Most homeowners are surprised to learn that major elements of their home are not designed to last as long as the rest of the home. One example is the roof over your head. Some roofs will last 80 years while some will only hold out for 15.

The anticipated lifespan of a roof can vary wildly. While factors like material types and the quality of installation are certainly paramount issues, the biggest issue is really the wear and tear that nature puts on a roof.

Think about it. The average roof takes a beating. 365 days a year it just sits and bakes in the sun. It expands as it heats up during the day and then contracts as it cools off at night. It gets pummeled by rain, wind and flying objects. Heck, it is pretty amazing it lasts as long as it does.

Given the beating a roof takes, it is not surprising that the type of roofing material used makes a huge difference. A slate rock roof is like putting tank armor on your home. It is going to last for at least 70 years, but it is going to cost you an arm and leg to buy and install.

If you have a small budget, the cheapest roof system available is the infamous wood shake shingle roof. Well, it is cheap to buy and install, but will cost you in the long run. Why? It will only last between 10 and 25 years.

An additional concern with wood shingles is obviously the fire issue. Wood and fire are a bad mix. If you must go with wood shingle roofing, make sure you get a fire retardant treated shingle set. It will not stop them from catching on fire, but will make it more difficult.

Is there a compromise between slate and wood roofs? Most people believe tile roof systems fit the bill. They are not as cheap as wood shingle roof systems, but will not burn. They are a lot cheaper than slate roofs, but have the minor issue of only lasting 40 years or so. Still, it is a good compromise system.

One really interesting new type of roofing you might want to check out is solar shingle roofing. These roofs come in rolls that are spread out in vertical columns down your roof. They are layered so that they look like flat shingles overlapping from top to bottom.

The solar shingle is pretty amazing. Initially, it turns your roof into an energy producer. In some states, you can feed that energy into the local utility system and actually make your meter run backwards, which eliminates your utility bill. Nice, eh?

Sooner or later, you are going to have to improve or replace the roof on your home. Instead of just automatically putting up the same type of roof, take some time to explore your options. You have plenty of choices.