- and asphalt-impregnated material coated with mineral granules. Every roll is around 100 square feet of roofing and roughly 3 feet wide.
These large format sheets of fine roofing material provide a quick, easy and affordable way to cover a building with a pitched roof, such as garages, where appearances are not important. Rolled roof coverings can be installed with the torch method or with roofing screws.
Rolled roofing is relatively cheap, ranging from $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot applied. Rolled roofing on average lasts approximately 10 years before it needs to be changed.
Membrane layer Roof. 
Membrane roofing Another option for flat or extremely low-slope roofs may be a membrane roof. There are different kinds of membranes that can be utilized, among them are:
- Neoprene (polychloroprene)
- EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer)
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
- Chlorinated Polyethylene and Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene sheeting
- Polymers modified bitumen
EPDM is considered as one of the best membranes. EPDM is a manufactured roofing material that is usually known as ” rubber roofing”. It is quite similar to asphalt roll roofing in that it is installed in large layers that limit the number of joints through which water can seep in.
According to the price, membrane roof costs between $4 and $8 per square foot applied. The service life is generally 20 to 35 years if the roof is adequately cared for.
Asphalt Compound Tiles. 
Asphalt composite shingles are the most commonly used roofing material in North America. These three-tab shingles, manufactured with a fiberglass base and covered with asphalt and mineral pellets, are a great option for most roofing requirements. They generally have a 20- to 30-year guarantee, and replacing damaged shingles is a fairly straightforward task. Practically all roofing companies are familiar with the installation of these individual shingles. Composite shingles are good at flexing and accommodating roof movements because of expansion and contraction.
Costs generally range between $1.50 and $4.50 per square foot installed. It depends on the conditions and the quality of the shingles, the life of the roof may be between 12 and 30 years.
Standing Seam Metal Roof 
The commonest kind of metal roofing is standing seam, called this because the aluminum or steel roof boards are connected at raised seams that are interlocked to hold out humidity. Metal roofing of all kinds are becoming more popular in areas with high snowfall or where there is a noticeable wildfire danger, as it is a completely fireproof roofing material. Metal roofs are durable and are completely renewable when they eventually become worn out. But they require special expertise to install, and not all roofing companies are qualified to install standing seam metal roofing.
Costs usually run between $6 and $12 per square foot installed. Metal roofs often endure 30 to 50 years, but some have lived as long as 75 years.
Metal Shingles/Shakes
For property owners who dislike the look of standing seam metal roofing, yet they want the benefits of metal, steel or aluminum shingles or shakes are now becoming available. Metal shingles, manufactured from stamped metal and completed with a high-quality baked coating or mineral pellets, can be made to look much like traditional asphalt shingles, wood shingles, or perhaps even slate or clay shingles. They are an outstanding option when looks are a primary consideration.
Metal shingle roofs normally costs from $7 to $10 per square foot with installation. They can endure for 30 to 50 years.
Wood Shingle or Shakes
Wooden roofs are very appealing, but they are quite costly and have some drawbacks. They are not very durable and are not a great option in areas with high humidity or where bushfire is a danger. Yet, they are one of the most attractive decking materials, making them a popular option for upscale houses. Even though both are made of natural lumber, usually redwood or cedar (often found on Cape Cod-style houses) , there is a distinction between shingles and wood shake roofs. Shingles are generally thin, wedge-shaped slabs of wood that are manufactured by accurate sawing.
Shingles are made by dividing the wood and are thicker wedges with a coarser texture.
Shingles generally range from $4.50 to $9.00 per square foot with instalation; shakes are more pricey, with an approximate average cost of $6.50 to $14.00 per square foot installed.
Longevity depends largely on maintenance and circumstances . In relatively dry weather, a tile or wood shingle roof might endure 60 years; in damp conditions, the roof would last only 20 to 30 years.
Clay tiles
Clay tiles are manufactured from earthen clays molded into coil form or interlocked and fired to obtain their toughness. It is quite often left unglazed, with the characteristic orange-reddish color; or it could be glazed and fired to form earthenware tiles. Clay tile is a great roofing material for hot weather or where there is a salty air, that is why these roofs are so commonly found in desert regions or southern coastal areas .
Tile is an expensive roofing material, with costs ranging between $10 and $18 per square foot, with instalation ( though more infrequent ceramic shingles can run as high as $30 per square foot, installed). Clay tile is a very durable roofing material that can endure for more than a century.
Concrete Tile
Concrete tiles are considered as an alternative to clay tiles, with very similar installation procedures and benefits. Concrete tiles are molded from a mixture of standard sand colored to whatever hues are needed. A wide variety of profiles are available, some of which look like rolled clay tiles, others are low profile and similar to wood shingles. Concrete roof tiles are often terminated with a frilly coating. It is a heavy roofing material, making it a good option in windy areas.
The cost of concrete tiles is one-third lower than clay roofing tiles, generally between $10 and $15 per square foot. Life expectancy is 50 years or longer.
Slate Shingles
A slate roof perhaps is the most attractive roofing material there is- an option for the property owner who wants nothing but the best. There are slate roofs that are very old and still working. True slate roofs are just what they sound like: genuine, thin sheets of real stone. Because slate tends to split into thin sheets, it is easy to extract, making it perfect for roofing. But the installation of slate is a highly technical skill, and it can be difficult to find qualified installers.
Slate roofs tend to cost between $9 and $12 per square foot, in addition to installation. But it will probably be the only roof installed- a slate roof typically endures between 75 and 200 years.
Synthetic (Rubber) Slate Tile
Synthetic slate shingles are a strikingly convincing substitute for natural slate, but this material is built with engineered polymers mixed with recycled rubber and plastic . It can be almost impossible to differentiate this engineered roofing from natural slate from the ground. And synthetic slate is actually quite lightweight, making it a viable choice for houses that can’t handle the heavy weight of natural slate.
Synthetic slate roofs generally cost around $3 to $6,installed. Even though it is not as long-lasting as real stone, synthetic slate typically has a very good guarantee, up to 50 years.
Eco-Friendly Green Roof
Moss is generally considered a very bad sign when it is found on the roof, but when properly planned, moss and other living plant materials can provide an attractive and effective roofing material that brings the roof back to the earth. A truly unconventional type of roofing, living roof or the green, however, holds great promise.
It can remove air pollutants, give your home thermal insulation, soak up rainwater, and will even make it possible for plants to grow. In order to create a green roof, you first need to install a waterproof membrane layer and provide adequate drainage. A green roof could be “intensive,” which means it is able to support large plants and people, or “extensive,” means it is thin and intended only for light growth, such as moss.
The costs of a green roof can vary widely, but it is definitely a roof for those who are willing to spend money to build an environmental statement. These kinds of roofs also need regular maintenance to last a long time.
