I’ve managed a handful of properties with both slate and composite roofs, and honestly, the difference in day-to-day headaches is pretty noticeable. Slate looks gorgeous, no doubt, but I swear, every time we had a hailstorm or even just a rough winter, I’d be up there checking for cracks or loose pieces. And then you’re hunting down a matching tile, which is never as easy as the sales guys make it sound.
With composite, yeah, you get some fading—especially in places like Texas where the sun just bakes everything. One building I look after has a south-facing roof that’s definitely lighter than when it was installed five years ago. But unless you’re standing right up close, it’s not super obvious. What’s been more important for us is that we haven’t had to deal with leaks or emergency repairs nearly as often. That’s a huge relief, especially when you’re juggling multiple properties.
I do wish manufacturers were clearer about what goes into these tiles. “Recycled content” could mean anything from old tires to plastic bottles... or just marketing fluff. I tried to get a straight answer once and ended up with a glossy brochure and not much else. Still, I’ll take that over the constant maintenance slate seemed to need.
One thing I’ve noticed is composite tends to muffle rain noise better than metal or even asphalt. Tenants have actually commented on how much quieter it is during storms. That’s not something I expected to matter, but it does make a difference.
If I had to nitpick, the only real downside so far has been the warranty language. “Excessive fading” is so vague—what’s excessive to me might not be to them. But compared to tracking down a roofer every time a tile cracks? I’ll live with some color change. At least the roof’s doing its job.