These are produced from fiberglass sandwiched between ceramic granules and asphalt. The fiberglass provides the strength, whilst the asphalt provides waterproofing. The ceramic granules ideally give shingles their color and help to deflect UV light. Asphalt shingles can also be relatively light, very easy to install, and usually inexpensive, causing them to be a fantastic option for most residential houses.

Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) consists of a single-ply membrane that's made up of different synthetic materials using a fabric reinforcement scrim that can help to stabilize and strengthen the membrane for increased performance. It generally includes a smattering of several types of rubber, which can be usually a mix of ethylene-propylene and polypropylene rubber. TPO has increasingly become loved by commercial roofing, specifically for use in flat roofs. It's recognized for being able to deflect Ultra violet rays and conserving energy to help reduce energy costs.

Roof coating ideally adds another layer of protection with an already existing roof, ideally giving it a longer lifespan. Some of the common forms of roof coatings include silicone, acrylic, polyurethane, asphalt, and elastomeric.

All these have its own advantages and drawbacks, with several options to take into consideration.

Flat roofs are an early kind of roofing mostly used in parched climates, ideally allowing the rooftop space for use like a living roof or even a liveable space. Flat roofs are typically made out of reinforced concrete, bricks, flat stone supported on rolled steel joints, tiles, etc. Usually, flat roofs include a slight slope to provide drainage. Many commercial buildings will often have flat roofs.