A roof makes up a large percentage of your house's exterior, so it influences your home's curb appeal besides guarding your living space against the elements.

Throughout our years of working in the roofing industry, some of our favorite jobs have been historical roof restorations. We love the challenge of taking old craftsmanship and either restoring or replicating the material to match the original design. The roof at The Mattamuskeet Lodge proved to be one of these projects.

While cedar is long-lasting, preservation and maintenance can be complicated and even more involved when a historic building is at stake. If you're considering replacing or restoring a cedar roof, follow these tips as you begin the process.

Clay is a versatile roofing material because it can be molded into many different shapes. So, it is ideal for curved, tapered or irregularly-shaped roofs. Because wet clay can be hand-sculpted to produce unique textures and shapes, clay tiles come in many different styles.

What does this mean for your roof? You need protection year-round. The critical considerations for a Texas roof are durability and temperature resistance. You need a roof that can survive harsh winds and impacts while keeping your home cool all summer long. The best roofing material for Texas homes will keep the heat out and stay intact, even in extreme weather.

While living in Florida brings sunshine and warm weather, it also brings intense storms, hurricanes, heavy rain and harsh winds, especially during the summer and fall. These severe weather conditions can blow shingles off of roofs and cause irreversible damage.

Homes in different regions require different kinds of roofing materials. For instance, those in dry, wooded regions are prone to forest fires and must have fireproof roofs, while homes in hot regions need roofs that can reflect sunlight and keep the home cool. Likewise, homes built near the ocean, which are often exposed to wind, salt and humidity, must have roofs that can withstand these elements.

If you own a historic home, your roof does more than just shelter you from the elements — it also imparts much of your home's architectural character. Choosing the wrong roofing material, therefore, can ruin your home's historical charm. Read our guide to learn what a historic roof restoration entails and how to pick the most appropriate roofing material for your historic home.

Get away to an exotic location rich with visual appeal and culture by transforming your home with gorgeous Spanish clay tile roofing. Clay tile roofing is a classic construction material that has been used for thousands of years as a durable and sustainable roofing option, with early examples originating from China around 10,000 B.C. Today, clay tile is growing in popularity for home and property owners because of not only its design-conscious craftsmanship, but also its rich color, stunning appearance and long-lasting qualities that alternative roofing solutions don’t possess.

It's hard to overstate the importance of a good, reliable roof — it protects you from rain and snow, helps you stay warm at night, and safeguards you and your loved ones from the outside world. This is why it's important to keep a close eye on your roof and inspect it regularly for any signs of failure. If you recognize any of the following roof warning signs and take action right away, you could be avoiding more expensive repairs down the road.