That snow slide is no joke. First winter with my metal roof, I thought the neighbor’s dog was on the roof when the first big chunk let loose—scared me half to death. Snow guards helped, but yeah, it’s another thing to factor in. Still beats shoveling the roof, though.
I get the appeal of metal—no more shoveling, and it’s tough as nails—but honestly, the snow slide thing is a dealbreaker for me. I had a neighbor with a metal roof, and every winter it sounded like an avalanche when the snow let go. Even with snow guards, he still had to keep an eye out for big chunks landing on his deck or blocking the walkway. Plus, if you’ve got anything under the eaves (like shrubs or a heat pump), that falling snow can do some real damage.
I went with a green roof system last year—sedum and some native grasses. It’s not for everyone, but it totally changed how my place handles snow. The plants hold onto it, so there’s no sudden slides, and my upstairs stays warmer. Maintenance is a bit different, but I’d take that over worrying about ice dams or getting startled awake at 2am by a mini landslide. Just another option to think about if you’re not sold on shingles or metal.
I had a neighbor with a metal roof, and every winter it sounded like an avalanche when the snow let go. Even with snow guards, he still had to keep an eye out for big chunks landing on his deck or ...
That’s a really interesting perspective on green roofs—I hadn’t considered how much the vegetation could help with snow retention. The “mini landslide” effect on metal is exactly what I’ve seen too, and it worried me for my heat pump. I’ve been reading up on sedum systems for colder climates, but the maintenance aspect makes me a little hesitant. Still, your experience with better insulation upstairs is a big plus. Good to know there are more options than just shingles or metal.
- Love that you’re looking at all the options, especially green roofs.
-
That’s a big one—less risk of those surprise snow dumps.“I hadn’t considered how much the vegetation could help with snow retention.”
- Maintenance is a fair concern, but in my experience, sedum systems don’t need much fuss once they’re established.
- The insulation boost is real. Noticed a big difference in upstairs temps after switching from shingles.
- Metal is great for longevity, but yeah, the noise and snow slides can be a pain.
- If you’re worried about your heat pump, green might be worth the extra effort. Just my two cents.
Can vouch for the insulation boost—my folks did a green roof a few years back and their upstairs is way more comfortable in winter. Maintenance hasn’t been bad either, just some weeding at first. Shingles are easy, but honestly, I’d go green if you can swing it.
