Architectural Asphalt Tiles

• A composite of asphalt and fiberglas or natural materials, architectural shingles are heavy, thick and textured. They last about 30 years versus the estimate of 20 years for thinner, plainer, three-tab asphalt tiles.
  
  

Metal Tiles and Panels

• Metal roofing comes in shingles or wide-span panels. Some online sources estimate the life of metal at about 25 years. However, the home improvement website Demesne say it may last up to 50 years.
  
  

Clay Tiles

• The public-private partnership PATH says that traditional clay roofs can endure for 45 years. However, the tiles are vulnerable to fracturing when someone walks on the roof.
  
  

Slate Shingles

• Slate is one of the oldest and most durable kinds of roofing materials. PATH says that it can last 50 years. It is, however, the most expensive material. PATH estimates that it costs about six times as much as 20-year asphalt shingles.