I’m in an area where we get those wild temp swings and the occasional hail storm, so I wonder if I traded one headache for another.
That’s the trade-off, right? Less moss but maybe more cracks. I’ve seen composite hold up pretty well in my neighborhood, but we had a gnarly hail storm last year and a couple folks did end up with some cracked shingles—mostly on older installs though. From what I’ve noticed, the newer composite stuff seems tougher than what was out there 10-15 years ago. Still, if you get those big temp swings (like 70° one day, snow the next), composite can get a bit brittle over time.
Honestly, I’d take a broom to moss over patching hail cracks any day, but that’s just me. If you’re worried about brittleness, it might be worth checking what brand you got—some are way better at flexing with the weather than others. And yeah, installation matters too... if they nailed 'em down too tight, that’s asking for trouble when things expand and contract.
Not saying you made a bad call—just gotta pick your battles with these roofs.
You’re not wrong to wonder if you just swapped one hassle for another. I’ve seen plenty of folks in my area (Midwest, so we get those wild temp swings and hail too) go through the same debate. Honestly, composite has come a long way—some of the newer stuff is way more resilient than what was on the market even a decade ago. But yeah, nothing’s totally bulletproof when you’re dealing with golf ball-sized hail or 40-degree temp drops overnight.
I get where you’re coming from about moss vs. cracks. Personally, I’d rather deal with a few cracked shingles after a freak storm than have to constantly fight off moss and algae every spring. At least with hail damage, insurance usually helps out, but moss is just an endless chore.
If you’re worried about brittleness, you might want to check if your shingles are rated for impact resistance (Class 4 is the gold standard). And like you said, install makes a huge difference—seen too many jobs where tight nailing led to splits after the first cold snap.
Bottom line, you didn’t make a bad call. Every roof’s got its trade-offs, but at least with composite, you’re not scrubbing green fuzz off your roof every year.
- Totally with you on the trade-offs. Composite isn’t magic, but at least you’re not out there with a brush every spring.
- One thing I’ve noticed—composite holds up better to wind than old-school asphalt, but if you get a bad install, you’ll see corners curling fast.
- Insurance is a toss-up. They’ll cover hail, yeah, but getting them to actually pay can be a circus.
- Around here (northern IL), the temp swings make everything brittle eventually. I’d rather patch a crack than deal with rot from moss any day.
- Still, I kinda miss the look of classic asphalt sometimes. New composite’s tough, but some of it just looks... off? Maybe that’s just me.
I hear you on the aesthetics—some of the newer composite stuff just doesn’t have that “classic” look, especially when you get up close. I went with composite a few years back after my old asphalt started shedding granules like crazy every spring. The low maintenance is a huge plus, but I’ve noticed the edges can start to lift if the installer skimps on nails or doesn’t line things up right. Wind’s not as big an issue for me (central IN), but we do get those wild temp swings and ice storms, so I wanted something that wouldn’t crack or curl as fast.
Insurance… yeah, that’s a whole other headache. My adjuster tried to tell me hail “wasn’t the cause” of my last leak, even though there were dents everywhere. Took three calls and a lot of photos before they finally caved.
Honestly, I’d rather deal with a brittle shingle than moss rot too. At least with composite, I’m not up there scraping green fuzz off every year. Still, if someone could make a composite that actually looks like weathered asphalt, I’d be first in line.
At least with composite, I’m not up there scraping green fuzz off every year.
Yeah, the moss battle is real—my old place had shade and I swear the roof was greener than the lawn half the year. Here’s my step-by-step on what’s kept me sane: 1) If you go composite, really watch the install. I learned the hard way that cheap labor = wavy edges. 2) Ask about wind ratings even if you’re not in tornado alley—those “random” gusts can still peel up corners. 3) Don’t trust your insurance guy to spot hail damage… take your own pics before and after storms. It’s not perfect, but at least I’m not up there with a putty knife anymore.
