those things curled like potato chips after two seasons
That’s exactly what happened to my neighbor’s place—looked fine at first, but after a couple of brutal winters, the edges started lifting and water got in. I’ve always wondered if anyone’s had luck with those “impact resistant” shingles they market for hail and wind? I keep hearing mixed things about whether they’re worth the extra cost, especially up here where ice dams are just as much of a headache as wind.
Yeah, I’ve been eyeing those “impact resistant” shingles too, but man, the price tag made my wallet cry a little. I get the idea—hail, wind, whatever else Mother Nature throws at us—but does that really help with the ice dam issue? Up here, the snow just piles up and melts weirdly anyway. I had regular asphalt shingles put on about eight years ago (cheapest option, naturally), and they’re still hanging in there, but I do get some curling at the edges where the sun hits hardest.
Couple of neighbors went with the fancy ones after a nasty hailstorm last year. One swears by them, the other says he’d rather have spent the money on better attic insulation to stop the ice dams from forming in the first place. Makes me wonder if it’s just a trade-off—spend more upfront and hope for less hassle, or save now and patch things up as needed.
Anyway, you’re not alone in second-guessing all these “upgrades.” Sometimes I think these roof companies just want us to panic-buy the latest thing.
Interesting point about the ice dams—impact resistant shingles are really designed for hail and wind, not so much for stopping ice damming. That’s more about attic ventilation and insulation than shingle type. I’ve seen folks spend a ton on “tough” shingles and still end up with icicles hanging off the gutters every winter. Have you checked your attic temps or airflow? Sometimes a few baffles and some extra insulation do more for ice than any shingle upgrade. Just my two cents...
- Totally relate to the “tough shingle” hype—felt like I was shopping for superhero capes for my roof.
- My inspector basically laughed when I asked about ice dams and fancy shingles. He pointed at my attic insulation and said, “That’s where your money should go.”
- Still ended up with a few epic icicles last winter... but less after stuffing more insulation up there.
- Not saying tough shingles are useless (hail is a thing here), but yeah, ice seems to have its own rules.
- Hang in there—roofing decisions are weirdly stressful for something you barely see.
That “superhero cape” feeling is too real—roofing sales pitches are wild. I’ve managed a few buildings and honestly, the insulation vs. shingle debate never dies. I’ve seen folks drop serious cash on the toughest shingles, but then their attic’s basically a freezer and they’re still getting monster icicles. Hail’s a beast, though, so I get wanting some armor up there. Personally, I’d rather patch a shingle than deal with water stains on ceilings... but maybe that’s just me being lazy about drywall repairs.
