Yeah, I hear you on the tile. I almost went that route because it looks sharp, but after talking to a few local contractors, I bailed. Here’s what I learned: first, if you don’t have the right underlayment and slope, water gets under those tiles and then freezes—game over. Second, the weight is no joke. My inspector said my rafters would need beefing up. Metal’s not flashy, but it’s been zero hassle through two winters now. Maybe tile works if you’re super meticulous, but honestly, I just wanted something I didn’t have to babysit every spring.
You nailed it about the underlayment and slope—those are dealbreakers for tile up here. I’ve seen folks skip the ice & water shield, and then every spring, they’re chasing leaks. Tile can work, but you’ve gotta be obsessive about prep. And yeah, the weight... I’ve had to reinforce more than a few rafters for folks who insisted on tile. Metal’s not as pretty, but it’s way less drama in freeze-thaw cycles. If you’re not up for yearly inspections, I’d stick with what you’ve got.
- Tile looks great, but the prep costs add up fast—extra underlayment, ice & water shield, and maybe beefing up the rafters.
- We had a neighbor do tile and their insurance premiums jumped because of the weight and risk of cracking.
- I priced it out last year and metal was about 30% cheaper, plus less worry about snow load or shifting.
- Not saying tile can’t work, but for my budget and sanity, metal or even good shingles just make more sense up here.
- If you’re not into regular maintenance or surprise repairs, I’d pass on tile for northern winters.
You’re spot on about the prep work and insurance—tile’s not just a “set it and forget it” option, especially up north. I’ve seen a few tile roofs crack after heavy ice storms, and repairs aren’t cheap. Metal’s definitely more forgiving with snow loads. If you’re looking to avoid headaches after every winter, your thinking makes sense.
I get where you’re coming from about metal being more forgiving, but I’ve actually seen tile hold up better than folks expect—if it’s done right. There was this house a few blocks from me, original Spanish clay tiles from the 1940s, and we had that brutal ice storm a couple years back. Everyone figured the roof would be toast, but it came through with just a couple cracked tiles. Meanwhile, my neighbor with a standing seam metal roof had to deal with ice dams and a nasty leak right over his kitchen. Turns out, the installer hadn’t put in proper snow guards, so all that ice just slid down and piled up at the eaves.
I’m not saying tile’s always the answer up north, but I think a lot of the horror stories come from rushed installs or folks skipping the underlayment. Tile’s heavy, sure, but if your rafters are beefy enough and you’ve got a good ice & water shield underneath, it can take a beating. Insurance is a pain, though—I’ll give you that. My cousin had to fight tooth and nail to get his cracked tiles covered after a hailstorm, while the adjuster barely glanced at the neighbor’s asphalt shingles before cutting a check.
Metal’s great for snow, but it’s loud as heck in a hailstorm and the finish can get dinged up. Plus, I’ve seen more than one metal roof peel back in a windstorm when the fasteners weren’t up to snuff. Every roof type’s got its headaches, honestly. I guess it comes down to what you’re willing to deal with—cracked tiles or the occasional metal roof “thunderstorm” at 3am.
