I actually went the budget route when I replaced my old shingles with tile a few years back (northern Minnesota, so winters are no joke). The installer used Ice & Water Shield, but I also double-checked the attic insulation myself—added another layer up there. Here’s how it played out: first winter, we did get some ice damming, but nothing leaked. I do think the membrane helped, but honestly, making sure the attic’s sealed tight and ventilated right made the bigger difference for us. As for raking, I tried it once... snapped a tile and nearly slipped, so never again. If I had to do it over, I'd still go tile, but only with all those layers in place.
Tile in a northern winter is definitely a bold choice, but honestly, it sounds like you did everything right. I’m all about stretching a dollar, and it’s easy to think you can just slap on a new roof and call it good, but those extra steps—like the Ice & Water Shield and beefing up the attic insulation—really do make the difference. I’ve seen neighbors skip that stuff and end up with leaks or monster heating bills.
Totally agree with you on ventilation being a game changer. I added some extra vents when we redid our roof (not tile, just asphalt), and it made a bigger dent in ice damming than anything else we tried. Sometimes folks overlook that part because it’s not as visible as the roofing material itself, but in my experience, if your attic’s not sealed up and breathing right, no membrane in the world is going to save you from trouble down the line.
Raking snow off tile is its own kind of nightmare—I tried helping my cousin with his once and we cracked two tiles before we even cleared half the roof. Not worth it. If you’ve got good layers underneath and solid insulation, usually you can just let nature take its course unless there’s a crazy storm.
If I had to sum up what I’ve learned: don’t skimp on what goes under the roof, even if you’re pinching pennies on the surface material. Tile’s heavy but tough—just needs that backup for our kind of winters. And yeah, sometimes “budget” means spending a little more up front to avoid bigger headaches later.
Sounds like your setup is working out pretty well overall. It’s nice to see someone else who doesn’t just default to shingles in these parts...
Couldn’t agree more about not cutting corners on what’s under the tile. I’ve inspected plenty of roofs where folks went for looks or price and skipped the details—almost always ends up costing them. You nailed it with ventilation too. People get fixated on the surface, but if the attic can’t breathe, you’re just asking for trouble. Tile’s definitely a gutsy pick up here, but with the right prep like you did, it’ll outlast most other options. I’d take a well-installed tile roof over a cheap shingle job any day, especially in these winters.
People get fixated on the surface, but if the attic can’t breathe, you’re just asking for trouble.
That right there is the part most folks overlook. Everyone wants to talk about the tile itself, but if you cheap out on underlayment or ignore airflow, it’s just a matter of time before you’re dealing with ice dams or rot. I’ve seen neighbors go for flashy tiles, then skip proper eaves venting—come spring, they’re pulling down soggy insulation and cursing their choices.
I’ll admit, I was nervous going with tile up here (northern MN). It’s not the default, but after seeing how long my uncle’s roof lasted (30+ years and counting), I figured it was worth the extra upfront work. The key is definitely in the prep: solid membrane, double-checked flashing, and making sure snow can slide off without piling up at the edge. Not cheap, but neither is replacing a half-baked shingle roof every 10-15 years when the wind rips through.
Honestly, I’d rather spend a little more now for peace of mind. You nailed it—done right, tile can handle our winters just fine.
I get the appeal of tile, but honestly, I can’t help but wonder if the extra cost is really worth it for most folks up north. I priced out tile vs. metal last year, and the difference was wild—especially after factoring in the beefed-up framing and underlayment. Maybe I’m just too cautious, but I’d rather put that money into better insulation and a solid metal roof. Has anyone found a way to make tile work without blowing up the budget? Or is it just one of those “spend big or don’t bother” situations?
