What are the most weather-resistant roofing materials? The answers to this question are worth considering when selecting the type of roofing for either a new home or a new roof on an existing home.

"Weather resistant" could be thought of as simply keeping your home dry and protected from the elements. But how does the roofing material hold up to the elements? How will years of exposure to sun, wind, rain, and snow affect different types of roofing materials? These are issues to consider when taking on a project as costly as a new roof installation.

Engineered Roofing Grows in Popularity

In an article about choosing roofing materials, This Old House writer Steve Thomas says,

• "The choices range from asphalt shingles to wood shakes and clay tiles, from steel panels to rubber lookalike slate. The most important trend to note, however, is that as with home-construction materials in general, there is an increasing move towards engineered roofing materials. This change is being driven by a few different factors. One is simply the high cost of wood. The second is that in many cases, codes now mandate the use of fireproof construction materials. And third, people understandably want to build with materials that not only look good, but also are very long-lived."

Weighing in All the Factors

Deciding on the most appropriate roofing for your property starts with assessing a number of factors, including the type of roof you have now, location, climate, desired look, maintenance, and cost. All these factors will influence your final choice, with longevity of the roofing material you choose being one of the most significant.

Roof Helper gives detailed information about shingles and shakes, clay and concrete tile, metal, slate and synthetic slate, bitumen, rubber, and green materials. This useful source says that dimensional shingles – also known as architectural shingles – have the longest life expectancy of all shingle products, with an estimated 40 years.

• Clay tile, also known as Spanish tile, will last 50 or more years.
• Metal roofing, recommended for areas with high precipitation, can also last for 50 years.
• Slate roofs win the prize for longevity, with life expectancies of 100 years or more.

CalFinder's library has many articles about roofing, and you can readily access information about licensed contractors in your area – possibly the best place to start when you want expert advice about the best choice in roofing materials for your home.