Had my first winter with composite shingles in Michigan, and yeah, ice dams are the real boss. I thought I was clever with fancy shingles, but water still found its way into my pantry. Now I’m obsessed with attic vents and a roof rake. Live and learn...
I totally get the ice dam struggle—felt like I was constantly chasing leaks this winter too. Did you notice if your attic insulation was up to par, or was it more of a venting issue? I keep hearing that no matter what shingles you use, if the attic’s not breathing right, water finds a way in. Kinda makes me wonder if tile roofs would actually help, or just bring a new set of headaches in Michigan winters… Have you looked into heat cables at all, or is that overkill?
I’ve managed a few properties with tile roofs up here, and honestly, they’re kind of a mixed bag in Michigan. They look great and handle rain well, but the freeze-thaw cycles can be brutal—tiles crack, and repairs aren’t cheap. I’ve seen more success just making sure the attic’s got solid insulation and proper venting. Heat cables can help in trouble spots, but if you’re relying on them everywhere, something else is probably off. Shingles might not be glamorous, but with good airflow, they hold up better than most folks think.
Heat cables can help in trouble spots, but if you’re relying on them everywhere, something else is probably off.
Couldn’t agree more—if you need heat cables all over, there’s a bigger issue lurking. I’ve replaced a lot of cracked tiles after just a couple winters up here. The freeze-thaw is relentless. If someone’s really set on tile, I always stress: check the underlayment and make sure the roof pitch is steep enough. But honestly, with Michigan winters, architectural shingles plus good attic airflow usually outlast tile and cost way less to fix when things go sideways.
I hear you on the cracked tiles—seen it happen way too often up here. Folks love the look, but man, those freeze-thaw cycles just chew them up. I get why people want tile, but unless you’ve got a super steep pitch and bulletproof underlayment, it’s just asking for trouble in Michigan. Shingles aren’t glamorous, but they’re way less drama when the ice hits. I’d rather swap out a few shingles than deal with shattered tile every spring... just saying.
