What kind of roof is the most durable and maintenance free that exists? I want to build a home that needs very little maintenance.

Hiya, Sher!

Take a look HERE

I like the concrete tiles, I stomp on roofs all the time installing solar systems, and I find these to be the most durable. Rock doesn't burn too easy either. Stay away from delicate material, like spanish tiles. 50 year composite roofs withstand walking on, and are a bit more cost effective than the concrete tiles.

I sold a house last year that had a slate roof over seventy years old. I don't know what it would cost now to duplicate. A neighbor replaced a couple of tiles that were broken and it cost $50 per tile, but fortunately only one or two slate tiles can be replaced as needed. But with copper flashing it is pretty beautiful.

Wood shakes are out then

Metal roofs would perhaps last the longest with the least amount of upkeep for the price. They come in a lot of forms now days, from panels that look like clay rounded tiles to panels that look like wood sake. http://www.custombiltmetals.com/ for an example, look at the gallery to see the faux roof types. Aluminum would be the best bet, since Aluminum doesn’t rust away, and is lighter than tin or steel.

The next close contender would be concrete tiles; again they come in a plethora of shapes and styles. For concrete: http://www.eagleroofing.com/2005/main/index.php

Higher end asphalt shingles are ok, last for decades. They are most commonly used thus are the cheapest roofing material. They are graded by years (20 year shingle) which means they are most likely to last for X number of years plus perhaps a few more depending on the conditions. 20 to 40 year is the range for asphalt: More information: http://www.roofhelp.com/Choices/asphaltshingles/

However Slate (natural slate) although costing up to ten times more than other materials will last a life time and if properly installed will not need maintenance. Same goes for the old half round clay tile – both are dependant on the substructure and proper installing – if installed correctly they will last a life time. These two materials have a high heat load – meaning they absorb and hold on to heat longer than most other materials.

Factors to consider when roofing is the roof Pitch, aesthetics, and the location you plan on building and of course price.

Heat load may be of some interest to you – heat load would in this case mean the absorption and retaining of solar heat, not just a property of color, metals are highly conductive, meaning they absorb and lose heat rapidly, concrete, slate and ceramic tile tends to hold heat longer. This is a doubled edged sword. For slate and concrete in winter this means you will get solar heating. In summer this same process could lead to higher cooling costs. One of the reasons why clay tile is half round is to reduce the amount of clay tile touching the roof sheathing material, it also allows ventilation.

If you plan on an attic and are planning on lots of insulation then the material on the roof is not as important for heat load.

Asphalt and Asphalt Fiberglass shingles are the most popular in North America due to cost, they are the cheapest roofing material on the market.

If your concern is saving money over the long term by not having maintenance... it's a little flawed in this case. You can pay for several asphalt roofs by taking the initial cost and saving it for future. If you have a problem with a slate roof, you are kind of up a creek. The roofers that work with the traditional materials are more expensive than guys who can bang shingles onto a house.

I love slate and tile roofs. I think metal roofs are very interesting and depending on the design, it can be very well done. I think they are all quality materials. If you plan to have several ridges and valleys, I think you should consider going with a less expensive material to repair because there will be problems. Asphalt is a good material and it's easy to find a contractor that works with it.

If it were me... I would save the money and go with asphalt. You can do a lot with that money in the meantime and improve the interior finishes.

Planning on putting on a roof every 15-20 years isn't so hard to do.

Also consider that your structure needs to be sized up if you go with tile or slate. Metal doesn't take any additional except you have to worry about lift off a lot more... wind pulling your roof off so the structure just needs to include some tie-downs. Your initial costs are more than triple for anything other than asphalt.

Oooops! My link certainly got hi-jacked. Sorry, Sher.

I appreciate all your inut. This is just a long slow process of winnowing out what would be the best approach to home building.