Years ago, I was working with a client and the topic of roof material arose.  I started talking about all the options appropriate for her new house and she exclaimed “Before this discussion, I don’t think I’ve ever even looked at a roof before!”  I was shocked. I then realized most normal (read: non-designers) don’t notice these kinds of things.  Roofs are more than just mere shelter, the material that covers them is an important selection in the architectural process.  And in this world of a million choices, my job is often editor.   Roof coverings come in a variety of  materials; choosing the correct one is based almost entirely on the style of the house.  Of course, budget is always a consideration, too.  The following are roof materials we most often use and reasonings behind their selection.  The materials are listed from least expensive to most:

 Asphalt 
As a rule, we don’t use a lot of asphalt shingles as we tend to lean toward more natural materials. This diamond shaped shingle, however, is a good economical solution for camp type structures like lake and mountain houses. And it beautifully recalls the WPA structures popular in National Parks.

Metal
Metal roofing, which is a sheet material, works well on beach houses and farm structures. We do a lot of rustic galvanized installations as the silver coloration ages well over time settling into a muted, gray tone.

Cedar
Cedar shingles are very versatile in terms of style. They work well on a humble English country house (emulating the look of more expensive thatch) and are equally at home on formal European inspired homes. Wood shingles come in two types – hand split (pictured above) and machine sawn. The machine sawn are better used on edgier, transitional houses. Cedar provides a splendid textural appearance and, given the two shingle types, can go from shaggy dog to clean and tailored.

Concrete
Lately, we’ve been using flat concrete shingles on a lot of coastal houses. If you coat the shingles in a colored elastomeric coating, it duplicates the appearance of the stunning stepped stone roofs found in Bermuda. Writer and photographer Lynn Nesmith (credited with the picture above) said the roof had a “very polite profile” silhouetted against the teal Gulf.

Slate
Slate shingles are the first rung on the economic ladder of a “permanent roof”. They are available in lovely natural colors ranging from dark gray to purplish green and come in varying thicknesses and exposures. With these color and texture ranges, they are best used on European-inspired and traditional American style houses. They also work equally well on contemporary structures.

Clay barrel tile
Newly manufactured clay tile roof shingles come in lots of shapes and colors but we rarely use these as they always look too monochromatic and just scream “beach condo.” We like to use reclaimed tiles as they already have years of age built in. It’s impossible to duplicate this patina with a new tile roof. The house pictured above has a roof that was salvaged from a demolished 1920s government building in California. There are a number of architectural salvage companies who specialize in obtaining these antique roofs. Any Mediterranean style home welcomes these shingles.

Thatch
Thatch has been used in Europe for centuries but is pretty uncommon stateside. We began using it a few years ago by importing craftsmen and material from Ireland. Due to our increased use, a few brilliant installers have immigrated to our shore and now work in the US. Its pastoral, romantic beauty cannot be duplicated by any available product. Thatch is perfect for all things English, tropical or anything exotic. As of this writing, it seems to be holding up well in a number of our domestic climates but does require maintenance as birds occasionally raid the reeds for their nests.

English clay tile
These small shingles from England are handmade – they literally have the maker’s handprint embedded on the backside. They come in a few colors but this “topsoil” colored shingle is our favorite. They are used mainly in Europe for restorations but are fabulous for new French and English houses. Incomparable in their field, they instantly age a newly built house. They also come complete with beautifully integrated ridge and hip caps.

After our meeting, my aforementioned client was well versed in the world of roof materials.  I hope this inspires you to occasionally look up and behold what blankets the roofs over our heads.

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