You might be holding off on some "elective" home improvements during these tough economic times, but roofing and siding are among the five home repairs you shouldn't ignore.

In the June 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, our tests of dozens of roofing and siding products revealed 19 top picks that combine strength, style, and value. Two brands of roofing provided the more architecturally pleasing, layered look of dimensional shingles for a lower price than some flatter, three-tabbed shingles. And price was no guarantee of performance: One shingle that cost $340 per 100 square feet—five times the price of some of our top picks—ranked low in the ratings. For more on how price relates to performance, read our report on roofing and siding, which includes ratings of both products (report and ratings available to subscribers).

Some plastic siding panels molded to mimic wood shakes or shingles and fiber-cement clapboard looked even more like the real thing. One plastic siding that costs $315 per 100 square feet outscored two other pricier brands, and a brand that cost only $215 per square didn't resist fading well, but could be viable for well-shaded walls.

We found one fiber-cement siding product that cost only $70 per square but scored only fair for impact resistance.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Read about five easy home spruce-ups you can do to boost curb appeal and find out which projects are best to do in the spring.