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Residential roofing
asop
Member Posts: 8,972 ✭✭✭✭
Anyone know anything about synthetic (plastic) slate roofing? Suppose to really outmatch asphalt shingles but also much more expensive. Thanks
Comments
Don't have any personal experience with it but I have NEVER seen any type of plastic do well long term, especially in the direct sun.
Same here. I have tried to use those coverit shelters that are made of plastic and after 2-3 years the sun has deteriorated them so bad they just fell apart.
If you live in New England they might last a while. Plastic orchard mesh rated for 15 years, lasted 3 at 5000 feet in NM.
The lifespan of asphalt shingles is pretty disappointing too. About half the rated life, so it seems.
Most of them are 50year warranty. They have only been around 20 years.
I told my wife that IF we had to replace our roofing again, it would be with metal. Some of the newer designs look almost like slate or asphalt from the street.
I had my roof done 2017 and the roofer tried to get me to go with metal. The shingles are holding up ok but if I had to do it again I'd go with metal. At the time I was hearing a lot about the screws needing tightening after so many years. That doesn't seem to be a big issue since just about every new roof I see is metal. I repaired a shed myself with metal, sides and roof, and it went so smooth and easy. Sure metal is more expensive but it's going to last longer than shingles.
Just had ours looked at and it needs replacement. I mentioned metal, and he instantly asked, "Are you light sleepers?" If you get ran or hail much, you'd best consider that.
If you do go metal, insist on seamless, not screwed. The screws have rubber gaskets which the sun destroys in a few years, making for leaks unless they're all replaced.
We have the option of installing solar panels at the same time, and with rebates and such, the solar almost pays for the shingles. However, with the problem of disposal after solar panels stop working, and also the fact that at our age we're unlikely to ever see the break-even date, we're going with regular 30-year shingles.
Even at that, prices have gone — forgive me — through the roof. Looking at 36 squares and $27,000.