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Polymer Wood Shake Roof

​Plastic Polymer Roofing

Plastic polymer roofing is a very durable roofing option. This low maintenance roofing material has a long-life span and can be made to look like wood, slate and clay. It is light-to-moderate in weight. Some plastic polymer roofing options are made from recycled materials, making it eco-friendly. Plastic polymer roofing is moderately priced and is good against both wind and fire.

Advances in polymer formulation and manufacturing technologies have given the synthetic products improved resistance to weathering and increased durability which lengthens their lifespans. These advances, along with the ease of installation (compared to natural roofing products), makes them a good option to capture the texture, color variation and appearance of natural materials while being more budget friendly.  ​

What is Plastic Polymer Roofing
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Polymer Chain

​Plastic polymers are comprised of many molecules repeating structural units to form long chains. They can be natural like rubber from the Indian rubber tree or an engineered plastic. Polymers have a long shelf life but after several years they become brittle and break down into small pieces that don’t decay further. However, the product can be made into new products (recycled plastics).  Many manufacturers of roofing use recycled plastics to make polymer roofing shingles or tiles. This is a positive for the ecosystem because as these roofs reach their maximum lifespan (expected to be reliable for about 35 years for the better-quality ones) the discarded shingles can be recycled instead of landing in a dump.

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Plastic Synthetics
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Plastic Roofing Tiles

Synthetics are a polymer without fiber reinforcement and are designed to look like cedar and slate with a promise of maintenance-free lifetime. High-quality plastic polymer roofing is designed to look just like the slate and shake they are inspired by, with little variations in the molds to maintain visual interest. Their durability varies greatly by manufacture, so we choose only proven manufacturers with high satisfaction and a good track record.

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Composite Polymer Cedar Shake or Shingle

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Plastic Polymer Tile Roof

Plastic Polymer Slate Tile

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Plastic Polymer Roofing Positives

• Relativity light in weight - meaning the roof support structure doesn't have to be reinforced when replacing an older roof of a different roofing material. Sometimes the tiles are so light in weight they can be installed over an older, yet still sound, roof.
• Polymer shake or slate is easier to install than cedar shake or natural slate, so no trouble finding a qualified contractor to install them.
  
• Environmentally, they are recyclable so at the end of their useful life they can go to the recycling center instead of the dump.
  
• Fire repelling properties vary among brands, but some have a class A rating which is the highest grade out there, comparable to stone.
• Appearance varies among manufacturers, but the ones we recommend do an excellent job of imitating natural wood and slate   
• Natural clay tile and slate roofing products are very beautiful, but can be fragile during installation and are costly materials that require expert roofers (especially for a slate roof). The roofers can’t use pneumatic nailers or else risk cracking the shakes or tiles. Plus, the addition of about 10 to 20 percent to projects for overages is a lamentable necessity to make up for breakage during shipping and installation. Plastic polymer roofs can be installed quicker with pneumatic nailers and do not need the same overages consideration.

Plastic Polymer Roofing Negatives
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• Lower insulation value.
• Visually, some brands look like plain plastic tiles- not coming anywhere near replicating the fibrous texture or tones of cedar shakes. Instead of providing a matte reflection of clay tile, they look shiny which is often not preferred.
  
• Longevity is still mostly a prediction as very few of them have been field tested for more than a decade or two and formulas of composition are still improving.
  

Get a Free Estimate

It can be hard to identify high-quality materials, and it's even harder to truly know whether a roofer cares about the end result of your roof installation. Richmond VA Roofing is proud to have built up a reputation for excellence and quality work. We take pride in taking great care of our customers and doing an excellent job on every project. We focus on quality over speed, and providing prompt service no matter what kind of project you have.