Trimming back those overhanging branches made more of a difference than any shingle brand or color swap ever did for my main roof.
Honestly, that’s been my experience too. I tried the “moss-resistant” shingles—paid extra, but moss still crept in after a couple years. Cheaper asphalt was easier to patch up, but composite does look nicer longer. Has anyone actually seen a big difference in lifespan between the two if you keep up on the cleaning? Or is it just marketing hype?
I had the same debate when I bought my place last year—went back and forth between composite and basic asphalt. Ended up with composite, mostly because the warranty was longer and I liked the look. But honestly, after a year of living with it, I’m not convinced the extra cost is worth it if you’re on top of maintenance. I’m in the Pacific Northwest, so moss is a constant battle. Even with the “moss-resistant” label, I still have to get up there every spring and clear stuff off, especially under the trees.
One thing I did notice: composite seems to hold up better to the freeze-thaw cycles we get here. The old asphalt shingles on my garage started curling and cracking after a couple rough winters, but the composite on the house is still flat. Not sure if that’s just because they’re newer, though.
If you’re good about cleaning and trimming branches, I’d say the difference in lifespan isn’t as dramatic as the marketing suggests. The main thing for me has been keeping debris off and making sure gutters don’t back up. That’s made more of a difference than the shingle type, honestly.
Interesting you mention the freeze-thaw cycles—I've seen a lot of roofs around here where the older asphalt just can't keep up after a few rough winters. But I do wonder, did you notice any difference in noise during heavy rain between the two types? Some folks say composites are quieter, but I haven't really seen that play out much. Also, curious if you had any issues with granule loss yet, or is that more of an asphalt thing in your experience?
Some folks say composites are quieter, but I haven't really seen that play out much.
I’m with you there—haven’t noticed a huge difference in rain noise myself. Maybe a bit less with composite, but nothing dramatic. As for granule loss, asphalt’s definitely worse in my experience, especially after hail. Have you had any trouble with ice dams on either type? That’s been a bigger headache for me than noise.
Funny, I actually thought composite was a bit louder during heavy rain at my aunt’s place—maybe it’s the attic insulation or roof pitch, not just the shingle type? Ice dams have been a pain for us too, but honestly, I’ve seen them form on both. The only time I noticed less trouble was after we beefed up the attic ventilation, not when we swapped shingles.