I get where you’re coming from about the color mismatch—seen it myself.
That’s been a headache for a few of my buildings, especially after a couple repairs. But with clay, I’ve had to deal with cracked tiles after hail, and tracking down matching replacements isn’t always as easy as folks think. Does anyone else notice clay tiles can get slippery with moss in shaded spots? I’m not totally sold either way—just seems like every option’s got its own set of trade-offs.“Composite fading isn’t just a siding problem... some roofs fade patchy too.”
Yeah, I’ve run into that moss issue on clay tiles too—especially on the north side where the sun barely hits. Nearly slipped off once trying to clean it up, so I hear you. And matching old clay tiles after a storm? That’s a scavenger hunt. Composite’s fading bugs me, but at least repairs blend in a bit easier. Honestly, every roof I’ve had has come with its own set of headaches... just gotta pick your battles, I guess.
Clay tiles look gorgeous, but man, I’ve had my share of headaches with them too. I’m in the Pacific Northwest, so moss is basically a given—especially on the shady side. I tried that “gentle pressure wash” trick once and ended up with a cracked tile and a bruised ego. Not my proudest moment. And yeah, finding a match for a tile from the ‘70s? Good luck. I ended up with a patchwork roof for a while before I just leaned into it and called it “character.”
I get the appeal of composite, especially when it comes to repairs. The fading bugs me too, but at least you don’t have to hunt down a unicorn every time a storm rolls through. Still, I keep coming back to the eco side of things. Clay’s natural, lasts forever if you can keep it together, and doesn’t end up in a landfill as fast as some of the newer materials.
That said, I’ve been eyeing green roofs lately—like, actual living roofs with sedum and all that. They’re not for everyone (and definitely not cheap up front), but the insulation and stormwater benefits are hard to ignore. Plus, no moss issues because you want stuff growing up there anyway. My neighbor put one on his garage, and it’s wild how much cooler his place stays in summer.
Maintenance is always going to be a thing no matter what you pick. I guess for me, I’d rather deal with moss than plastic waste or constant replacements. But ask me again after the next big windstorm and I might change my tune...
I tried that “gentle pressure wash” trick once and ended up with a cracked tile and a bruised ego.
Been there—pressure washers and old clay tiles are a dicey combo. I’ve got a similar patchwork situation after a windstorm last winter, and honestly, I kind of dig the mismatched look now. The green roof idea’s super tempting, especially with all the rain we get here. Have you looked into what kind of structural support you’d need for that? My house is from the ‘50s and I’m not sure it could handle the extra weight.
That’s exactly what I’m worried about with our place—built in ‘52, and I have no clue how much weight those rafters can actually take. The idea of a green roof is awesome, but I keep reading mixed things about retrofitting older homes for that kind of load. Did you ever get anyone out to check yours? Part of me just wants to stick with the patchwork tiles and call it “character,” you know?
