That’s interesting—my experience lines up with yours on insulation making a bigger dent in utility bills than the roof swap. But I do think composite tiles have a big edge on the maintenance side, especially in wetter climates where moss is relentless. Did you notice any difference in noise during rain or hail? I’ve had tenants mention composite is a bit quieter than metal, but I haven’t seen much data. And yeah, the recycling thing... it’s wild how few contractors even consider it. I wonder if that’ll change as more cities push for green building codes.
Yeah, I’ve noticed composite tiles are way quieter than metal when it pours—no more feeling like you’re inside a drum set during a hailstorm. Moss is still a pain here (PNW), but at least the tiles don’t rust. Recycling though... most crews I’ve worked with just toss the old stuff. Wonder if that’ll ever really change or if it’s just talk.
Yeah, the noise difference is wild. I used to have a metal roof on my old place and every time it rained hard, it was like living inside a snare drum. The composite tiles are way more chill—just a dull patter, even in those sideways PNW storms. I do miss how fast snow used to slide off the metal, though. With the composites, I’ve had to get up there a couple times to knock off the heavy stuff, but that’s probably more about my roof pitch than the material.
Moss is relentless here, no matter what you put up. I tried zinc strips last year and they helped a bit, but the north side still gets that green fuzz. At least with composite, I’m not stressing about rust or corrosion creeping in under the edges. I’ve seen some neighbors with old metal roofs where the moss just eats away at the finish and then you’re dealing with leaks.
The recycling thing bugs me too. When we did our tear-off, I asked the crew about recycling the old asphalt shingles and they just shrugged—said it all goes to the dump unless you specifically arrange something else. I looked into it and apparently there are places that’ll take them for road fill or whatever, but it’s a hassle and costs extra. Seems like one of those things everyone talks about but nobody actually does unless you push for it.
I will say, the composite tiles were pricier up front than I expected, but between the quieter nights and not having to worry about rust or denting from hail, I’m pretty happy with the switch. Just wish there was an easier answer for all the old roofing waste piling up out there... Maybe in a few years it’ll be more standard to recycle, but right now it feels like we’re still in the “good idea, not common practice” phase.
Yeah, the moss is a pain—my north side looks like it’s trying to turn into a chia pet every winter. I tried scrubbing it off once and nearly slid off the roof, so now I just let it be unless it gets out of hand. The recycling thing bugs me too. I called around when we did our tear-off and the only place that would take shingles was 45 minutes away and wanted to charge extra. Not exactly budget-friendly. Still, I’ll take quieter rain over that old metal drumline any day.
Moss is a nightmare on the north side, no doubt. I’ve seen folks try everything from zinc strips to pressure washing, but honestly, nothing’s foolproof. I get the temptation to just leave it unless it starts creeping under the shingles—sometimes messing with it does more harm than good, especially if you’re up there in wet weather.
On the recycling front, yeah, it’s a hassle. Around here (Pacific NW), most dumps won’t touch old shingles unless you pay extra, and even then, they just landfill them. Not great for the wallet or the planet. When I switched to composite tiles last year after a windstorm took out half my roof, I was surprised how much quieter it got inside during rain. Metal’s tough, but that drumline sound drove me nuts at night. Composite isn’t perfect—still gets slick with moss—but at least it’s not as noisy and seems to hold up better in storms so far.
If you’re weighing the pros and cons, I’d say the peace and quiet alone is worth it, but yeah, maintenance never really goes away... just changes shape.
