Had a neighbor try concrete tiles a few years back—looked great at first, but by the second winter, he was up there patching cracks and replacing broken pieces. The snow load and all that freeze-thaw just did a number on them. I get the appeal, but unless you’re ready to invest in serious prep (like heated underlayment and a steep pitch), it’s a headache. I’ve stuck with architectural shingles—less fancy, but they’ve handled Michigan winters way better for me.
The snow load and all that freeze-thaw just did a number on them.
Couldn’t agree more—concrete tiles look sharp, but up here, they’re just not built for the abuse. I’ve seen a few properties try it, and every time, it’s the same story: cracked tiles, ice dams, constant patch jobs. Even with good prep, you’re still fighting physics. Shingles might not have the curb appeal, but they’re way less hassle in the long run. If you’re managing multiple roofs, reliability wins out every time.
- Seen plenty of tile roofs up here, and honestly, most don’t last more than a few tough winters before issues pop up.
- Main culprits: heavy snow weight, ice wedging in cracks, and tiles just not flexing with the temperature swings. Even “winter-rated” products end up chipping or shifting over time.
- I’ve inspected a handful where folks really tried to make it work—heated cables, extra underlayment, reinforced framing... Still ended up replacing a bunch of cracked tiles every spring. Maintenance costs add up fast.
- Shingles aren’t perfect either (wind loves to rip them off on exposed peaks), but at least patching’s straightforward and you can usually get a decade or two out of a good install.
- Metal’s another story—expensive upfront, but if you’re staying put for the long haul, it shrugs off snow and ice better than either tile or shingle. Just noisy in hail and rain, which bugs some people more than others.
- Only exception I’ve seen is old-school clay tile on steep slopes with killer drainage—those seem to hold up if you baby them and keep the valleys clear. But that’s rare around here.
- Not saying tile can’t ever work in cold climates, but unless you’ve got deep pockets for upkeep (or just love the look), shingles or metal are way less headache up north.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen concrete tile do alright if you’re careful with the install and slope.
That’s true for flat or low-pitch roofs, but on a steep pitch with solid snow guards and regular clearing, tiles can last longer than folks expect. Not saying it’s zero maintenance, but I’ve had customers go 10+ years without major headaches. Still, if you want set-it-and-forget-it, metal’s hard to beat up north.“Main culprits: heavy snow weight, ice wedging in cracks, and tiles just not flexing with the temperature swings.”
- Gotta agree, slope and install make or break tile up north.
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True, but “regular clearing” is the kicker—most folks don’t want to be up there with a roof rake at -20°C.“on a steep pitch with solid snow guards and regular clearing, tiles can last longer than folks expect.”
- Seen tile survive some brutal winters, but when it fails, it’s usually from ice dams sneaking under a cracked piece. Not fun to fix mid-February.
- Metal’s definitely the “set-it-and-forget-it” champ for snow country. Tiles look great, but if you get those wild freeze/thaw swings (like we do here), you’re rolling the dice a bit.
- Had one client with concrete tile—steep pitch, lots of sun exposure—got 15 years before a single replacement. Another guy two streets over had three cracked tiles after one ugly ice storm.
- If you love the look and don’t mind occasional maintenance, go for it. But if you’re not into ladders and shovels in January... metal’s a lot less drama.
- Either way, make sure your underlayment is bombproof. That’s what really saves you when things get weird.