Traditional roofing materials have fallen out of favor due to their maintenance requirements and weight, especially in the case of clay and slate tiles, but the aesthetic they provide is still highly desirable. That’s where modern roofing comes in. With new technology and methods, modern roof materials can mimic the look of traditional materials without the maintenance or weight of the natural materials.
Modern roof materials also include new aesthetics, like metal roofing. Modern roofs can also create an improvement on traditional materials, such as a sod roof, which, rather than making up the entire roof, can be worked in with other modern roof materials to create a green rooftop oasis. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know to pick the right roofing material for your home. Let’s get started!
The Best Modern Roofing Materials
When you start to explore modern roof materials, you’ll find more options than ever before that balance style, performance, and long-term value. You’re no longer limited to heavy clay, high-maintenance wood, or fragile stone. Instead, residential modern roof materials deliver better durability with far less upkeep. Here’s a closer look at seven of the best modern roofing materials available today.
1. Metal Roofing
Metal roofing can be installed in sheets or as metal roof tiles. It can last between 40 and 70 years, and some metal roofs have a wind rating up to 160 mph. Metal roofing is also impact-resistant and fire-resistant. This type of material can be expensive, and while today’s metal roofs are much quieter than they have been in the past, they can still be noisy during heavy rain or hail.
Color can fade over time, and if repairs are needed down the road, it may be difficult to get a perfect color match. Metal roofs are often used in areas with significant snowfall because the snow will slide off the roof, which lessens the load that rests on it. However, it can also lead to snow accumulation beneath the eaves.
2. Grass/Green Roofing
In the early days of civilization, people lacked access to manufactured goods and relied almost solely on natural materials. In some cultures, like Scandinavian, homes were built into the ground or below ground level to reduce the amount of building materials needed to construct the home.
Early homes often used sod and grass as a roofing material. Not only was sod natural and easily accessible, but it also has insulative properties, to keep the home cool in the summer and retain heat in the winter.
Today’s green roofs look decidedly different from early sod roofs, but they serve similar functions. Often, the green roof is made up of carefully planned gardens and vegetation that aid in reducing runoff by absorbing rainfall.
Green roofs that consist of rooftop gardens and vegetation aren’t possible in every scenario, but they are ideal for commercial, residential, institutional, and multi-family buildings that meet certain criteria, including roof pitch, structural capacity, roof access, roof type, and building codes.
3. Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles remain one of the most widely used modern roof materials because they deliver a reliable balance of affordability and performance. They’re also available in countless colors and textures, which can help you coordinate with exterior paint, siding, or trim without sacrificing durability.
Another advantage of asphalt shingles is their predictable installation and maintenance patterns. You can repair or replace small sections without redoing the entire roof, which keeps long-term costs manageable. And since it’s been around for so long, installation is a breeze. For many homeowners, this combination of cost and versatility keeps asphalt in the conversation, even as newer modern roof tile materials enter the market.
4. Clay Roof Tiles
Clay tiles have long been admired for their warm, timeless appearance for thousands of years. It performs well in hot climates because it naturally reflects heat and allows air to circulate beneath the tiles. And for homeowners who want authenticity, clay continues to be one of the most recognizable modern house roof materials available.
The performance benefits of clay also extend beyond aesthetics. These tiles hold up exceptionally well in fire-prone regions and resist rot, pests, and UV damage. However, their weight requires reinforced roof structures, and repairs should be handled by pros experienced with brittle materials. This is not the roofing material for an amateur DIYer.
5. Composite Spanish Barrel Tiles
Traditional Spanish barrel tiles are made with clay that has been formed by hand over a barrel, post, or pole, and dried or fired until they become a roof tile. Both beautiful and durable, barrel tiles have been known to last over 100 years. Clay tiles, on the other hand, are heavy and require added structural support to hold their weight. They are also difficult to walk on and should be installed and repaired by qualified professionals.
To capture the style and traditional look of clay barrel tiles, modern methods and technology have made it possible to recreate the look of this beautiful material, but without the weight and maintenance that they require.
Composite Spanish barrel tiles are made from recycled rubber and plastics and are a lightweight and durable roofing option that doesn’t require additional structural support. They don’t require any maintenance to keep them looking beautiful, so they will save you time and money over the course of their life.
One of the draws of traditional clay tiles is the way that they weather over time, by revealing a naturally variegated terra cotta color. Brava’s Spanish Barrel Tiles are individually colored to mimic this natural weathering while giving you more control over the final result. We offer nature-inspired hues that range from the dark and brooding Arendale to traditional Terra Cotta and French Clay that create an authentic aesthetic.
6. Composite Cedar Shake
Natural cedar shake tiles were used because of the accessibility of natural materials. Crafting logs into cedar shake tiles created roofing materials that were naturally rot and insect-resistant, and that lent a rustic aesthetic to early homes.
Wood tiles tend to absorb water, fade, cup, and split over time, leading to the need for upkeep and repairs over the life of the tiles. Composite Cedar Shakes, however, create the traditional, natural feel but without the maintenance.
Our easy-to-install Cedar Shake roofing mimics the look of hand-split cedar by using molds cast from hand-split Western Red Cedar shakes. This allows us to create tiles that look organic and don’t have repetitive patterns. You can also choose from a range of colors created from natural minerals to give you control over the final aesthetic.
7. Composite Slate Tile
Natural slate tiles are made by mining slabs of slate, splitting them into thin sheets, and then cutting them to size. Slate is a beautiful and durable material that has been used since the 1300s, and it appeared in America in the 1600s. With the opening of the first quarry in 1735, it became a popular roofing material that could last up to 200 years. As with any natural material, there are downsides. Slate can chip and flake, which can lead to expensive repairs, and the weight of slate tiles requires structural reinforcements.
Composite slate tiles are a modern alternative that allows you to create the aesthetic of Old World slate without the maintenance and weight concerns. Brava Old World Slate roof tiles are cast from pieces of hand-chiseled slate to give them the natural edges and thick profile that captures the essence of their natural inspiration.
The Rising Popularity of Composite Roofing Materials
Composite roofing has quickly become one of the fastest-growing modern roof materials in both residential and commercial applications. When you choose composite roofing, you get the aesthetic benefit of cedar, slate, or Spanish barrel tile while eliminating the issues that come with natural products, such as cracking, rotting, heavy weight, and ongoing maintenance.
You also get a roof that performs consistently across many different climates, from intense heat to harsh winters. For homeowners and designers who want traditional aesthetics without traditional drawbacks, composite roofing systems offer an ideal balance that’s right for any home. But the benefits don’t stop there.
The Benefits of Composite Roofing
When you invest in composite tiles for your modern roof materials, you get a combination of style, longevity, and high-performance engineering that few other products can match. Here are some of the biggest benefits of composite roofing:
Superior Longevity: Composite tiles are engineered to withstand decades of weathering, ensuring that your roof remains strong and beautiful long after traditional materials begin to fail.
Lightweight Construction: Composite tiles weigh far less than natural slate or clay, so they don’t require structural reinforcement or special framing.
Low Maintenance: Composite roofing tiles don’t split, rot, crack, or demand ongoing sealing.
High Impact and Wind Resistance: You can count on composite materials to stand up to hail, debris, and high-wind conditions, even in regions that experience a lot of inclement weather.
Eco-Friendly Design: At Brava, our composite products are made with recycled materials, reducing environmental impact without compromising strength.
The Brava Difference
At Brava, we lead the industry by combining advanced engineering with artistry, giving you modern roof tile materials that outperform natural alternatives across every category. When you work with us, you partner with a team of experts who understand the complexities of designing durable, architectural-grade roofs.
Our products are tested for extreme weather, long-term color performance, and structural stability. Plus, we understand the importance of style. You might prefer the rustic charm of Cedar Shake, the luxury of Old World Slate, or the timeless warmth of Spanish Barrel Tile, and we offer a composite roofing tile molded and designed entirely around each original style.
That means you get the character and texture you love with the performance of cutting-edge technology. For architects, contractors, and homeowners who want dependable modern house roof materials, Brava offers a level of reliability and beauty that’s impossible to ignore.
Choose Brava’s Modern Roofing Materials for Your Project
Brava’s craftsmanship and commitment to honoring the beauty and tradition of natural materials means that you’ll get high-quality, commercial and residential modern roof materials that stand the test of time, and it even comes with a 50-year limited transferable warranty.
Contact the experts at Brava today to discover modern building materials and designs for your project!
