"Ice dams everywhere...wish they'd talked to someone local first."
Yeah, that's a common oversight. Matching tile type to climate is crucial, but it's also worth considering roof pitch and ventilation. Even the best tiles won't perform well if the roof isn't designed to shed snow and ice properly. I've seen plenty of cases where homeowners upgraded tiles but ignored attic insulation and airflow—ended up with moisture buildup and ice dams anyway. It's really about looking at the whole roofing system, not just the tiles themselves.
Yeah, totally agree—it's surprising how often people overlook ventilation and attic insulation. When I redid my roof a couple years back, I almost made the same mistake. Luckily, a buddy pointed out that even premium tiles wouldn't fix my ice dam issues without proper airflow. Ended up adding soffit vents and extra insulation...haven't had a single problem since. It's definitely about looking at the bigger picture rather than just brand names or tile types.
Good points here—I'm actually in the middle of researching this myself (first-time homeowner, lots to learn!). A contractor friend of mine mentioned Eagle Roofing and Boral as pretty reliable brands in the US. But he also stressed the same thing about insulation and ventilation being key. Guess it doesn't matter how fancy your tiles are if your attic's trapping moisture or heat... Glad I caught this thread before diving into the project!
I've heard good things about Eagle too, but haven't looked into Boral yet—thanks for mentioning it. Curious though, has anyone found concrete tiles noticeably better than clay ones for durability or maintenance? Still on the fence myself...
"Curious though, has anyone found concrete tiles noticeably better than clay ones for durability or maintenance?"
From my experience, concrete tiles can be a bit tougher against hail and storm debris—had a client whose clay tiles cracked pretty easily after a moderate hailstorm, but their neighbor's concrete roof held up surprisingly well. Maintenance-wise, concrete might need occasional cleaning to prevent moss buildup, but overall, it's pretty low hassle. Both are solid options, but if storms are common in your area, concrete might give you some extra peace of mind...
