- Metal’s a solid pick for wild weather, but yeah, it can sound like a drumline during heavy rain. Some folks love it, others not so much.
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—true, but you can add insulation to muffle the noise. Not perfect, but helps.“Seems like it’d be less hassle, but maybe noisier when it rains...”
- Seen metal roofs take hail better than clay or asphalt. Dents instead of cracks or holes. Still, big hail can mess up anything if it’s bad enough.
- Weight’s way less than tile, so install’s easier and you don’t need beefed-up framing.
- Only downside I’ve run into: metal expands/contracts with temp swings. Sometimes you’ll hear pops or creaks as it settles... took me by surprise the first time.
- If you’re in tornado alley or get a lot of hail, I’d lean metal over tile any day. Just my two cents.
Only downside I’ve run into: metal expands/contracts with temp swings. Sometimes you’ll hear pops or creaks as it settles... took me by surprise the first time.
That’s a good point—those noises can be weird if you’re not expecting them. Has anyone here actually had clay tiles crack from hail or just heard about it? I’ve seen plenty of dented metal, but not much tile damage firsthand. Curious if anyone’s insurance gave them trouble over “cosmetic” dents on metal, too. Seems like that could be a headache.
Curious if anyone’s insurance gave them trouble over “cosmetic” dents on metal, too. Seems like that could be a headache.
I actually ran into this with my standing seam roof after a hailstorm last year. The adjuster called the dents “cosmetic” and said they wouldn’t cover replacement, even though it looked pretty rough from the street. Functionally, the roof was fine, but it was still frustrating. Never dealt with cracked clay tiles personally, but I’ve seen a neighbor have to replace a few after a big storm—guess it depends on tile quality and how direct the impact is.
The adjuster called the dents “cosmetic” and said they wouldn’t cover replacement, even though it looked pretty rough from the street.
That’s the part that gets me—insurance seems to draw the line wherever it’s convenient for them. I get that a dented metal roof still works, but if it looks trashed, that’s not nothing. On the flip side, I’ve seen clay tiles crack from just a small branch, and those repairs aren’t cheap either. Honestly, I’m not convinced clay is any less of a headache than metal, especially in hail country.
Honestly, I’m not convinced clay is any less of a headache than metal, especially in hail country.
That’s been my experience too. We had clay tiles on our last place—looked gorgeous, no question, but they were a constant source of stress every time a storm rolled through. One decent hailstorm and I was up there (carefully) checking for cracks, because even if just a few tiles broke, water would find its way underneath. The repair costs added up quick, and matching the color was a pain since the originals had faded.
Metal’s not perfect either. The “cosmetic” thing drives me nuts. Our neighbor’s standing seam roof got peppered with dents after a bad hailstorm, and the adjuster said it was still “functionally sound.” Sure, it didn’t leak, but from the curb it looked like someone took a ball-peen hammer to it. Try selling a house with a roof that looks like that—good luck convincing buyers it’s just cosmetic.
I get why people go for metal: it lasts, sheds snow, and you don’t have to worry about individual pieces cracking. But in places where hail is common, it feels like you’re picking between two headaches. Clay cracks, metal dents, and insurance seems to dodge responsibility either way.
Honestly, if I had to do it again, I’d probably look into those impact-resistant shingles or even synthetic tiles. They’re not perfect either, but at least you’re not dealing with the same level of visible damage after every storm. Plus, repairs seem more straightforward and less costly.
It’s wild how much of this comes down to what your local weather throws at you and how picky your insurance company decides to be that year.
