As a roofing material, wood has come under attack lately because of its relatively poor fire-retardation properties. But many homeowners still choose wood shingles and shakes because of the traditional bold, sculptured look.
For more information on wooden roofs, take this sidebar link to Wooden Roofs: Tradition vs. Technology.
Tile -- both cement and clay -- is another popular California roofing material. Kiln-dried red clay tiles top many Mediterranean-style homes in California, and, along with cement tile are available in a wide variety of colors and shapes, including barrel (or mission as it is sometimes called), D-shaped, flat, and ribbed. Traditional tile roofs can be both expensive and heavy, so check building codes to see if your roof deck will require additional support.
Slate, mined in the mid-west or imported from Europe, is a virtually indestructible roofing material, but it is very expensive, beyond most homeowner's reach.
Several companies are offering high-tech alternatives to conventional roofing materials. These new materials combine versatility, light weight, tremendous durability, and the highest fire rating possible: Class A.
One such roof made by Hardishake uses fiber-reinforced cement that weighs about the same as wood or premium shingles, comes in slate, shingle, or wood shake forms, and is backed by a 50 year warrantee. Other high-tech roofs use earthstone granules and acrylic resins bonded to aluminum or glavanized steel bases to capture the pleasing aesthetics of tile, and the rich texutre and strong shadow lines of hand-split shake. These extremely lightweight roofs carry a Class A fire rating as well, and are available in a wide variey of styles and colors. Generally speaking, the high-tech roofs can be expensive, but the cost must be weighed against durability backed by 40-50 year warranties.
Next Section: When Should You Reroof Your Home?