More homeowners these days are choosing to cover their roofs with composite roof shingles instead of natural wood or stone. Their beautiful uniform appearance as well as sturdy construction makes them a good alternative to the other more traditional wood, slate or clay options. With composite shingles you get the beauty of a natural product and the strength and durability of a well manufactured product.

Composite shingles have the look and feel of traditional wood or asphalt but they far surpass their competition in durability. Known for their resistance to weather and structural hardiness, these shingles are not susceptible to rot cracking or decay. While most manufactures guarantee their asphalt shingle for 15 to 20 years, composite ones are often backed for 30 to 50 years. In some cases they even have a lifetime guarantee which is relatively unheard of in the roofing industry. Imagine installing your roof one time and never having to replace it again yourself; now that is a great deal!

The composite shingle offers a wide range of options when it comes to colors and sizes. They are usually manufactured in a way in which the colors and styles may be mixed to create a truly custom roof. Some home builders make use of diamond patterned shingles to create an appealing, unique refined look to the roof. Some of the advantages of this type of shingle in comparison to conventional ones are that the tiles are typically fire and wind resistant, easy to maintain and install, and are affordable to the average homeowner. In most cases they are much lighter weight-wise than slate, adding less stress to the roof and structural supporting members. They are also much friendlier to foot traffic.

For those concerned about wanting the 'real feel' and look of a slate roof, keep in mind that in most cases, if you choose to go with composite shingles, you will likely be the only person that knows that it's not real slate. Manufactures have come a long way in simulating the innate tone and even the 'nature' of regular slate, making composite tiles in a way that they will weather over time, just like their natural counterpart.

As a bonus, many manufactures of composite roof tiles use environmentally friendly materials in fabrication giving the homeowner a sense of pride. The best thing about these shingles is that they will last much longer which makes them superior in most opinions to the alternatives that are available on the market to choose from.