When it comes to upgrading your roof, there are a lot of different options out there. In fact, there are so many different materials and styles that it's pretty easy to get overwhelmed. To help you decide the best option for you, here is a quick overview of some of the most common roofing materials and their benefits:

Slate

At the high end of the spectrum, you have slate. It's very heavy and quite expensive, but slate is one of the most durable and beautiful materials out there. If you are primarily opting for aesthetics and class, then slate roofs are just about the best that you can get. Alternatively, if you just want a roof that will last forever, then slate is a good choice as well.

However, if money is a problem or if you aren't too sure about the structural integrity of your roof, then slate might not be your best bet.

Metal

If you are looking for a roof that will be inexpensive and require very little maintenance, then a metal roof can be an excellent choice. If you don't really care about a rustic aesthetic for your home, then metal might be perfect.

As far as drawbacks go, metal can be a pretty poor insulator if you live somewhere that gets very hot or very cold. If that is the case, then you will need to make sure that you have sufficient insulation beneath the roof.

Metal is installed in sheets rather than individual tiles or shingles, which means that it is both difficult to break and difficult to install. You will likely be unable to install metal roofing on your own, which means that you will need to hire skilled workers.

Asphalt

Asphalt shingles are a very inexpensive means of building a roof and they also have that classic suburban roof aesthetic, which means that they are perfect for the average homeowner that is price-conscious. They are also exceedingly easy to install, which means that a dedicated homeowner could add asphalt shingles to their own roof without too many problems.

As you might expect, the drawback is that they tend to be a bit brittle, meaning that they can shatter if they are hit by a hard object. Their general durability is fairly low and you will likely need to replace them sooner than other materials. However, this is still quite a ways down the road, since even the shortest-lived asphalt roofs will still last several decades if properly maintained. 

To learn more, contact a roofing company like Three Rivers Roofing.