More info about Rubber roofs:

How Rubber Roofs work

Source: http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/materials/rubber-roofs.htm

With the exception of those ra­re home repair enthusiasts, one of the most dreaded projects for homeowners is roof repair. A leaky roof can cause major damage to the structure of your home and, if left unchecked, could eventually lead to the damage of many possessions inside your home. Asphalt shingles, which are what you’ll find on most roofs, generally only last 15 to 20 years and can require a lot of maintenance and upkeep.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the exhausting process of roof repair and maintenance with asphalt shingles, you may want to consider rubber roofing. Worried that rubber roofing sounds like stretching out a dozen Goodyear treads over your home? Don’t worry, although rubber roofing materials can come in a roll for buildings with flat roofs, you can also buy rubber shingles, which look much like slate shingles and come in a variety of colors and designs

Rubber Roofing Shingles

Source: http://www.roofery.com/shingles/rubber.html

Rubber roofing shingles are a new technology that incorporates recycled products and creates shingles that resemble more traditional shingle types (such as cedar shake, tile, and slate). These rubber shingles closely resemble the “real” shingles, but are available at a fraction of the price and a fraction of the overall weight. Rubber shingles are made of recycled rubber tires, plastic bags, pvc pipe, etc. These shingles also frequently incorporate recycled parts of other materials — for instance, shingles made to look like cedar shakes will often include saw dust from saw mills, slate-like shingles will include actual slate dust from recycled slate shingles.

Rubber shingles are a great alternative to standard roofing materials, especially on historical homes. For home owners that want to preserve the integrity of the look of their home, rubber shingles can easily mimic the look at a fraction of the cost. They are also excellent for withstanding pests, resistant to breaking or cracking, fire resistant, providing waterproofing options for roofs, as well as providing great insulation for the home.

How are Rubber Shingles made?

Rubber shingles are made using recycled tires. The tirewall section is removed from the tire and the tread section is cut into sections. The actual tread is buffed off from the section and the rubber shingle is coated with either sawdust or slate dust. The tread pieces are left in fairly large pieces so that the shingle benefits from the steel belting originally found in the tire. A plastic tab is attached to the shingle to facilitate the actual nailing of the shingle to the roof.

Other rubber, or synthetic, shingles are made of recycled materials heated and injected into high pressure molds. These shingles imitate cedar shake, clay tile or slate shingles, but at only a fraction of the weight.