If you have asphalt shingles and you want to use a different roofing material, like metal or tile, chances are you will be able to. Two main factors will affect whether or not you can have a different type of roof installed. First is the slope of your roof. Certain materials, like slate, are ideally installed on steep slopes. The other factor is the weight of the material you want to use. A roofer can install a metal roof on just about any home, thanks to how lightweight metal roofs are. But materials like tile and slate are much heavier, so they can't be used as freely.