Yeah, I’ve noticed the “slip ‘n slide” effect too—almost wiped out grabbing a stray frisbee off the roof last spring. Not my brightest idea. Ours is holding up to storms, but I do wonder about the color fading over time. The neighbors’ real slate looks kind of cool with all the moss and weathering, but I’m not sure I’d want to deal with the weight or cost. Guess it’s always a bit of a gamble, but at least my back’s happy we didn’t go with the real stuff.
That’s actually something I’ve wondered about—does synthetic slate really keep its color, or does it end up looking kind of faded and patchy after a few years? I like the idea of it staying consistent, but sometimes that “weathered” look on real slate is kind of cool. Has anyone noticed if the synthetic stuff gets slippery when it’s wet, or is that just a thing with all smooth roofs? I’m in a pretty rainy area, so that’s been on my mind.
Has anyone noticed if the synthetic stuff gets slippery when it’s wet, or is that just a thing with all smooth roofs? I’m in a pretty rainy area, so that’s been on my mind.
I’ve actually heard mixed things about the slipperiness. Some folks say synthetic slate is less slick than real slate, but I’m not totally convinced—my neighbor’s roof looked pretty shiny after a storm. Also, about the color, I kinda like how real slate fades and gets that old-school vibe. The synthetic stuff seems to stay the same shade, which is nice for consistency, but maybe a little too “perfect” for my taste?
The synthetic stuff seems to stay the same shade, which is nice for consistency, but maybe a little too “perfect” for my taste?
That “too perfect” thing cracks me up because I thought the same when I saw my friend’s new roof. Looked like a dollhouse up there—no character yet. As for slipperiness, I tried walking on my cousin’s synthetic tiles after a rain (don’t recommend, by the way), and it was about as slick as my kitchen floor after my dog’s bath. Maybe not worse than real slate, but definitely not grippy. I guess the upside is, at least you’re less likely to throw your back out hauling the stuff up there.
I get what you mean about the “too perfect” look, but honestly, I’ve seen some of the newer synthetic slates that actually have a bit of variation built in—texture, color, even some “imperfections.” As for walking on them, yeah, they’re slick when wet, but I’ve found real slate can be just as bad, if not worse, especially once it gets mossy. At least with the lighter weight, you’re not risking as much lugging bundles up a steep pitch. Still, I do miss the way real slate weathers over time... there’s just something about that.