Depend on clay roofing tiles for longevity and beauty

Clay roofing tiles are distinctive, beautiful and come in a range of styles. The styles include Roman, Double Roman, Byzantine, French and Dutch. You can find them in the familiar "barrel" configuration or even interlocking with one another. Clay roofing tiles can even fit around cones or domes, and can include decorative end tiles, finials and other decorative details.

I recommend: Some of the big names in clay roofing tiles are Forever Clay, Ludowici Roof Tile and The Tile Man. The Tile Man includes recycled or salvaged clay tiles in his catalogue, while Forever Clay, based in the US, imports theirs from Greece. The Ludowici family has a long tradition of making clay tiles, dating back to the 1600s.

Enjoy the beauty and price of cement roofing tiles

Cement roofing tiles look very much like their clay counterparts. So much so, it's difficult to tell them apart, never mind discerning the difference once installed on a roof. With textures and colors, the design of cement tile has come long way. They are also less expensive then their clay counterparts.

I recommend: Two manufacturers who create beautiful concrete roofing tiles are Eagle Roofing and Hanson Brick and Tile. For convenience, both companies allow you to view the cement roofing tiles available in your area.

Look into vinyl tile roofing

As more companies try to incorporate the "renew, reduce, recycle" motto into their business plans, advances have come in engineered building products. An example of this is vinyl and plastic tile roofing. These products look very much like roofing tiles, and yet are plastic, recycled vinyl and cellulose fiber.

I recommend: Two companies who make vinyl tile roofing are Re-New Wood and Ecostar. Both companies pride themselves in the use of recycled products in the creation of their products.