Feeling good about my switch to composite tiles - worth it?

- Good call on synthetic - I've managed a few buildings with those, and the lower weight is a big plus.
- Midwest weather is brutal, so the hail resistance and quieter performance are huge.
- Upfront cost is a little higher, but in my experience, less maintenance and fewer emergency repairs balance it out over time.
- Only minor issue I’ve seen is some brands get a bit slick when wet, but that’s more of a concern for folks walking on the roof.
- No major regrets from my end - definitely less hassle than real slate or metal, especially with insurance claims after storms.
- Sounds like you made a solid investment.

I switched to composite tiles about three years ago after a nasty hailstorm shredded my old asphalt shingles. Honestly, I was skeptical at first - didn’t love the idea of paying more upfront, and the sales pitch sounded almost too good. But after another round of Midwest storms last spring, I’m sold. My neighbor had to patch his roof twice, and I just watched the hail bounce off mine like nothing happened.

One thing I noticed, though - maybe it’s just my brand - but when I went up there to clear some branches, it felt a bit slicker than my old shingles. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely made me rethink climbing up there in wet weather. Also, the look isn’t quite as “classic” as real slate, but honestly, nobody’s ever commented on it except me.

Maintenance-wise, it’s been a breeze. No loose tiles, no weird leaks around the vents. Insurance was easier too - no arguments about “pre-existing conditions” this time around. I get why folks hesitate on cost, but for me, the peace of mind has been worth it.

Funny you mention the slickness - I noticed the same thing when I was up on a composite roof last fall. Way more slippery than asphalt, especially with a bit of dew. I just take it slow and use shoes with good grip now. Haven’t seen any loose tiles yet either, which is a relief after dealing with old three-tabs blowing off every other storm. The look’s not perfect, but honestly, nobody’s ever pointed it out at my place either. Peace of mind’s worth a lot when the storms roll through.

Yeah, those composite tiles are slicker than a greased pig when there’s dew - almost lost my footing grabbing a stray frisbee last spring. But I’ll take that over chasing asphalt shingles down the block after every windstorm. Haven’t had to call the roofer once since the switch, which is a minor miracle around here. The only downside for me is the squirrels seem to love the new roof as much as I do… little freeloaders.

I get the appeal - no more shingle confetti after every gust, and I’ve seen plenty of folks around here make the switch for that exact reason. But I gotta admit, I’m still a bit on the fence about composite tiles. My uncle swapped his out a couple years back, and while he’s not chasing shingles anymore, he’s had a different headache: ice dams. The composite doesn’t seem to shed snow as well as the old asphalt did, at least on his low-pitch roof. He ended up having to install extra heat cables last winter just to keep things from backing up.

And yeah, those things are slick. Nearly ate it myself trying to clear out a clogged gutter last fall - felt like I was skating up there. Not sure if it’s just certain brands or what, but it’s something I’d think twice about if you’re up there often.

On the plus side, no leaks so far and the color hasn’t faded much, which is more than I can say for my own roof right now... Just wish they’d invent a squirrel-proof version already.

I hear you on the ice dam thing, but honestly, I’ve had just as many headaches with them on old asphalt roofs, especially on anything low-slope. Around here (upstate NY), it seems like if your attic’s not vented right or you get a heavy freeze/thaw cycle, you’re gonna be battling ice no matter what’s up there. I do agree composite feels slicker underfoot - nearly lost my balance once too. Still, the lack of shingle bits in my gutters is a nice change... I’ll take that tradeoff most days.

Around here (upstate NY), it seems like if your attic’s not vented right or you get a heavy freeze/thaw cycle, you’re gonna be battling ice no matter what’s up there.

That’s spot on - ventilation and insulation are really the big players with ice dams, regardless of what’s on top. I’ve seen plenty of composite and asphalt roofs both get hammered by ice when the attic’s warm and the eaves are cold. Composite does seem to shed granules less, which is a plus for gutters, but I’ve noticed it can be trickier to walk on, especially after a frost. Had a client last winter who slipped and cracked a tile just trying to clear off some snow.

Curious - did you end up adding any extra underlayment or ice & water shield when you switched to composite? Sometimes folks skip that step thinking the new material will solve everything, but in my experience, that layer makes a huge difference, especially on low slopes. Also, have you noticed any difference in noise during rain or hail compared to your old asphalt? Some people say composites are quieter, but I’ve heard mixed reviews.

I’ll tell you, I thought composite would be the magic bullet for my ice dam headaches, but nope - still gotta deal with the same old freeze/thaw drama. I did spring for the extra ice & water shield, though. Worth every penny, especially since our roof’s not exactly a steep slope. As for noise, honestly, I barely notice a difference from asphalt. Maybe my hearing’s just shot after years of listening to tenants complain about squirrels in the attic...

Funny, I actually had the opposite experience with composite tiles and ice dams. I’m in upstate NY, so we get those wild freeze/thaw cycles too, but after switching from asphalt to composite (DaVinci, if it matters), I noticed a lot less trouble with ice buildup along the eaves. Maybe it’s the color or the way they shed snow, but my gutters aren’t turning into icicle forests like they used to. I did add a wider ice & water shield underlayment, though, so maybe that’s doing more of the heavy lifting than the tiles themselves.

Noise-wise, I totally get what you mean. I was bracing for a racket during rainstorms, but honestly, it’s not much different from my old shingles. The only time I really notice is when hail hits - then it sounds like someone’s throwing marbles at the roof. Not a dealbreaker for me, but it surprised my dog the first time.

One thing I will say: composite tiles are a pain to repair if you ever have to swap one out. I had a branch come down last winter and crack a couple. Getting replacements to match was easy enough, but actually popping them in without messing up the surrounding ones took some patience (and a few choice words). With asphalt, I could just slap a new shingle on and call it good.

I guess nothing’s really “set it and forget it” when it comes to roofs, especially with weird weather getting weirder every year. Still, I’d pick composite again just for the look and the fact that they’re holding up better than my neighbor’s 3-tab shingles. But yeah, if you’re hoping for a miracle cure for ice dams, there’s always heat cables... or just moving south.

That’s wild - my experience with composite tiles and ice dams has been a mixed bag. I’ve seen a few homes where the wider ice & water shield made all the difference, but on others, it seemed like the roof pitch or attic insulation played a bigger role. Ever notice if your attic stays warmer or cooler since the switch? Sometimes it’s less about the tile and more about what’s going on underneath. And yeah, swapping out a cracked composite tile is like playing Jenga with your roof... not for the faint of heart.

Sometimes it’s less about the tile and more about what’s going on underneath.

That’s spot on. I’ve seen plenty of cases where folks blame the composite tiles for ice damming, but when you dig in, it’s usually insulation or ventilation that’s the real culprit. Wider ice & water shield definitely helps, but if the attic’s running warm, you’ll still get melt-and-freeze cycles. Swapping out a cracked tile is tricky, no doubt - especially if they’re interlocked tight. Still, composite holds up better than most in freeze-thaw climates from what I’ve seen.

if the attic’s running warm, you’ll still get melt-and-freeze cycles.

Yeah, that’s the kicker. I used to think just swapping out the roof would solve my winter headaches, but after a couple rough seasons, it was obvious the real fix was better attic insulation and adding a ridge vent. Composite tiles have held up way better than my old asphalt, but honestly, unless you deal with the heat loss underneath, you’re just treating the symptoms. Swapping a cracked composite tile isn’t fun, but at least they don’t shatter like slate when you’re up there in the cold.

unless you deal with the heat loss underneath, you’re just treating the symptoms.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen plenty of homes where just upgrading to composite tiles made a noticeable difference, even before folks tackled insulation. Maybe it’s our milder winters here, but sometimes the roof material itself helps more than people expect. Not saying attic insulation isn’t important - it totally is - but I wouldn’t write off the impact of a good composite tile job either. Swapping them out is a pain, though... I’ll give you that.

I swapped to composite tiles last fall and honestly, I noticed the house felt less drafty right away. Didn’t touch the insulation yet - just couldn’t afford both at once. Maybe it’s not a magic fix, but it sure helped more than I expected.

Interesting you noticed a difference just from the tile swap - did you go with a specific brand or thickness? I’ve managed a few buildings where we upgraded to composite, and honestly, some tenants reported less noise and drafts, others didn’t notice much. Wonder if your old roof had gaps or poor sealing that the new tiles covered up. Did you see any change in your heating bill over winter, or was it more just a comfort thing?

Wonder if your old roof had gaps or poor sealing that the new tiles covered up.

That’s honestly where I see the biggest difference in my inspections - people often credit the new material, but it’s usually the improved installation and sealing that makes the real impact. Composite tiles can help, but if the underlayment or flashing was redone, that’s probably what’s cutting down on drafts. Did your installer mention anything about fixing the decking or adding insulation while they were at it? Sometimes those “hidden” upgrades make more difference than the tiles themselves.

Sometimes those “hidden” upgrades make more difference than the tiles themselves.

Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen plenty of “new” roofs still leak because the installer skipped proper flashing or didn’t seal around vents. The material matters, but the prep work underneath is what really keeps things tight.

- Couldn’t agree more about the prep work - seen too many “quick” jobs come back to bite folks later.
- With composite tiles, I’ve noticed they’re only as good as the underlayment and flashing. Had one property where the tiles outlasted the felt underneath, which led to a headache a few years in.
- Curious - did your installer use synthetic or traditional felt? I’ve heard mixed things about how each holds up, especially in wetter climates.
- Anyone else notice composite tiles seem quieter during storms, or is that just me?

Funny you mention the noise - my folks’ place switched to composite tiles last year, and I swear the house feels quieter during heavy rain now. Used to be you’d hear every drop pinging off the old metal roof, but now it’s more of a dull thud, if anything. Not sure if it’s just the tiles or the new underlayment, though.

On the underlayment debate, our installer went with synthetic. He said it holds up better in our damp winters (we’re in the PNW), but I’ve heard some old-timers say traditional felt “breathes” better and is easier to patch if there’s a leak. Haven’t had any issues yet, but I guess time will tell. Anyone ever have to replace just the underlayment under composite? Wondering how much of a pain that is compared to full tear-off.

Also, for anyone who’s had composite for a while - how’s the color holding up? Ours still looks sharp, but I’m curious if it fades after a few years in the sun.