I’ve seen a few homes try it with concrete or clay tile, and even with the best underlayment, you get cracks and shifting over time. The weight is another thing people underestimate, especially when you add heavy snow on top.
That lines up with what I’ve seen on inspections around northern NY and Vermont. Tile roofs look great on paper, but in practice, the freeze-thaw cycles up here just chew them up. Even the so-called “frost-resistant” tiles don’t always live up to the marketing. I’ve come across a couple of places where folks tried to go all-in with concrete tile—one was less than five years old and already had cracked corners and some loose pieces. The homeowner said they’d reinforced the rafters, but it didn’t seem to matter much once water got under a tile and froze.
The weight issue is no joke either. I’ve seen rafters bowing under the combined load of heavy tile and a few feet of wet snow. Most of the time, people don’t factor in the snow load when they’re dreaming about a Mediterranean look. Retrofitting extra support isn’t cheap, and it’s not always possible with older homes.
As for the newer composites, I’m skeptical. I inspected one place last spring that had synthetic slate tiles—can’t remember the brand, but they were supposed to be “engineered for northern climates.” They did seem lighter and more flexible than concrete or clay, but there were still a couple of spots where the tiles had shifted after just two winters. No major cracking yet, but some fasteners had backed out, which could turn into a bigger problem if water gets in.
Maybe some of these products will prove themselves over time, but right now, I haven’t seen anything that really stands up to a decade of hard winters. If someone’s dead set on tile for aesthetic reasons, I’d say composites are probably less risky than traditional materials, but it’s still a gamble compared to standing seam metal or even high-quality asphalt shingles. Just my two cents from what I’ve seen in the field.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen a couple of tile roofs hold up decently in the Adirondacks—key thing was a super steep pitch and really meticulous install. Not saying it’s common, or cheap, but it can be done if someone’s stubborn enough. Still, for most folks, metal just makes way more sense up here. The maintenance headaches with tile in this climate usually aren’t worth it unless you’re really set on the look.
I’ve been wondering about this too, since I’m looking at houses upstate and a couple have tile roofs. Honestly, the look is awesome, but I keep hearing mixed things about how they handle the winters. The steep pitch thing makes sense—snow would slide off easier, right? But what happens if you get ice dams or that freeze-thaw cycle we always get in March? I’d be worried about tiles cracking or shifting.
Metal seems like the obvious choice for up here, but I’m curious about long-term costs. Is it just the upfront price that’s higher, or does maintenance even out over time? My parents had asphalt shingles and were always patching something after storms, so I’m hoping to avoid that kind of hassle.
If anyone’s actually lived with a tile roof through a few Adirondack winters, did you run into any big issues? Or is it just a matter of paying more attention to upkeep? I’m not super handy, so anything that needs constant repairs is probably a no-go for me... but if it’s just occasional maintenance and looks way better, maybe it’s worth considering.
- Had a tile roof on my old place near Lake Placid for about 8 winters.
- They look great, but honestly, tiles do crack sometimes with the freeze-thaw swings—especially if you get a lot of ice dams.
- Steep pitch helps with snow, but ice can still back up under tiles if your attic isn’t well insulated.
- Maintenance is more than metal, less than old-school shingles (at least in my experience). I paid for a pro to check it each spring—usually a few cracked tiles to swap out.
- Metal’s more expensive up front, but I barely touched mine after install. Tiles need a bit more TLC, but nothing wild unless you get a bad winter.
- If you’re not handy and want zero hassle, metal might be the safer bet. If you’re okay with paying for occasional upkeep and love the look, tile’s doable... just be ready for the odd cracked piece.
- Inspected a handful of tile roofs after some rough winters up in the Adirondacks—cracked tiles are pretty common, especially on older installs or where insulation isn’t great.
- Saw more issues where folks skipped regular attic checks. Ice dams sneak up fast and can push water under the tiles.
- Metal roofs definitely need less hands-on work, but I’ve seen a few with noisy expansion pops in cold snaps... not everyone loves that.
- If you’re set on tile, just budget for a spring checkup. It’s usually a handful of tiles, not a disaster, but it adds up over time.