Color fade is a legit concern, but I’ve found the newer composites hold up better than the old stuff—my neighbor’s roof is five years in and still looks decent, though it’s not as deep black as day one. As for energy savings, honestly, most of it comes down to insulation and ventilation in the attic. The roof material helps a bit, but if your attic’s a sauna, it won’t matter much what’s on top. And yeah, recycling is a mess... I had to haul my old shingles to a landfill, which felt pretty backward in 2024.
Yeah, the color fade thing is real—my uncle’s composite roof started out jet black and now it’s more like “charcoal-ish” after a few summers. Still looks better than the patchy asphalt we had before, though. I’m with you on attic insulation being the real MVP for energy bills. Ever tried crawling up there in July? Feels like a toaster oven. The recycling part bugs me too... you’d think we’d have figured out something better by now.
Color fade is one of those things you just have to accept, I guess—unless you want to climb up there every year with a can of spray paint, which I definitely don’t recommend. I’ve seen some composite roofs go from “midnight black” to “mystery gray” in just a couple summers, especially if they’re getting hammered by the afternoon sun. Still, like you said, it’s a huge step up from the old asphalt patchwork look. At least the color fades evenly instead of looking like a checkerboard after a hailstorm.
Attic insulation is the unsung hero for sure. I’ve been up in more attics than I care to remember, and July is just brutal. You ever try fixing a vent fan up there when it’s 110 degrees? I swear, I lost five pounds in sweat and gained a new respect for anyone who does that for a living. But it really does make a difference—my own energy bills dropped a good chunk after I beefed up the insulation. Not glamorous, but it works.
The recycling thing bugs me too. You’d think with all the tech we have, someone would’ve cracked the code on making composite tiles easier to recycle or reuse. I’ve heard rumors about some companies experimenting with take-back programs, but nothing mainstream yet. Maybe in another decade we’ll be bragging about our “fully circular” roofs or something.
All in all, I’d say you made a solid call with the switch. Composite holds up way better in storms than asphalt ever did—less shingle confetti in the yard after every wind gust. And if you ever do get storm damage, at least you’re not dealing with those brittle old shingles that crumble when you look at them sideways. Just gotta accept that “charcoal chic” is the new black, I guess...
You nailed it with the “charcoal chic” line—made me laugh because I’ve had more than a few customers ask if their roof was supposed to look lighter after a couple summers. It’s just the nature of the beast, especially on south-facing slopes. But honestly, I’d take a little fade over those old asphalt shingles curling up and flaking off any day. And you’re spot on about insulation—most folks don’t realize how much that helps until they see their first summer bill drop. As for recycling, yeah, it’s frustratingly slow progress... but at least the stuff lasts long enough that you’re not tossing it every decade. All in all, sounds like you made a smart move.
Funny timing, I had the same doubts right after we switched to composite a few years back. The fading’s noticeable if you’re looking for it, but it’s way less of a headache than the endless patch jobs I used to do with our old shingles. I swear, every spring I’d find another corner curling up or granules in the gutter. Our summer bills dropped too—didn’t expect that much difference just from better insulation and a lighter roof color, but it adds up. You made a solid call.
