Yeah, that’s the thing—tile looks amazing, but the structural upgrades alone are a wallet-buster up here. I’ve seen a few folks try it in northern climates, and unless you’re obsessive about attic insulation and ventilation, ice dams can get ugly fast. One guy down the road added heat cables, but he’s still up there every spring chipping away at the mess. Honestly, I’d rather deal with asphalt or metal and sleep easier when the snow piles up. Tile just seems like more hassle than it’s worth unless you’re really committed.
Can’t blame you for leaning toward asphalt or metal, honestly. Tile’s gorgeous, but up here it’s a whole different beast. The weight alone means you’re looking at beefing up rafters, and then there’s the constant battle with ice dams. I’ve seen a few folks try to make it work, but unless you’re really on top of insulation and airflow, it just turns into a headache. Metal’s not perfect either, but at least you’re not out there every spring with a chisel. Sometimes practical wins over pretty.
- Helped on a tile roof job last winter—looked amazing, but man, the prep was wild.
- Had to double up rafters just to handle the weight.
- Ice dams were a nightmare. Even with good insulation, we still had melt/refreeze issues along the eaves.
- Saw a couple cracked tiles by spring from freeze-thaw cycles.
- Metal’s noisy in rain, but at least it sheds snow fast and doesn’t crack as easy.
- If you’re set on tile, gotta be ready for extra upkeep and some surprises...
Ice dams were a nightmare. Even with good insulation, we still had melt/refreeze issues along the eaves.
That’s the kicker with tile up north—ice dams just love to mess with you. I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on insulation and still end up with those thick ice pancakes hanging off the gutters. If you’re set on tile, here’s what I’d do:
1. Beef up your rafters (like you mentioned). Tile’s heavy, no way around it.
2. Invest in a serious ice & water shield underlayment, not just felt. It won’t stop all leaks, but it buys you time.
3. Make sure your attic is vented right. Even a little warm air sneaking through can start that melt/freeze cycle.
4. Keep an eye out for cracked tiles after winter—freeze-thaw is brutal. I’ve replaced more than a few for folks who thought they were set.
Metal’s noisy, yeah, but honestly? After patching tile cracks every spring, I’d take the racket over surprise leaks any day... Just my two cents.
I’m actually dealing with my first winter on a tile roof right now (southern Minnesota), and I underestimated how much ice would build up. We did add extra insulation and an ice/water barrier, but there are still some icicles forming along the eaves. Haven’t noticed any cracked tiles yet, but I’m definitely keeping an eye out. Metal was an option for us too, but the noise was a dealbreaker for my partner... Now I’m wondering if we should’ve just gone with it.
