As an independent adjuster, over the years I’ve seen some absolutely crazy examples of the brutality of Mother Nature. Hurricanes, tornadoes, fire, flood…
they’re all disasters in their own right. Searching for the right materials to BEAT Mother Nature at her own game has been the goal of manufacturers for years. I think one of the biggest turning points came in 1992 following the destruction that was called Hurricane Andrew. To be honest, in the state of Florida the building codes weren’t terrible, but it was painfully obvious they weren’t being enforced; nonetheless, there was a LOT of room for improvement. Thanks to the re-examination of the codes after Andrew, Florida made additions to the code that included missile-impact resistant glass for windows, hurricane strapped roof trusses, added adhesives, and more cinder block construction with reinforced concrete pillars. None of these improvements are more important than the other. They ALL were and are equally needed.
In addition to the improved codes, there have been some amazing strides taken in the building materials themselves. One of my favorites must be the composite roofing materials that have sprung up over the past two decades. Some of the manufacturers, in my opinion, need to go back to the drawing board, because they have products that make your house look like it belongs in the next Lego Movie. Their tag lines should be, “Buy our material. It’s plastic and ugly.”
That being said, I’ve also seen some composite roofs that look amazing. Whether the material is a polymer resin or a recycled material that uses old tires, these roofs look fantastic and have a bullet point spreadsheet of positives that would warm your soul in the middle of an arctic blizzard. For the most part, the materials look 
like actual slate or shake. Looks are where the comparison stops, though. These materials are extreme wind rated, have an excessively narrow fade ratio (if any), are fire resistant, weigh hundreds of pounds lighter, and are also impact resistant. That last point is a big one because, for all intents and purposes, that means these roofs are practically hail proof. Talk about being able to breathe a humongous sigh of relief when you see a hailstorm blowing through!...And I mean for both the homeowner AND the insurance company! No more roof to replace…no more hassle of trying to line up a roofer…and no worries that you’ll have to do it all over again within another year or two when the next hailstorm strikes.
DaVinci Roofscapes and Euroshield are two such manufacturers that appear to be in the forefront of innovation when it comes to composite and recycled roofing respectively. I think DaVinci gives you much more color options and choices and is more readily available, particularly in the U.S. market. No doubt, there are other manufacturers, so do your homework and when you find a product you like, your next step is to make sure you use a roofing contractor that has experience installing that kind of roofing material as opposed to just knowing how to install asphalt shingles.
Finally, as much as I love the composite roofing, there are several things that need to start taking priority for these roofs to become more mainstream. First, more insurance carriers need to offer reductions in premiums to homeowners who have these types of materials. It is well worth your time to inquire about it with your own carrier, because they may, indeed, already have those kinds of discounts. Secondly, again aimed at the carriers, if a policyowner has a composite roof, then how about eliminating the wind deductible altogether? The likelihood of damage is so miniscule, and the homeowner is choosing to protect the risk better than someone with standard building materials, therefore, they should be rewarded for that effort! Third, manufacturers need to find a way to bring the price points down. I fully support making a profit, but it’s time to step back and look at the overall picture. As it stands, only individuals who can afford high-end homes can also afford the high cost of a composite roof. Yes, of course it’s going to be more expensive because it lasts longer and is much more durable, but come on, industry…..when the cost of the roof could support a small country for 2-3 fiscal years, it’s time to re-evaluate. Composite roofs make sense…for EVERYBODY, not just the elite. Become a hero for the average Joe and lower those prices, will ya? Doesn’t it make more sense to have an excellent product used by a MULTITUDE of people for a slightly higher than average price, instead of a great product used by the micro elite at an exorbitant price? Look, I’m in your corner…. I believe in your product. So much so, I believe every house should have the chance to have it installed, regardless of what side of the railroad track it’s located.