That drum sound threw me off too—first big rain after my install, I was convinced a branch hit the roof. Took a while to get used to, but honestly, after last spring’s hail trashed my neighbor’s asphalt, I’m glad I went composite. I do wonder if I should’ve spent more time on the attic venting though. My installer kinda brushed over it, but now I’m thinking it matters more than I realized... Anyone else notice their attic temp drop with better venting?
I had the same concern after my composite install—installer barely mentioned venting, just said it was “adequate.” Ended up adding a ridge vent last summer and noticed the attic’s definitely cooler now, maybe by 10 degrees on the hottest days. Not sure if it’s all from the venting or just better airflow overall, but it made a difference. The noise took some getting used to, but I’ll take that over hail damage any day.
The noise took some getting used to, but I’ll take that over hail damage any day.
Interesting you mention the noise—I've actually seen a couple of folks swap out composite for that very reason. Some of those tiles can really amplify rain or wind, especially if the attic insulation’s on the thin side. Not saying it’s a dealbreaker, just something to watch if you’re sensitive to sound. On venting, “adequate” always makes me nervous... I’ve run into a few houses where “good enough” wasn’t really cutting it, and moisture started creeping in after a year or two. Glad the ridge vent helped, though—sometimes even a small tweak like that can make a big difference in comfort.
That’s a good point about attic insulation—thin batts can turn a rainstorm into a drum solo. I’ve seen folks double up on insulation just to cut down the racket, especially in older homes where the original stuff was barely there. Still, I’d take a little extra noise over dealing with insurance after hail tears up a roof. Curious if you noticed any difference in your energy bills after switching tiles? Sometimes composite can help with that, but it’s not always a night-and-day change.
Funny you mention the energy bills—I actually expected a bigger drop after switching to composite, but honestly, it was pretty subtle. Maybe a few bucks a month, but nothing dramatic. What I did notice was the house felt less drafty in winter, which was a nice surprise. I’ve always wondered if the color of the tiles makes much difference with heat absorption. Anyone ever compare lighter vs darker composites in a hot climate?