Slate, tile, shake, California shake, tin, composite--which roof type is best for your home? Is a pitched roof better than a flat roof? These are just some of the questions that you will need to answer when you build a custom home. If you're building in a subdivision, the CC & R's (covenants, conditions, and restrictions) may dictate what type of roof you have to use.
Personally, I love the look of tile and slate roofs. They do pose a number of problems, however. If you live in a climate where you will frequently have hail, then a tile roof may not be a great idea. I remember going to the big outlet mall last year at San Marcos after a wicked hail storm had gone 
through a week earlier. The beautiful barrel tile roofs where almost completely destroyed by the baseball sized hail. The area looked like a war zone. The composite roofs seemed to have fared much better in this particular weather event. Also, if you do have to repair a roof leak, there's a high probability that the people who climb on your roof will crack at least one or two of the tiles as they walk across to where the leak may be.
Slate is another attractive substance, however, it has some of the same issues as tile. Slate roofs can last 50 to 70 years provided that they are maintained and have a fairly steep pitch. In fact, a pitched roof will almost always last longer than a flat roof and normally will have less maintenance issues. Flat roofs often allow for ponding that leads to leaking. In contrast, the greater the pitch (slant) of the roof, the more likely the water is to sheet off of it. This increases the longevity of the roof.
In California as well as other areas where fires are an issue, shake wood roofs have been outlawed in many places. There's little the fire department can do if a shake roof catches on fire. In a major blaze, falling embers from a fire several miles away can ignite a dry wood shingle roof. In repsonse to this issue, many builders use a roof tile called "Cal shake." This is a cement tile that resembles a wood tile. Cement doesn't burn. The challenge is that you will spend a considerable amount more in foundation and supporting beams to hold the extra weight.
In areas such as Florida and Hawaii, tin roofs are also popular. These are considerably less expensive that tile, slate, and many other roofing substances. They have the advantage of not burning, however, they are much nosier during rain storms. They also rust if not properly treated.
In general, it's best to purchase the highest quality roof for your home. Review the upside and downside for each type of roof before you make a final decision. Remember, a good quality roof may actually be cheaper because it will wear longer and have less maintenance.
Posted by Bernice Ross, www.RealEstateCoach.com
Photos by antmoose and CatSkillsGrrl
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