- Tile can be tricky, yeah, but I’ve seen some Spanish-style homes in Minnesota hold up with the right prep.
- Key’s really in the underlayment and making sure snow guards are in place.
- Tiles themselves are fragile, but if you have a steep enough pitch and routine inspections, they can last.
- Metal’s definitely lower maintenance, though—no arguing with that when it comes to ice dams.
- Still, I wouldn’t fully count tile out for northern winters… just takes more TLC.
I’ve actually helped on a couple tile installs up here (northern WI), and yeah, prep is everything. We used a double layer of ice & water shield under the tiles, plus beefy snow guards. One thing I’m still not sure about—how do folks handle repairs when a tile cracks mid-winter? Seems like getting up there with all that ice would be sketchy. Anyone ever tried temporary fixes until spring, or is it just wait it out?
Yeah, cracked tiles in winter are a pain. I’ve seen folks try to tape over the crack with waterproof tape as a stopgap, but honestly, it’s usually just damage control until spring. Getting up there with ice is risky—sometimes it’s safer to just monitor for leaks and wait it out. If you can safely reach it from a window or with a long pole, maybe you can cover it temporarily, but I wouldn’t push it.
If you’re dealing with cracked tiles in the dead of winter, I’d say you’re right to be cautious about climbing up there. I’ve seen more than a few folks try the waterproof tape trick—sometimes it helps, sometimes it just peels off after a freeze-thaw cycle. If you can reach the spot safely, a piece of heavy-duty plastic tucked under the tile and weighed down can buy you some time. Just don’t wedge anything so tight it lifts the surrounding tiles. Honestly, most repairs are just holding patterns until the weather warms up... tile roofs can handle a lot, but winter up north is a real test.
- Seen a lot of tile roofs up here in the Midwest, and honestly, they’re a mixed bag in winter.
- Freeze-thaw cycles are brutal—water gets in those little cracks, then expands, and suddenly you’ve got more than just a hairline to worry about.
- I’ve watched folks try everything from tarps to that “miracle” tape. Sometimes it holds for a month, sometimes it’s flapping in the wind by morning.
- Heavy-duty plastic is decent as a stopgap, but if you don’t weigh it down right, snow just slides it off. Had that happen last January—woke up to plastic halfway down the yard.
- Main thing I tell people: don’t wedge anything under the tiles too tight. You’ll end up with more broken ones when things shift or ice builds up.
- Most repairs this time of year are just buying time until spring. No point risking life and limb on an icy roof unless water’s pouring in.
Curious—has anyone actually had insurance cover cracked tiles from winter damage? I’ve seen claims get denied because they call it “wear and tear,” not storm damage. Seems like a gray area.
Also, does anyone use those heated cables along the eaves? I’ve heard mixed reviews—some say they help with ice dams, others say they just move the problem further up the roof. Wondering if that’s worth trying or just another gimmick.
For what it’s worth, I’d rather deal with asphalt shingles in winter than tile, but maybe that’s just me being cautious after seeing too many cracked Spanish tiles after a rough freeze. Anyone actually prefer tile up north?
