“Composite Roofing” Is a Category—Not One Material, One Wind Rating, or One Installation.
Compare the exact chemistry, profile, deck, underlayment, fasteners, exposure, accessories, Florida approval, roof-zone pressures, color system and future repair strategy before treating any synthetic slate, shake or tile as equivalent.
Composite roofing is engineered to imitate natural roofing materials—but the engineering changes by manufacturer.
The visible profile may look like slate, cedar, clay or concrete. That appearance does not tell you what the tile is made of or how the roof must be installed.
In the current market, “synthetic” can mean molded virgin polymer, recycled polymer, recycled rubber/plastic, polyurethane or another proprietary composite. That distinction affects weight, cut behavior, thermal movement, fastener interaction, color, accessories, repairability, testing and warranty.
Think of the roof as five controlled layers.
Four products can all be called “composite” and still behave differently.
Use this selector to see why chemistry and manufacturer documents matter before comparing price or warranty.
Choose the appearance—then compare the products actually approved to create it.
A slate profile, shake profile and barrel profile are not interchangeable just because they share a synthetic material category.
The composite tile is only one part of the roof.
Every layer must work together for wind, water, heat, repair and warranty performance.
Existing Roof
Tear-off/recover assumptions, moisture, repairs and dry-in.
Deck & Framing
Sheathing, attachment, condition and structural questions.
Secondary Water Control
Seam tape, self-adhered or other approved strategy.
Underlayment
Product-compatible membrane or approved assembly.
Starter / Perimeter
Eaves, rakes, drip edge, starter and edge securement.
Composite Tiles
Exact product, width, exposure, keyway and orientation.
Fasteners
Type, length, substrate engagement and roof-zone schedule.
Details
Valleys, walls, hips, ridges, penetrations and solar.
Roof File
Approvals, permits, samples, warranty and repair stock.
Use the approval for the exact product and assembly—not a website wind number.
The 2023 Florida Building Code is the current code basis. Broward County is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, so the approval path must explicitly support the project jurisdiction and limits of use.
Composite roofing is often lighter than natural slate or concrete/clay tile—but “lighter” is not a structural approval.
Compare the actual installed assembly weights and the home’s framing rather than relying on category assumptions.
Natural Slate → Synthetic Slate
The covering can be much lighter, but deck condition, fastener pullout, geometry and historic detailing still need review.
Tile → Synthetic Tile
Reduced covering weight can change the loading, but flashing height, roof plane, ventilation and architecture may also change.
Shingle → Composite
Do not assume the new roof is lighter. Compare product and accessory weight, underlayment and any added support.
Unknown Structure
Truss spacing alone does not establish capacity. Use available plans, field conditions and engineering when the evidence requires it.
UV, salt air, heat and attic conditions can influence the product decision.
Composite products do not corrode like exposed metal panels, but the roof still contains fasteners, flashings, valleys, penetrations and other components that must be compatible with the exposure.
UV + Color
Use actual samples and manufacturer color technology. Do not promise zero fade or universal color stability.
Coastal Components
Review fasteners, flashing metals, cut materials, accessories and dissimilar-metal contact near salt exposure.
Thermal / Ventilation
Composite covering is not insulation. Attic ventilation, insulation, air sealing, ducts and roof geometry drive whole-house performance.
Solar + Rooftop Trades
Coordinate attachment, tile removal/reinstallation, waterproofing and future service responsibility before solar or equipment work.
A premium composite roof should be planned for future repairs on day one.
Specialty profiles can be repairable, but availability, color variation, fastening and accessory stock affect how practical future work will be.
Build a repair stock plan
- Keep labeled field tiles from the same product/color order when practical.
- Keep hip/ridge and profile-specific accessories where availability is limited.
- Document exposure, fastener type, underlayment and repair instructions.
- Preserve current approval, warranty and installation documents in the roof file.
- Record manufacturer, product family, color/blend and lot information.
Natural material vs synthetic repair
Synthetic pieces may be easier to cut or replace than natural slate or cedar in some systems, but this is not universal. Fasteners can be concealed, pieces can interlock, and surrounding tiles may have to be lifted or removed.
Before buying a premium synthetic system, ask how a single damaged field piece, hip/ridge piece, valley-adjacent piece and wall-flashing condition would be repaired five or ten years later.
Compare manufacturers by exact product family—not by the word “composite.”
Product names, approvals and warranty terms can change. These are current families verified during development and must be rechecked before material ordering or publication.
| Manufacturer | Current product directions | Material / construction direction | South Florida review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westlake DaVinci Roofscapes | Multi-Width Slate, Single-Width Slate, Multi-Width Shake, Single-Width Shake, Select Shake, Province Slate, Inspire Slate | Composite tiles using virgin resins with UV/thermal stabilizers and fire-retardant formulation | Current Florida approval/NOA, profile-specific installation, wind zones, samples and accessories |
| Brava Roof Tile | Cedar Shake, Slate / Old World Slate, Spanish Barrel Tile | Manufactured recycled-polymer composite tile systems with profile-specific fire formulations | FL41880-R2/HVHZ limits, fastener method, fire formulation, color blend and details |
| EcoStar | Slate, Shake, Concrete Flat, Clay-style synthetic tiles; Traditional, Niagara and other shadow lines | Upcycled/recycled polymer formulations including rubber/plastic systems | Profile-specific NOA/approval, shadow line, fire/impact/wind data and accessory availability |
| CEDUR | Synthetic cedar-shake families in multiple widths and colors | Proprietary polyurethane synthetic shake molded from natural cedar | Florida eligibility, fire/impact documentation, installation layout, repair stock and warranty |
A composite-roof proposal should define the assembly, not just the look.
Product Identity
Manufacturer, exact product family, profile, color/blend, class/fire formulation and accessories.
Approved Assembly
Current Florida/HVHZ approval, slope, deck, underlayment, exposure, fasteners and roof-zone requirements.
Details
Valleys, walls, skylights, pipes, solar, hips/ridges, eaves/rakes, transitions and ventilation.
Lifecycle Controls
Concealed conditions, repair stock, warranty, color samples, HOA approval, maintenance and closeout documents.
Identify the most responsible next step for this home.
This planner does not approve a product, structural capacity, insurance result or warranty. It organizes the decision before inspection and product qualification.
Bring the product question and the property question together.
Aastro can evaluate the existing roof, roof geometry, deck, access, jurisdiction, exposure and architectural goals, then compare the specific composite products that remain eligible.
Questions homeowners should resolve before choosing a synthetic roof.
Is composite roofing one specific material?
No. “Composite” or “synthetic” describes a broad category. Current products can use virgin polymer resins, recycled polymer blends, recycled rubber-and-plastic formulations, polyurethane, and other proprietary chemistries. The exact manufacturer, formulation and approval control the installation.
Is synthetic slate the same as natural slate?
No. Synthetic slate is engineered to imitate slate appearance with a lighter manufactured tile. Natural slate is quarried stone. Weight, fastening, thickness, breakage, repair technique, flashing details and product approvals differ.
Is synthetic shake the same as cedar shake?
No. Synthetic shake is molded or formed to resemble cedar but is a manufactured roof covering. Natural cedar is wood. Fire classification, moisture behavior, fastening, ventilation, maintenance and replacement matching are different.
Can composite barrel tile replace concrete or clay tile without structural review?
Not automatically. Many composite tile products are lighter than concrete or clay, but the existing deck, framing, roof geometry, underlayment, attachment and complete assembly still must be evaluated. Covering weight alone does not approve the conversion.
Does Class 4 impact resistance mean the roof is hail-proof?
No. Class 4 is a laboratory impact classification for a tested product or assembly. It does not guarantee no cosmetic damage, no puncture, no storm damage, or any specific insurance result.
Does a wind rating mean the home is hurricane-rated?
No. Product wind testing and an approved assembly are only part of the building wind design. The home also depends on project pressures, roof zones, deck attachment, framing, edge conditions, openings and installation.
Can every composite roof product be used in Broward County?
No. Broward is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. The exact product and assembly must have an approval pathway that applies to the HVHZ, and the approved design must meet the project pressures and limits of use.
Are DaVinci, Brava, EcoStar and CEDUR interchangeable?
No. Their chemistries, profiles, thicknesses, fasteners, exposures, accessories, approvals, impact/fire classifications and warranties differ. A proposal should identify the exact product family, not only the manufacturer name.
Can synthetic roofing be repaired one piece at a time?
Often individual pieces can be replaced, but repairability depends on the profile, fastening, exposure, surrounding tiles, aging/color variation, accessory stock and whether matching material is still available. Repair stock should be considered at installation.
What should a composite-roof proposal identify?
The proposal should identify manufacturer and product, profile and color, current approval or NOA pathway, deck and underlayment, fasteners and layout, roof-zone requirements, flashings and accessories, ventilation, concealed-condition process, repair stock, samples, warranties and exclusions.
Use current manufacturer and Florida documents at the time of design.
These links support the website version. Approval status, product names and warranty terms must be verified against current source documents before ordering or permitting.