Of all the upgrades and renovations that a homeowner can make, installing a new roof is an especially smart choice. Physically, the roof is one of the biggest major components of a home, but emotionally, it is much more than that. A "roof over your head" is what protects the homeowner and their family from the elements and keeps the house warm and cozy. Whether they're looking into reroofing due to damage, or are constructing a new home, choosing what materials to use for the roof repair or construction is one of the most important decisions homeowners will have to make.

Common options for reroofing include asphalt, slate and synthetic slate, tile and natural wood. Each roofing material has it own specific benefits.

Asphalt Shingle Roofs:

Asphalt shingles, the most common reroofing material used today, are made of several layers: an inner reinforcing mat, a hard asphalt and mineral coating, a mineral granule surface, and a mineral dust coating on the back. Asphalt shingles are a great value and tend to cost less than other options. They wear well and are less expensive to replace as they age. Asphalt shingles are also available in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes to fit any home.

For homeowners looking for a reroofing material with a bit more style or panache, slate, tile or natural wood roofs usually fit the bill.

Natural Stone and Slate Roofs:

Slate, a natural stone, is incredibly strong and durable. As stone, it has certain safety features that many homeowners find especially attractive; it's fireproof, waterproof and mold-proof. Atlanta slate roofing companies that work with slate often use it to reroof their more upscale homes, as it is a more expensive option than asphalt.

A slate roof is generally a low maintenance roof, although caution should be taken when nonprofessionals are planning to walk on it for gutter cleaning, etc. Reroofing in slate can be an excellent choice when homeowners are interested in increasing the value of their home. Additionally, reroofing with slate is an energy efficient choice: energy bills usually decrease with slate roofs because they have insulating capabilities to keep air temperatures moderate. Aesthetically, slate is usually very pleasing. It provides a very crisp, natural look that can be laid in different patterns.

Clay and Concrete Tile Roofs:

Reroofing can also be done in clay or concrete tile, which comes in a variety of styles. Similar to slate, tile is fireproof, waterproof and mold-proof, which makes it very low maintenance. Most Atlanta roofing companies that install tile roofs do caution homeowners that the heavy tiles can sometimes require additional roof support. Homeowners often seek out tile reroofing for the southwestern, Spanish or Italian look it evokes.

Natural Wood Roofs:

Natural wood shakes are another highly popular choice recommended by many Atlanta, GA roofing contractors. Color, cut and width variations help ensure that each homeowner's roof will be unique once it's been reroofed in natural wood. Roofing contractors will caution that wood is a higher maintenance roof; it does require appropriate care in order to keep it free from rot, mold and insects. Pressure treating and coating with fire retardant products can add to the life of a wood shake roof. Cedar is often the wood recommended most by roofing contractors due to the high quality shingles that can be produced from it.