I’ll be the odd one out and say composite didn’t really change my attic temps much. Maybe a degree or two, but nothing that made my AC bill do a happy dance. I think the real culprit is the insulation—my 80s ranch is basically a sieve up there. As for noise, I actually found composite a bit louder than asphalt during heavy rain, but that might be because my underlayment is ancient. Moss and algae? Still a pain on the north side, though it seems to stick less than on asphalt. Either way, I’m still up there with a broom every spring...
Old insulation is a sneaky culprit, for sure. I’ve seen folks swap out their whole roof and still sweat in the attic because the batts are basically see-through. As for the noise, composite can be a bit “drummy” if the underlayment’s thin or worn—think of it like a snare drum with a loose skin. If you ever redo the underlayment, something thicker or synthetic might help dampen those heavy rain concerts. Moss is always a pain on the north side... I use a soft brush and a little patience, but it’s an annual ritual at this point.
That “drummy” sound is exactly why I hesitated on composite tiles at first. I’ve seen a few jobs where folks went cheap on the underlayment, and every rainstorm sounded like a marching band overhead. Thicker synthetic underlayment does help, but it’s not a magic fix if the roof pitch is low or you’ve got a big open attic.
Moss is another story—north side of my place looks like a biology experiment every spring. I tried the soft brush thing, but after a couple years, I caved and used one of those zinc strips near the ridge. Not perfect, but it slowed things down.
Curious if anyone’s noticed composite tiles holding up better in hail or high winds? I’ve seen mixed results—some brands seem to chip or crack just as easily as old concrete tiles. Maybe it’s all in the install, or maybe there’s more hype than substance with some of these “impact resistant” claims...
I’m wondering about the “impact resistant” claims too. Has anyone actually filed an insurance claim after hail with composite tiles? Did the adjuster push back or was it treated like any other roof? I keep hearing mixed stories, especially in places with bigger storms.
That’s a really interesting point about insurance and composite tiles. I’ve seen a few roofs with those “impact resistant” ratings after hail, but the way claims get handled seems all over the place. Sometimes adjusters just look for visible cracks or dents and call it good, but I’ve also heard of them getting picky—like saying the tile is “cosmetically damaged” and not covering it. It probably depends a lot on the specific policy wording and maybe even the adjuster you get that day.
One thing I’m curious about—has anyone actually had to have their composite tiles replaced after a major hailstorm? Did the manufacturer’s warranty come into play at all, or was it strictly an insurance thing? I wonder if there’s ever overlap or if you’re stuck in limbo between the two. I’ve read some composite brands will send out reps to inspect, but I haven’t run into that myself.
Also, for folks in hail-prone areas, do you feel like your premiums actually went down after switching to impact-resistant shingles or tiles? Or did the insurance company just treat it like any other roof? Sometimes I hear people say they got a discount, but then others say it made no difference at all.
I guess my main question is whether anyone’s actually had their claim denied because the adjuster said the composite tile “shouldn’t have broken” or something along those lines. That would be super frustrating if you paid extra for impact resistance and still got pushback. Anyone run into that gray area where it’s not clear if it’s covered or not?