With chiseled ends and beaver tail profiles, the products are a great imitation and have excellent properties. Companies as diverse as TAMKO and Carlisle are rolling out products to get an early jump on what promises to be a growing market. While past alternatives have been down this road before, a convergence of market forces may be enough to make rubber shingles a top choice among savvy homeowners.
TAMKO, an asphalt roofing manufacturer based in Joplin, MO, introduced Lamarite Slate Composite Shingles in early 2004 after some test installations. Neil Robinson, creative director of marketing, says that the company is responding to consumer demand for something more elegant. "We feel like the consumer is wanting to rise above the laminated shingle. There seems to be a trend in that direction," he says. "It was something with the potential to grow our business and offer a variety of products to our customers."