You nailed it—there’s always some trade-off. I went with metal a few years back, and while it’s holding up great, the rain is LOUD and I had to add extra insulation after the first summer nearly cooked us. Before that, our old shingles needed patching every spring thanks to wind. Honestly, I think it comes down to what annoys you less. No roof is perfect, but at least you know what you’re getting into with each one.
That’s pretty much been my experience too. I swapped out old three-tab shingles for architectural ones about ten years back, hoping they’d hold up better against the spring storms we get here. They’ve lasted longer than the cheap stuff, but I still lose a couple after a rough wind. Metal tempted me, but the noise and upfront cost made me hesitate. Honestly, I think it’s just picking your battles—patching shingles every year or dealing with the racket when it rains. Neither’s perfect, but at least with shingles, repairs are usually straightforward.
That’s pretty much the trade-off I see all the time. Around here, I’ve patched more shingle roofs than I care to count after those spring wind gusts. The architectural ones do hang on better, but even then, if the wind gets under an edge, you’re up there with a bundle and a hammer every year or two. Metal’s got its own headaches—sure, it’ll take a beating and keep going, but I’ve had folks complain about the noise or even hail dings looking rough after a few seasons. And yeah, that upfront cost can sting.
Curious if you’ve looked into any of those newer synthetic shingles? I’ve seen them hold up surprisingly well in some nasty weather, though they’re not cheap either. Or maybe you’ve tried adding extra fasteners or adhesive strips to help keep the architectural shingles down? Sometimes little tweaks like that can buy you a few more years before you’re back up on the ladder...
“if the wind gets under an edge, you’re up there with a bundle and a hammer every year or two.”
Ain’t that the truth. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been called out after a good gust—usually right after someone thought they were done for a decade. I’ve tried those extra adhesive strips on architectural shingles, and it does help, but if your roof’s got some age or the decking’s not solid, wind’ll still find a way. Metal’s great until hail season... then folks start asking if their roof’s supposed to look like a golf ball. Haven’t done many synthetics yet—price scares most people off—but the few I’ve seen seem to shrug off storms better than asphalt. Still, nothing’s perfect, just gotta pick your poison sometimes.
“if the wind gets under an edge, you’re up there with a bundle and a hammer every year or two.”
That’s been my experience too, especially on older homes where the decking’s not perfectly flat. Shingles are affordable and easy to repair, but in high-wind areas, they’re just not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. I’ve seen folks try everything from extra nails to those sealant strips, but if the substrate isn’t solid or there’s any warping, wind will eventually get under there.
Metal does hold up better to wind, but like you said, hail can really mess it up. I’ve had a few clients switch to synthetic options—yeah, the upfront cost is higher, but they seem to handle both wind and hail better than asphalt or metal. Plus, some of the newer synthetics are made from recycled materials and reflect more heat, which can help with energy bills.
If you’re thinking long-term and don’t mind the initial investment, synthetics or even a green roof system might be worth considering. Not perfect, but fewer headaches down the road compared to chasing blown-off shingles every spring.
