So, um, picture this: you're renovating your dream cottage, and you fall in love with these synthetic roof tiles that look like real slate. But then you see the price tag...yikes. Anyone else been there?
"But then you see the price tag...yikes. Anyone else been there?"
Been there, done that. Synthetic slate looks fantastic, no doubt, but honestly, I've seen some pretty impressive asphalt shingles lately that mimic slate surprisingly well. Worked on a cottage last summer where the owners went with architectural shingles—saved a good chunk of cash and it still looked charming. Might be worth checking out samples in person before committing to the pricier stuff...sometimes the difference isn't as noticeable as you'd expect.
Totally feel your pain on the synthetic slate prices. We went through the same thing a couple years ago—fell in love with the look but couldn't justify the cost. Ended up going with metal roofing instead, and honestly, no regrets at all. Looks sharp, really durable, and a lot easier on the wallet. Have you considered metal at all or are you set on the slate look?
We actually went back and forth between metal and synthetic slate too. Metal was tempting—durable, lighter weight, and definitely easier on the budget—but we were pretty set on that slate aesthetic. Ended up compromising by choosing asphalt shingles designed to mimic slate. From street level, it honestly looks pretty convincing, and the cost savings were significant. Might be worth checking out some samples in person... photos online don't always do them justice.
Been following this thread because I'm in a similar boat. Synthetic slate was my first choice too, but the quotes I got were pretty sobering. The asphalt shingles suggestion is interesting—I hadn't really considered those seriously before, but now I'm thinking it's worth another look. A neighbor down the street did metal roofing last year, and while it looks good, it doesn't quite have that cozy cottage feel I'm aiming for. Still, durability and cost are big factors for me, so I appreciate hearing how convincing the asphalt slate-look shingles can be from street level. I'll probably swing by a showroom this weekend to see some samples in person. Thanks for sharing your experience—it helps to hear how others navigated this decision.
