Need help choosing a roof for an old house

Decisions, decisions. Tico's is coming next Friday and I need to choose shingles for my new roof ASAP. I'm working with the GAF Timberline Lifetime Shingles line. (Although if someone makes a compelling case for a product from the Lifetime Designer Shingles series, I will consider it.)

My house, a Gothic Revival cottage, was built in 1857. What would be more historically appropriate -- one of the 3D shingles meant to simulate wood shakes? Or a more flat shingle? If 3D, would I want to go with maximum 3D? (Timberline Ultra HD.) Or would it look fake and weird on my modest little house?

Next, I'll be agonizing over the color selection. I'll post a picture of my house when I get home.

@kmk? Any other architects out there?

I love my standing seam metal roof and I think it would look beautiful on your house. I know it's not something you mentioned, but it would look great. It's mentioned in old house journal regarding appropriate roofing materials, although the modern-day versions are fabricated differently than 150 years ago.

Dang, I didn't even think about a metal roof. I'm finding pictures on Google and they look great. I like the way the seams of the roof continue the vertical lines of the siding.

Do you know what the price is vs. asphalt shingles? Who did your roof? The problem is that my roof urgently needs to be replaced and I don't have much time left before the end of roofing season.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/283515739019548917/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/494340496574745574/

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A metal roof would be beautiful,but much more expensive.

GAF timberline is the roofer's standard in these parts. Every house has it, probably because few people who care about what the roof looks like, and they look fine.

3 tab would be cheaper.

A slate-look shingle like Centennial Highland Slate would look nice, but again, more expensive, but much less than metal.

Depends on your budget and how long you intend to stay in the house and what value you place on how the roof looks.

Ours is most like the third version. (Lowest link). We chose a cottage red or colonial red to match the Spanish terra cotta tiles we (sadly) had to replace, but there are dozens of options. We used Global Home Improvement. I had seen ONE house in our neighborhood and then did a search and found them, coincidentally, they did it.

Here's the thing. They have a LONG sales schtick. The guy, Murray Bernstein or something similar, was an amazing story teller. We spent less than I thought. It's a little more than shingles but we paid about 40% less (or so) than another metal estimate and less than half it would have cost to replace our tile (and significantly less than continuing to repair the tile). They will tell you a price and ask what you can spend. Give them the GAF number and see how close they will get. You never know. (Most like it will be a little more than asphalt but I'm pretty sure you can get a lower price than their initial estimate.)

It's a 50 year warranty and they actually manufacture it very high tech, using images of the top of your house. (Drone? Not sure how they do it.) they then assemble it like a puzzle, with several layers, and there's minimal waste.

It was definitely among the best home improvements we've made, and we've made many.

If you would like to have roofing which are elegant, energy efficient, natural insulation upto 2 times, I would any time suggest all to go with cedar designs. Cedars are naturally beautiful , long lasting practical benefits too. Check this cedar design I found online http://www.royalyorkroofing.ca/services/roofing/ . The graceful and tonal range which include ambers, reds, golds, and browns make them my first choice.

Its dimensional ability, resistance to the elements, workability, strength, insulation, architecturally enhancing appearance are some of the striking features of cedars.