NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
I’ve been down this road a couple times, and I’ll admit, I’m always a little skeptical when someone claims their roof will “last forever” or “look brand new for decades.” Maybe I just have bad luck, but it seems like every product promises the moon and then reality sets in after a few years. That being said, I do think you’re onto something with composite shakes. My neighbor put those on about six years ago and, weirdly enough, they still look pretty sharp—definitely better than my asphalt shingles did at that age.
I went the “budget-friendly” route last time and used architectural shingles, mostly because the price tag was easier to swallow. They looked great for about three years... then started curling and fading. Not catastrophic, but definitely not what I’d call “aging gracefully.” If you’re planning to stay put for a while, the extra upfront cost on something more durable might actually save you money (and headaches) in the long run. The only thing that makes me hesitate is the initial sticker shock—it’s not pocket change.
One thing I’d suggest: check the warranty details with a magnifying glass. Some of these companies love to tout 30- or 50-year warranties, but then you read the fine print and realize it only covers full replacement for the first decade or so. After that, it’s all prorated and you’re basically on your own. Learned that lesson the hard way.
And if you’re in an area with wild weather swings (hail, crazy sun, etc.), ask around locally about what’s holding up for folks. Sometimes what works in one climate just doesn’t cut it somewhere else. My cousin out west swears by metal roofs, but here in the Midwest they seem to dent up fast from hail.
Long story short: I’m not convinced there’s a perfect answer, but if you can stomach the upfront cost and plan to stick around, composite or even metal might be worth it. Just don’t take the marketing at face value... roofs are like cars—eventually, they all show their age.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
I feel you on the skepticism—when we built our place last year, the roof was honestly the part that stressed me out most. The builder recommended architectural shingles too, but after seeing my parents’ roof curl and fade in under a decade, I just couldn’t pull the trigger. Ended up doing a ton of research (maybe too much for my own sanity), and here’s how I broke it down:
Step one: I checked what my neighbors were using and actually knocked on a couple doors to ask how their roofs were holding up. It was weird at first, but super helpful. Turns out, around here (humid summers, icy winters), the folks with composite shakes seemed happiest after five years or so.
Step two: I combed through warranty paperwork like you mentioned. The fine print is wild—some “lifetime” warranties only cover labor for like 5-10 years, then it’s all on you. I almost missed that.
Step three: Factored in the weather. We get hail maybe once every couple years, so metal didn’t make sense for us either (my uncle’s roof looks like it’s been through a war zone).
I ended up going with composite shakes despite the price tag. It stung at first, but honestly? No regrets yet. They’ve handled two rough winters and still look sharp. If you’re planning to stay put, I’d lean quality over budget... but yeah, those marketing promises always seem too good to be true.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
Interesting take on composite shakes—I get the appeal, but I’ve seen a few projects where they didn’t age as well as promised, especially if the install wasn’t spot-on. Have you noticed any color fading or warping yet? Around here, I’ve actually had decent luck with standing seam metal, even with the occasional hail. Sure, it dents, but it never leaks and the lifespan’s hard to beat. Curious if you factored in resale value? Sometimes buyers get picky about “non-traditional” materials.
Sure, it dents, but it never leaks and the lifespan’s hard to beat.
That’s what finally convinced me to go with standing seam, honestly. I was nervous about resale too, but after seeing how much patching my neighbor’s composite shakes needed after just a few years, I figured long-term durability was worth it. The color does fade a bit over time, but nothing major so far. If you’re handy, keeping up with touch-ups is pretty manageable.
Standing Seam Looks Good, But What About Hail?
I keep hearing about standing seam being basically bulletproof, but I’ve seen a few roofs around here with some pretty gnarly hail dents. Doesn’t seem to affect the function, but it’s not exactly pretty if you care about curb appeal. Did you factor that in at all? I get the resale worry—buyers can be picky about cosmetic stuff even if the roof itself is solid.
I’m also curious how much maintenance you’re actually doing. Is it just paint touch-ups, or are there other things that crop up over time? I’ve had some clients complain about fastener issues on older installs, though maybe that’s more of a problem with exposed fastener panels than true standing seam.
I’m leaning toward metal for my own place, but still not 100% sold. The upfront cost is a bit of a gut punch, and I wonder if it really pays off unless you’re planning to stay put for a while.
