I’ve wondered about tile roofs up here too. My cousin in Duluth actually tried concrete tiles a few years back—looked great, but he had some issues with ice dams and a couple tiles cracked after a brutal freeze-thaw cycle. He said the weight was a pain during install, and he had to reinforce the rafters. On the plus side, he hasn’t had any leaks or rust like I did with my old metal roof. Seems like if you’re willing to do the prep work and keep an eye out for cracks, it’s doable... but definitely not zero-maintenance.
I’ve been looking into this too since I just bought an older place with a pretty tired asphalt roof. I love the look of tile, but the weight thing gives me pause—my inspector said my rafters would probably need beefing up as well. The freeze-thaw cycles up here are no joke... I’ve seen a few houses in the neighborhood with cracked tiles after last winter. That said, I totally get the appeal of not having to worry about rust or leaks like with metal or old shingles.
Ice dams seem like a bigger issue for tile roofs, especially if your attic insulation isn’t great. I wonder if using some kind of ice and water shield under the tiles would help? It sounds like maintenance is more about catching cracks early, which I could live with, but I’m not sure I want to deal with reinforcing the whole roof structure. Maybe clay tiles hold up better than concrete? Not sure if anyone’s tried both up north.
Anyway, I’m leaning toward a high-quality shingle or maybe standing seam metal for now, but tile is still tempting... just wish it was less of a project.
Ice dams seem like a bigger issue for tile roofs, especially if your attic insulation isn’t great. I wonder if using some kind of ice and water shield under the tiles would help?
Here’s how I’d break it down if you’re thinking about tile in a cold climate:
1. Weight is a real concern. If your inspector says the rafters aren’t up to it, you’re looking at a major structural upgrade before you even get to the roofing part. That alone can double your budget.
2. Ice and water shield under tile does help with leaks from ice dams, but it won’t stop the tiles themselves from cracking if water gets in and freezes. You’ll still need good attic insulation and ventilation to keep the roof surface cold and minimize damming in the first place.
3. Clay vs concrete: Clay is usually less porous, but both can crack in freeze-thaw cycles if moisture gets underneath. I’ve seen more cracked concrete tiles up north, but clay isn’t immune either.
4. Maintenance is key, like you said—catching cracks early and replacing damaged tiles before water gets through.
Honestly, unless you’re set on the look, high-end shingles or standing seam metal are just less hassle up here. Metal can be noisy, but it sheds snow better and doesn’t care about freeze-thaw nearly as much. If you really want tile, just be ready for some extra work up front and ongoing.
That’s a solid breakdown—weight and freeze-thaw are definitely the big hurdles. I do think you’re right that, even with
, you can get some peace of mind by really dialing in insulation and ventilation. I’ve seen a few folks pull it off up north, but it takes commitment. If you love the look, it’s not impossible—just a bit more of a project than most expect.ice and water shield under tile does help with leaks from ice dams, but it won’t stop the tiles themselves from cracking if water gets in and freezes
I get the appeal of tile, but honestly, I’m not convinced it’s worth the hassle up north unless you’ve got a pretty generous budget. Even with perfect insulation and ventilation, the freeze-thaw cycle is relentless. I had a neighbor who went all-in on concrete tiles—looked amazing for a couple years, but by year five, he was replacing cracked tiles every spring. The cost of repairs and the headache of finding matching tiles added up fast.
If you’re set on the look, have you considered synthetic slate or composite tiles? They’re lighter, handle freeze-thaw better, and you still get that classic vibe. I priced out both when redoing my roof last year—composite was about 30% cheaper installed than real tile and way less stress about snow load or breakage. Plus, you don’t need to beef up your rafters or worry as much about ice dams.
Not saying it’s impossible to do real tile, but for most folks watching their wallet (like me), there are smarter ways to get that style without the long-term risk. Just my two cents after seeing a few neighbors go through it.
