That’s exactly what I see all the time—materials only go so far if the install’s sloppy. Did either of you get a manufacturer’s rep to check the work? I’ve noticed some warranties get voided if the fastener pattern isn’t spot on. Curious if anyone’s had luck with color fade warranties, too... seems like that’s a gray area (no pun intended).
Curious if anyone’s had luck with color fade warranties, too... seems like that’s a gray area (no pun intended).
Funny you mention that, because I’ve actually run into the color fade thing on a job last summer. We were putting in synthetic slate (the DaVinci stuff) on a place near the lake, and the homeowner was super picky about the color matching the sample board. Fast forward about a year, and he swears the tiles look lighter on the south side. We checked the warranty, and it’s all these little clauses—like, they’ll cover “excessive” fading, but only if it’s outside their “normal weathering range.” Whatever that means. He tried to get a rep out, but they just sent a tech who took photos and said it was “within spec.” Kind of a letdown, honestly.
As for getting a manufacturer’s rep to check the install, I’ve only seen that happen once, and it was because the GC messed up the fastener spacing. The rep flagged it right away and told them to redo a whole section or the warranty was toast. It’s wild how strict they are about that stuff. I get it, but sometimes it feels like they’re just looking for reasons not to pay out.
I do think synthetic slate is a cool option, though. Way lighter than real stone—my back definitely appreciates it. But you’re right, even the fanciest material won’t save you if the install’s sloppy. I’ve seen some roofs where the pattern’s off by just an inch or two and suddenly you’ve got leaks or tiles popping up after a storm.
One thing I’ve learned: always take photos of your work as you go, especially with these newer materials. If there’s ever a question about how it was installed, at least you’ve got proof. Not sure if that helps with color fade claims, but it can’t hurt.
Anyone else notice synthetic slate gets way hotter than expected in direct sun? Maybe it’s just me, but I swear my boots were sticking to it last July...
That “within spec” line drives me nuts. I’ve seen it come up with color fade, but also with things like granule loss on asphalt shingles—manufacturers always seem to have a built-in margin for what they’ll consider “normal.” Had a client who was convinced her synthetic shakes had faded unevenly after just two summers. We got the rep out, and he literally held up a sample board that looked nothing like what was on the roof, but he still called it “acceptable weathering.” It’s so subjective.
You’re spot on about installation, though. Doesn’t matter how good the product is if the fasteners are off or there’s poor underlayment. I’ve flagged more than one synthetic slate job where the installer skipped the manufacturer’s nailing pattern, and suddenly you’ve got wind uplift issues. And yeah, that stuff gets hot—on a 90-degree day it’s basically a griddle up there. I always warn clients about attic ventilation with these newer materials, since trapped heat can really shorten the lifespan, even if the warranty sounds great on paper.
- That “within spec” excuse is the classic manufacturer move.
Seen that song and dance too many times.he literally held up a sample board that looked nothing like what was on the roof, but he still called it “acceptable weathering.”
- Synthetic slate being lighter is nice, but I’ve noticed it can still warp if the attic gets too hot. My neighbor’s roof looked wavy after just a couple summers—installer blamed “normal expansion.” Uh-huh.
- Ventilation’s a must, but I swear half the contractors just want to slap it on and move to the next job.
- Warranties always sound great until you actually try to use one. Then it’s all “within spec” again... funny how that works.
That “within spec” line drives me nuts too. Had a similar runaround with fiber cement siding—installer blamed “normal fading,” but the panels looked totally different after just two years. Synthetic slate is lighter, sure, but I’ve seen it ripple when attics get oven-hot. Ventilation’s supposed to help, but I’ve noticed a lot of guys just toss in a ridge vent and call it a day. Warranties… yeah, good luck getting anyone to honor those if it’s not literally falling off.