Answer those questions, gentle reader, and you will make an informed decision. A lot of roofing products have been spectacular failures in our Hawaiian climate. It had a warranty from the Manufacturer. Homeowners in Hawaii were having them installed like crazy as a long lasting, fire-safe alternative to wood shakes. In fact, they were supposed to make wood shakes obsolete.
Most synthetic shakes are expensive and have poor track records here in Hawaii.
There are a few, however, that pass the test of time water, and let it sit overnight, it started to swell up and flake apart. Later, it looked like a bowl of oatmeal. So we advised our customers to stay far away from them. And sure enough, Hawaii's moist tropical climate quickly trashed those delicate little beauties. Before long, the Manufacturer was filing for bankruptcy and everyone was pointing fingers at each other.