I’m right there with you on the noise—first big rain after my composite tiles went in, I was convinced something was wrong. Turns out, it’s just a different sound than what I grew up with. After a few storms, it faded into the background for me, but I did end up adding a layer of insulation in the attic. That helped a ton, especially during hail season.
One thing I wish I’d known: check your gutters after the first couple storms. I found a surprising amount of granules and little bits from the install that washed down, which clogged things up fast. Quick clean-out fixed it, but it caught me off guard.
Overall, I’m glad I made the switch too. Less maintenance so far, and I don’t worry as much about cracked tiles when the temps swing from freezing to blazing hot in a week. If you ever get curious about adding more insulation, it’s not as big a project as I thought—just messy.
That attic insulation trick really does help with the rain noise—plus, you get a bonus on energy efficiency. I’m with you on the gutter surprise. First storm after my install, I thought my downspouts were spitting out gravel. Turns out, composite tiles shed a bit at first, but it tapers off. Maintenance-wise, I’ve noticed a lot less moss and algae compared to my old asphalt shingles. Still, I do wonder sometimes about the long-term recyclability of these composites... not every brand is equal on that front.
Funny you mention the gutter thing—I was convinced something was wrong with my install when I saw all that grit in the downspout. Glad to hear it’s normal and not just my luck. I’m loving the lower maintenance too, especially since moss basically took over my old roof every winter. The recyclability thing nags at me a bit, though. I did some digging and it seems like some brands are way better than others, but it’s hard to tell what actually happens when the roof comes off in 30 years... Feels like a bit of a gamble, honestly.
That recyclability question is what held me up for a while too. I ended up calling a couple local roofers and, weirdly enough, got totally different answers about what actually happens to old tiles. Some said they get ground up for road base, others just shrugged and said landfill. It’s frustrating that there’s no clear standard. I do like that some brands at least use recycled content to start with, but yeah, 30 years from now… who knows? At least it feels like a step up from asphalt in terms of lifespan and less moss hassle.
Some said they get ground up for road base, others just shrugged and said landfill. It’s frustrating that there’s no clear standard.
Honestly, you’re not wrong—there’s a lot of “it depends” in this business, especially with composite tiles. Some recycling centers will take them, but it really comes down to what your local facilities are set up for. I’ve seen jobs where the old stuff gets hauled off and you never really know if it’s getting a second life or just buried somewhere. Not exactly satisfying.
The recycled content thing is a plus, but like you said, who knows what the process will look like in 30 years? I do think composite beats asphalt for lifespan and less moss (especially if you’re in a damp area), but I wish there was more transparency about end-of-life. Ever notice how every manufacturer claims their product is “eco-friendly” but then gets vague about the details? Drives me nuts.
Out of curiosity, did any of the roofers you talked to mention if your city has a recycling program for roofing materials? Some places are starting to, but it’s still pretty rare.