Heat retention was my biggest worry too, especially since my house bakes in the sun all afternoon. I did a side-by-side with a leftover piece of the old slate and a chunk of the composite (I know, super scientific—aka I touched them both after a sunny day). Honestly, the composite got warm, but not any hotter than the slate. If anything, it seemed to cool off a bit faster once the sun dipped. Could just be my imagination, but I haven’t noticed the attic getting any toastier since the switch.
Runoff’s been a mixed bag. The composite tiles are a little smoother, so water slides off faster during heavy rain. That’s great for avoiding puddles, but I did have to add an extra downspout because my gutters were getting overwhelmed in big storms. No weird staining or residue in the runoff so far, which was something I worried about with the mystery ingredients.
I totally get the frustration with “proprietary blend.” I half expected to find out my roof was made of recycled unicorns or something. But after a year, no weird smells, nothing leaching into the garden, and it’s holding up fine through both heat waves and a couple hailstorms.
If you’re in a really hot area, maybe check if they offer lighter colors? Mine’s a medium gray, and it doesn’t seem to soak up heat like the old black slate did. Not sure if that’s universal, but it’s helped here.
Anyway, not perfect, but I haven’t regretted the switch yet. Just wish they’d be more upfront about what’s actually in these things...
Interesting about the runoff—did you notice any difference in how noisy the rain sounds with the composite tiles compared to slate? I’ve heard some folks say composites can be a bit louder, especially during heavy downpours, but maybe that’s more of an issue with metal roofs. Just curious if you picked up on anything like that.
I’m also wondering about the hailstorms you mentioned. Any visible dings or surface damage after those? I know some composites are rated for impact, but I’ve seen mixed reviews depending on the brand and thickness. My neighbor had a composite roof put on last year and after a pretty gnarly hailstorm, there were a few spots where the finish looked scuffed up, though nothing actually broke through.
The lighter color tip is spot on. I’ve seen data showing that even a shade or two lighter can drop surface temps by several degrees, which adds up over a summer. Did you get to see any samples in person before picking your gray? Sometimes what looks “medium” in a brochure ends up way darker once it’s installed.
One thing I keep circling back to is the warranty—did yours come with any kind of guarantee against fading or warping? Some of these proprietary blends seem to have pretty solid coverage, but others are vague about what’s actually included. I’d love to hear if you had to jump through hoops to get clear info from the manufacturer or installer.
And yeah, the “mystery ingredients” thing bugs me too. I get that companies want to protect their formulas, but when it’s something sitting on your house for decades, it’d be nice to know what you’re living under. Ever try reaching out directly for an ingredient list, or did you just go with what was available locally?
- Rain noise: Noticed it's definitely louder than slate, especially during those sideways storms. Not metal-roof loud, but still kinda surprising the first time.
- Hail: We had a small hail event—no cracks or breaks, but there were a couple of scuffed spots where the finish dulled. Installer said that’s “normal wear.” Not sure I buy that.
- Color: Chose after seeing samples in sunlight. The “medium” gray looked way darker up on the roof than I expected, though. Kind of wish I'd gone lighter for summer.
- Warranty: Ours covers fading for 10 years, but the warping clause is vague—lots of fine print. Had to call twice to get someone to actually explain it.
- Ingredients: Tried emailing the company about what’s in their blend... got a generic “proprietary materials” answer. Makes me wonder if any brands are actually transparent about this stuff?
That “medium” gray thing happened to us too, but with siding. Looked totally different once it was up and catching the afternoon sun—almost made me wish we’d gone with the lighter shade. I guess it’s one of those things you don’t really know until it’s installed and you’re living with it. At least the darker color hides dirt better, if that’s any consolation.
About the rain noise, ours is composite but over a pretty steep pitch, and I swear it’s louder than our old asphalt shingles. Not as bad as my buddy’s metal roof (that thing sounds like a drumline in a thunderstorm), but still enough to wake me up during those sideways rains. I actually kind of like it now, but my partner isn’t a fan.
The hail scuffs are interesting—installer told us something similar about “normal wear,” but I’m not sure what that means long-term. Makes me wonder how these tiles will look after a few more years of Midwest storms. Anyone had theirs for 5+ years and noticed any real changes?
The warranty stuff drives me nuts too. Ours came with all these glossy brochures about “lifetime protection,” but then you read the fine print and half of it is “at manufacturer’s discretion.” I had to call twice as well just to get someone to explain what counts as “excessive fading.” Still not sure I trust their definition.
I’ve never gotten a straight answer about what’s actually in these composites either. The rep just kept saying “proprietary blend for durability.” Makes me wonder if there are any brands out there that actually list their ingredients or if that’s just wishful thinking.
Curious—did anyone here go lighter on color for heat reasons? Did it actually help with summer temps inside? Our attic still gets pretty warm even with ridge vents, so I’m debating if color would’ve made much difference.
We went with a lighter shade specifically for heat reasons, and honestly, it did seem to help a bit with attic temps—maybe a few degrees difference on the hottest days, but not a dramatic change. The color does make a difference, but attic insulation and proper venting probably matter more. On the warranty stuff, I’ve had the same frustration. “Lifetime” sounds great until you hit all those exclusions in the fine print. As for what’s actually in the composites, I’ve never seen a brand list their full ingredients either—just vague references to polymers and recycled fillers. Would love more transparency there.