Been thinking about redoing my roof, and I really love the look of tile roofs. Thing is, winters here can get pretty brutal, lots of snow and freezing temps. I've heard mixed things about tile roofs holding up in these conditions—some say it's fine, others say it's asking for trouble. Um, anyone here have experience with tile roofs in cold climates? Would love some real-world input before I commit to this.
Had a client a few years back who insisted on a tile roof because she'd fallen in love with the Mediterranean look after a trip abroad. Beautiful stuff, no doubt about it. Thing is, we're up here in Minnesota, and winters don't mess around. Anyway, we went ahead with it, but man, the ice dams that formed were something else... I ended up back there more than once trying to sort out leaks and cracked tiles after heavy snowfalls.
Now, I'm not saying tile roofs are impossible in harsh winters—I've seen them hold up fine—but you've gotta make sure they're installed with proper insulation and ventilation. And honestly, even then, be prepared for a bit more maintenance than you'd have with asphalt shingles or metal roofing.
If you're the type who doesn't mind a bit of extra upkeep for the aesthetics, it could work. But if you prefer set-it-and-forget-it, well... might wanna reconsider.
