Rambo and Rocky: Two Roofing Heavyweights
When it comes to roofing materials, the two toughest on the market have to be slate and tile. Each can literally last a lifetime, and their insulate properties make them very energy efficient, too. Tile roofing looks as good on a home as Mr. Balboa does in the ring, and with a life expectancy of 70 years or more, there’s no doubt that a tile roof will go the distance and leave its opponents in the dust. Much like tile’s tougher, darker counterpart, slate roofing can easily be the Rambo of roofing materials. Some slate roofs installed a century ago are still functioning well and protecting the homes underneath them like their lives depended on it. This kind of quality doesn’t come cheap, however. Due to their tremendous weight, both slate and tile roof installation often requires adding supplemental structural support; add that to the high cost of materials, and you’re looking at a decent chunk of change. Another notable drawback to tile and slate roofing is that each is quite brittle; when walking on a slate or tile roof, even the best intentioned homeowner might accidentally become a Demolition Man.

Metal Shingles and Panels: Roofing’s Cliffhanger
Light, strong, and agile, metal roofing is becoming more popular in new construction and roof replacements for good reason. Less expensive than tile or slate, but nearly as tough, many metal roofs carry a lofty warranty (some are covered for 40 years, or even more!) and will require little maintenance over their lifetimes. Unfortunately, as Sly’s Cliffhanger character so succinctly put it while burning $100 bills to stay warm, it costs a fortune to heat this place. Metal roofing is, by itself, a terrible insulator. However, because it is so lightweight and maneuverable, it is often possible to install metal roofing directly on top of existing roofing materials; this allows you to get the superior protection of a metal roof without sacrificing the insulation you already have. If installing a metal roof on a new home or completely replacing an existing roof with a metal one, make sure to install adequate insulation if you want to keep your house from feeling like high camp during cold winter months.