For years, the standard roof for most homes was some type of wood shake shingle. As the quality of homes improved and the environment changed, people started noticing wood roofs were not such a good idea.

There were a couple of clear problems. The first, of course, was your average wood shingle tends to be flammable during fires as seen every few years in Southern California. Second, the shingles are not good insulators, meaning high utility bills.

If not wood shingle roofing, then what? The answer for most people has been the tile roof. Tile has the benefits of being extremely fire resistant, easy to maintain and very durable.

Unlike many roofing systems, a tile roof is a solid roof. It can bake in the sun all day and naturally sheds water in rain storms. If a tile breaks, you can simply replace it without having to tear up chunks of the roof.

Tiles are also a great choice for roofing when it comes to maintenance. Other roofs are easily damaged by sitting water, tree limbs and so on. This is not the case with a tile roof. Even if a problem arises, the repair is usually quick and cheap.

How reliable are tile roofs? Extremely. In fact, most manufacturers will guarantee them for no less than 40 years. For most people, this essentially means your roof is guaranteed longer than you are expected to live.

Your roof obviously has to protect you from rain, but what about fire? This is where tile roofing really stands out. Simply put, it really does not burn. In fact, many communities with fire problems now mandate tile roofing.

If you are looking for a roof that you know will last and protect your home from the elements, there is really only one choice. The tile roof is simply the standard these days whether you live in an area with fires or not.