Architectural asphalt shingles
- Typical lifespan in Atlanta: 20–25 years
- Cost: the lowest of the systems here, and the best value
- Pros: affordable, fast to install (often one day), wide color choice, easy to repair, impact-resistant options available
- Cons: shortest lifespan, can be damaged by hail and high winds
Best for most homes, especially if you may sell within 15–20 years. Roof replacement
Standing seam metal
- Typical lifespan: 40–70 years
- Cost: roughly two to three times architectural shingles
- Pros: very long life, concealed fasteners, sheds rain and pine straw, reflects summer heat, clean modern look
- Cons: higher up-front cost, needs a skilled metal crew for the details
Best for long-term owners, modern and farmhouse styles, and porch and bay accents. Standing seam metal
Natural slate
- Typical lifespan: 75–100+ years
- Cost: among the highest
- Pros: the longest-lasting roof there is, fireproof, timeless look
- Cons: very heavy, expensive, breaks under careless foot traffic, needs a specialty crew
Best for historic and high-end homes. Existing slate is usually worth repairing. Slate roofing
Clay and concrete tile
- Typical lifespan: 50–100 years for the tile. The underlayment underneath often needs replacing at 25–40 years.
- Cost: high
- Pros: durable, distinctive Mediterranean and Spanish look
- Cons: heavy, cracks when walked on, underlayment failure causes leaks
Best for homes designed for tile. Spanish and concrete tile
Brava composite (synthetic slate, tile and shake)
- Typical lifespan: decades. Check the manufacturer's current warranty terms.
- Cost: above metal in most cases, below natural slate
- Pros: looks like slate, tile or shake, much lighter, impact resistant, walkable
- Cons: costs more than shingles and metal, looks molded up close
Best for replacing failing tile, or getting a slate look without slate weight. Brava composite
Copper
- Typical lifespan: 70–100+ years
- Cost: the highest per square foot. Usually used for accents.
- Pros: extremely long life, develops a natural patina, works beautifully with slate and stone
- Cons: cost, needs a skilled hand for soldered and seamed details
Best for bay windows, porches, dormers and historic details. Copper roofing
Flat and low-slope roofs: TPO, PVC, EPDM and mod bit
- TPO: heat-welded white membrane, about 20–30 years, the best value for most flat roofs. TPO
- PVC (Duro-Last): factory-prefabricated, grease and chemical resistant, strongest for restaurants. Duro-Last PVC
- EPDM: black rubber, often 20–30 years. Seams are the weak point. EPDM
- Modified bitumen: tough multi-ply asphalt, about 15–25 years, common on porches. Mod bit
How to choose
- Staying 5–15 years? Architectural shingles almost always make the most financial sense.
- Staying 20+ years? Price out standing seam. One metal roof can outlast two or three shingle roofs.
- Historic or high-end home? Slate, copper and tile, or Brava when weight or budget is a concern.
- HOA? Check approved materials and colors first. We help with architectural review submissions.
Want to see options side by side for your home? We'll quote more than one system on request. See what goes into roof pricing.