Examining wind lift damage and failing materials on a local church roof gave our Roofing for Reel team a firsthand look at what happens when synthetic slate loses its durability.

The Problem

When this church roof was installed about twenty years ago, the building managers were promised a premium, long-lasting 50-year product. However, when The Roofing Company, Inc. team evaluated the structure, we discovered individual tiles lifting and breaking loose near the eaves. When we picked up one of the loose slate pieces, it snapped effortlessly and crumbled right in our hands. Dropping a small piece onto the sidewalk scattered it into tiny, brittle fragments—proving this imitation material fell far short of real slate's timeless strength.

The Technical Why

Synthetic slate was developed to mimic the classic look of natural stone using recycled plastics, rubber, and chemical polymers. The main problem is that these synthetic composites simply don't hold up as genuine alternative materials over time.

In our Tidewater environment, intense summer sun, baking UV rays, and salty coastal air break down plastic polymer chains day after day. Over two decades:

  • Plastic compounds lose their initial oil content and dry out, causing tiles to expand, contract, and turn completely brittle.

  • Strong coastal wind catches loosened edges, snapping tiles around their fasteners and exposing the roof deck—the structural wood panels beneath—to severe water damage.

  • Synthetic materials breakdown long before their warranties expire, whereas genuine stone has proven to last centuries without decomposing.

Professional Advice

If you love the classic look of a slate roof, choosing genuine stone over plastic imitations is always the smarter investment.

  • Real Slate Outlasts Imitations: Genuine natural slate easily lasts 100 years or more. While synthetic products often crumble within two decades, natural stone protects generations of owners, making it a far more practical and cost-effective long-term choice.

  • No Weight Issues with Lightweight Slate: Many property owners pick synthetic options because they worry genuine stone will be too heavy for their framing. However, modern lightweight natural slate systems offer real stone beauty and can be installed on virtually any building without structural reinforcement.

  • Monitor Existing Synthetic Roofs: If you currently have an older synthetic roof, check your grounds and gutters after storms for snapped pieces, and have a professional inspect the surface flexibility.

Whenever you're ready to take a closer look at your roof's health or explore real slate options, give us a shout at 757-867-6600 or fill out the form on this page. We're always happy to stop by and give you an honest evaluation.