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Roof Replacement

Composite & Synthetic Roofing in Toronto & the GTA

Synthetic slate exists because most houses that would look right under real slate can't carry it, and most budgets that want cedar don't want cedar maintenance. Composite shingles — moulded from engineered polymers, sometimes rubber slate made with recycled material — copy the profile and shadow lines of slate or shake at roughly a quarter of natural slate's weight. From the curb, good synthetic is genuinely hard to call out; you usually have to touch it to know.

Weight is the quiet advantage. Because composite tiles install on ordinary framing with ordinary nails, there's no structural review, no specialist trade, and repairs work like shingle repairs rather than stonework. The products are engineered for freeze-thaw and carry strong impact and wind ratings, which matters when a Lake Ontario squall drops a branch on your roof — a slate cracks, a composite tile usually bounces. Most lines carry Class A fire ratings too.

The honest trade-offs: synthetic costs meaningfully more than architectural shingles, the category is younger than its 50-year warranties, and cheap composite lines can fade unevenly — brand selection matters. We quote established products with real track records, and if you're choosing between synthetic slate and a premium shingle, we'll walk you through whether the difference is worth it on your particular house.

What this covers

  • Tear-off of existing roofing and deck inspection
  • Replacement of any soft or rotten sheathing
  • Ice and water shield at eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment above
  • Composite slate or shake tiles installed to manufacturer nailing spec
  • Matching hip and ridge caps in the same material
  • New drip edge, valley metal and flashings at chimneys and penetrations
  • Ventilation correction where the attic needs it
  • Full cleanup with magnet sweep

What affects the price

  • Product line and brand — established composite manufacturers price above newer entrants for a reason
  • Slate profile versus shake profile, and multi-width or blended-colour options
  • Roof size, pitch and complexity, as with any steep-slope system
  • Deck repairs uncovered at tear-off
  • Flashing and chimney detail work
  • Colour blending — hand-mixed multi-tone installs take longer than single-colour
  • Warranty tier, since some lines offer upgraded transferable coverage

Every home is different, so we don’t publish flat prices — the quote is free and based on your actual job.

Common questions

Does synthetic slate really look like real slate?
The good products, yes — from the street, even from the driveway. Quality composite shingles are moulded from casts of natural slate, with varied widths and surface texture, and blended colours sell the effect. Up close the edges give it away to a trained eye. Cheaper lines look repetitive because they use too few mould patterns; that's worth checking on a sample and an installed roof.
How long does composite slate roofing last?
Manufacturers warrant most lines for 50 years, and lab weathering supports it, but the honest answer is the category is only a few decades old — no polymer roof has 80 years of Ontario winters behind it the way stone does. What we can say: established products from the 2000s are holding up well through freeze-thaw, hail and UV. It should comfortably outlast two shingle roofs.
Is synthetic slate worth the cost over regular shingles?
If you're staying long-term, want the slate or shake look, and value impact and wind resistance — often yes, since you likely skip a whole reroof cycle. If the roof barely shows from the street or you'll sell within a few years, a premium architectural shingle delivers most of the practical benefit for much less. It's a house-by-house answer, and we'll give you ours honestly.
What is rubber slate made of?
Most 'rubber slate' is an engineered polymer blend, frequently with recycled content — old tires, industrial plastics — moulded into slate-profile tiles. Recycled roofing appeals for the sustainability angle, and several lines are themselves recyclable at end of life. Composition varies by brand, and so does quality; recycled content itself isn't a red flag or a guarantee.
Can synthetic slate go on a house that couldn't hold real slate?
Yes — that's its main reason to exist. Composite tiles weigh in the same range as heavy asphalt shingles, so any structure sound enough for a normal reroof can take them, with no structural review or Ontario Building Code permit implications from added load. You get the heritage look on ordinary framing, which real slate simply can't offer.

Ready to sort out your composite & synthetic roofing?

Tell us what your home needs — a small fix or a full project — and get a free quote.

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