I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen tile roofs hold up pretty well in cold climates—if they’re installed right. My cousin in Vermont went with clay tiles, but he made sure to get ones rated for freeze-thaw cycles and had a pro do the underlayment and ventilation. He also added snow guards to keep the big sheets of ice from sliding off and cracking tiles. It wasn’t cheap, and he had to reinforce the rafters for the extra weight, but five winters in and no major issues yet. I think a lot comes down to the prep work and picking the right materials for the job. Not saying it’s for everyone, but it can work if you’re willing to go the extra mile.
I’m with you on the prep work making all the difference. I looked into tile when we bought our place upstate, but honestly, the weight and cost gave me pause. The idea of reinforcing rafters just for the roof felt like a lot, especially since we had a few other big projects on the list.
That said, I did a deep dive into what would actually make tile work here, and your cousin’s approach lines up with what I found: freeze-thaw rated tiles, pro installation, and snow guards are non-negotiable. One thing I’d add—make sure you have a really solid plan for attic ventilation and insulation. If warm air leaks up, you’ll get ice dams no matter what kind of roof you have, and with tile, repairs aren’t cheap.
Also, double-check local building codes. Some towns around me have weird rules about roof materials because of snow load concerns. All in all, I think it’s doable if you’re set on tile and willing to invest upfront... but for my budget, I ended up going with metal instead. Less pretty, but less stress too.
I get the appeal of metal—easy to maintain, handles snow like a champ, and you don’t have to worry about the weight. But I’d push back a bit on tile being too much hassle for up north. I’ve seen some older farmhouses with tile roofs that have held up for decades, even through nasty ice storms. If you’re already redoing rafters or structure for other reasons, sometimes it’s not as big a leap as it seems. The real kicker is getting someone who actually knows how to install tile in cold climates... that’s where most folks run into trouble. And yeah, ice dams are brutal—no roof is immune if the attic’s not sealed up tight.
You nailed it about the installer making all the difference. I’ve seen tile roofs up here in Minnesota that are pushing 80 years—no joke. The trick is definitely in the prep and making sure the structure can handle the weight, but once it’s done right, they’re surprisingly resilient. Ice dams are a pain no matter what you use, though... good attic insulation and ventilation are just as important as the roofing material itself.
Ice dams are a pain no matter what you use, though... good attic insulation and ventilation are just as important as the roofing material itself.
That’s been my experience too. I bought my first house last year, and it has a concrete tile roof from the late ‘70s. I was a little nervous about how it’d hold up through a Minnesota winter, but honestly, the tiles themselves weren’t the issue—it was all about the prep work underneath. The previous owner had reinforced the rafters, so no sagging or weird settling, even with heavy snow.
What surprised me was how much difference the insulation made. I had a couple of spots with thinner insulation and sure enough, that’s where I got minor ice dams. The tiles handled freeze-thaw cycles fine, but the water backup was a headache. I ended up adding more cellulose insulation and some extra venting, and that helped a lot.
If anything, I’d say the weight of tile is only a problem if you skip the structural upgrades. Otherwise, they’re more durable than I expected—just gotta stay on top of the insulation and airflow.
