That’s interesting—my experience was pretty similar. I’ve seen a lot of roofs where the underlayment was the weak link, especially after a rough winter.
—totally agree. Did your installer mention anything about ventilation? I’ve had a couple properties where poor attic airflow caused more trouble than the roofing material itself.the careful layering is what really keeps water out, not just the tile itself
the careful layering is what really keeps water out, not just the tile itself
That’s spot on. I’ve seen so many roofs where the tiles or shingles looked fine, but water still found its way in because the underlayment was either cheap or installed in a rush. It’s wild how much that layer matters, especially after a few freeze-thaw cycles.
Ventilation’s another thing that gets overlooked way too often. I’ve inspected homes where the attic was basically a sauna in summer and an icebox in winter—mold, warped decking, you name it. Sometimes folks think new roofing material will solve everything, but if the air can’t move up there, problems just shift around.
Switching to composite tiles is a solid move though. They tend to handle temperature swings better than some of the old-school materials. If your installer paid attention to both underlayment and airflow, you’re probably set up for fewer headaches down the line. Always good to see someone thinking beyond just what’s visible from the curb.
I get where you’re coming from about underlayment and ventilation—those are huge, no question. But I’m not totally sold on composite tiles being the magic bullet for everyone. I know they’re marketed as handling temperature swings better, but in my area (upper Midwest), I’ve seen a few installs where the composite stuff started curling or fading after just a handful of brutal winters. Maybe it’s the brand or maybe it’s installer error, but it’s not always as bulletproof as the brochures make it sound.
Sometimes folks think new roofing material will solve everything, but if the air can’t move up there, problems just shift around.
That’s the part I really agree with. I replaced my old cedar shakes with architectural asphalt a few years back, and honestly, the biggest difference wasn’t the shingle itself—it was finally getting the attic vented right. Before that, ice dams were a nightmare every February. Once I added ridge vents and proper soffit intake, things improved way more than just swapping out the top layer.
One thing I’d throw out there: composite tiles can be a pain if you ever need to do repairs or add solar panels later. My neighbor had to get a whole section redone because matching the color and texture was impossible after just five years. With asphalt or even metal, it’s usually easier to patch or retrofit.
Not saying composite is a bad choice—just that it’s not always the slam dunk people expect. If you’re in a spot with wild weather swings or lots of tree debris, sometimes tried-and-true materials hold up better in the long run. But yeah, if your installer nailed the details underneath and got airflow dialed in, you’re probably ahead of most folks either way.
Seen a lot of the same issues with composite tiles up here (Minnesota). They’re not bad, but I’ve definitely replaced a few sections where the color faded way faster than the sales pitch promised. The curling you mentioned—yeah, that usually comes down to either a cheap brand or someone cutting corners on install, especially with the underlayment. Doesn’t matter what you put up there if the prep work gets sloppy.
Had a customer last winter who wanted to add solar to their composite roof. Ended up being a headache, since finding matching tiles was basically impossible, and the new ones stuck out like a sore thumb. With asphalt, you can usually blend patches in a lot better.
Totally agree on ventilation being the real game-changer. I’ve seen folks spend thousands on fancy shingles but still get ice dams because the attic’s a sauna. If I had to pick, I’d rather have a basic roof with solid airflow than the fanciest tile on a poorly vented house. Just my two cents after crawling around too many attics...
