Synthetic composite is moulded from polymer, usually taken from real slate or shake as the master, so the face has genuine irregularity rather than a repeating stamp.
The reason it exists is weight. It goes on a standard frame with no structural work at all, which is what makes a slate look possible on a house that could never carry slate. It is also far less brittle, so later work on the roof does not mean breakages.
Forty to fifty years is a normal warranty. The one thing to check is how the specific product has aged in UV, since the category is younger than the materials it imitates.
The trade-off, honestly
What it gives you
- Quarter of the weight of slate
- No structural work needed
- 40 to 50 year warranties
- Will not crack underfoot
What it costs you
- A newer category with less field history
- Premium over asphalt
- Purists can tell up close
Best for
Getting a slate or shake look on a standard frame, at a fraction of the price.
Price it on your roofYou click. We climb. Deal?
Tell us what you need and we will handle the rest. No ladders required on your part.
