Best Ways To Protect Home From Extreme Weather Combo?
I’m right there with you on the pine needles. We’ve got a couple of massive white pines overhanging the house, and I swear those needles find their way into every kind of guard I’ve tried. The mesh ones worked for about a season, then I was back on the ladder with the shop vac. Foam inserts were even worse—turned into a soggy mess by fall. I did try one of those solid-surface covers (the ones with the little slots along the edge), and honestly, they’ve been the least headache so far. Not perfect, but at least I’m not up there every month.
Chimney leaks are sneaky. Had one last year that took me forever to track down—just a tiny crack in the flashing, but it soaked half a wall before I figured it out. It’s wild how much damage something that small can do. Ended up redoing all the flashing and adding a rain cap. Haven’t had an issue since, but now I check after every big storm just in case.
Ice dams are kind of hit or miss here (I’m in upstate NY). Some years we get hammered, others not so much. The worst was two winters ago—giant icicles and water dripping inside the window frames. Turned out my attic insulation had shifted and was blocking a bunch of soffit vents. Cleared those out, added some baffles, and it made a huge difference last winter. Still get some ice at the eaves, but nothing like before.
Roof’s asphalt shingles, about 15 years old now. They’re holding up okay, but I’m starting to see some curling on the north side where it stays damp longer. Thinking about switching to metal when it’s time to replace—heard it sheds snow better and stands up to hail, but not sure about the noise or cost yet. Anyone have experience with metal roofs in snowy areas? Worth the upgrade?
One thing I wish I’d done sooner is add gutters with bigger downspouts. The standard ones just couldn’t keep up during heavy rain. Upgrading made a huge difference in keeping water away from the foundation—no more little rivers running through the mulch beds.
Curious if anyone’s tried those heated cables for ice dams? Always wondered if they’re worth it or just another thing to maintain...
Thinking about switching to metal when it’s time to replace—heard it sheds snow better and stands up to hail, but not sure about the noise or cost yet. Anyone have experience with metal roofs in snowy areas? Worth the upgrade?
We’ve got a few buildings with metal roofs up here (central VT). They do shed snow way better than shingles, but you’ll want snow guards or you’ll get those big slides right over walkways. Noise isn’t as bad as people say—insulation helps a lot. Cost was higher up front, but less hassle with repairs so far. Just watch for ice damming at the eaves; it can still happen if the attic’s not vented right. Heated cables work, but they’re another thing to check every fall... not a magic fix, just a tool.
Metal roofs really do make a difference with snow, especially if you’re in a spot that gets hammered every winter. I was skeptical about the noise too—grew up thinking rain on metal would sound like a drumline—but with decent insulation, it’s honestly not much louder than asphalt. The big surprise for me was how fast the snow comes off. First winter after we switched, I watched a whole sheet of snow slide off and block the back door... learned quick to put up snow guards over the entryways.
Upfront cost is no joke, but I haven’t had to replace a shingle or patch any leaks since we made the switch. Used to be every spring I’d find at least a couple spots where ice had worked its way under the old shingles. That said, metal isn’t a cure-all—if your attic’s not vented right, you’ll still get ice dams at the edges. We added some heated cables last year after getting some gnarly icicles, but they’re kind of a pain to keep an eye on.
One thing I didn’t expect: hail. We had a freak storm last summer and while the roof held up fine, it did leave some dents. Cosmetic mostly, but worth knowing if you’re picky about looks.
All in all, I’d say it’s been worth it for us—less stress about leaks and heavy snow buildup. Just takes a bit of planning (and budget) up front, and you’ve got to stay on top of the little things like gutters and cables. If you’re already dealing with weather headaches every year, it’s probably worth considering.
Interesting point about the snow guards—I've seen a few folks skip those and end up with some real headaches after a heavy dump. Out of curiosity, did you notice any issues with ice damming even after adding the heated cables? Sometimes I find that poor attic insulation or blocked soffit vents are the real culprits, but it can be tricky to pin down. Also, how did your insurance handle the hail dents? Some policies get weird about cosmetic damage...
Sometimes I find that poor attic insulation or blocked soffit vents are the real culprits, but it can be tricky to pin down.
You nailed it—ventilation and insulation are huge. Heated cables helped a bit for me, but until I beefed up the attic insulation, ice dams kept coming back. Insurance was a mixed bag... they covered functional damage but not the dings. Super frustrating, honestly.
