I get the temptation to just patch things up, especially when money’s tight. Did the same with my garage roof—mixed leftover shingles, a bit of tar, thought it’d hold up. Next windstorm, half of it peeled right off. Ended up spending more fixing the mess than if I’d just done a proper replacement in the first place. Sometimes those quick fixes just don’t cut it, especially with how unpredictable weather’s getting around here. Still, I have to admit, that moss does add some character...
- Been there with the patch jobs. Did a quick fix on my shed roof last fall—just slapped some spare shingles over the worst spots. Looked fine until the first big rain, then I had buckets catching drips all over again. Ended up redoing the whole thing anyway.
- I get the urge to save cash, but sometimes those “temporary” repairs just turn into more work (and more money) down the line. Especially with the weather getting weirder every year. I’m in coastal NC, and it feels like every storm is a coin toss for what’ll survive.
- Moss is funny… I used to think it gave my place a “cottage in the woods” vibe, but then I realized it was just holding moisture and making things worse. Scraped it off, but it keeps coming back. Not sure if it’s worth fighting or just part of living here.
- For what it’s worth, my neighbor did a full tear-off and went with metal panels last year. Cost him a small fortune, but after that last hurricane, his roof was the only one on the block that didn’t lose a single piece. Meanwhile, my asphalt shingles are looking rougher every season.
- If you’re on the fence about a full replacement, maybe check if your insurance will help out after a big storm. I got partial coverage for wind damage, which made the decision easier.
- Quick fixes have their place, but I’m starting to think they’re just buying time—sometimes not even much time. If you can swing it, a proper job seems to pay off in the long run.
- Anyone else notice how much louder rain sounds on metal? Kind of cozy, but took some getting used to…
Luck definitely plays a part, but honestly, if you’re patching the same spots over and over, it’s just a matter of time before something gives. I kept slapping tar on a leak over my porch, thinking I’d outsmart the weather, but the next nor’easter just peeled it right up. Ended up costing me more in water damage than if I’d just bit the bullet and done it right the first time.
Metal roofs are expensive up front, sure, but after seeing how my neighbor’s held up versus my battered shingles, I’m starting to think the math works out long-term. The noise is real though—first big downpour, I thought a freight train was coming through the living room. Kind of grew on me after a while.
As for moss, I hear you. I’ve tried everything—scraping, spraying vinegar, even zinc strips. It’s like whack-a-mole. At this point, I just knock it back once a year and call it good enough. Sometimes you’ve got to pick your battles... but with the roof itself, I wouldn’t gamble.
- I totally get the patching frustration. Did the same thing with a spot over my garage—felt like I was just buying time, not fixing it.
-
“Metal roofs are expensive up front, sure, but after seeing how my neighbor’s held up versus my battered shingles, I’m starting to think the math works out long-term.”
Been debating this myself. The price tag gave me sticker shock, but those storms last fall made me rethink it.
- Moss is wild here too (Pacific NW). Tried the zinc strips—worked for a bit, but now I just sweep it off every spring and hope for the best.
- That rain-on-metal sound? Not sure if I’d love or hate it... depends on whether I’m trying to sleep or not.
I’ve been crunching the numbers on metal vs. shingles for a while now, and honestly, it’s not as straightforward as I thought. Upfront cost for metal is steep (I got a quote last year that was almost double what a shingle roof would be), but then I started factoring in the stuff you don’t always think about—like how often you’re up there patching, replacing shingles after every windstorm, or dealing with moss creeping in around the edges. That stuff adds up, especially here where it’s wet half the year.
One thing I’m still not sure about is how insurance plays into it. My neighbor said his premium actually dropped a bit after switching to metal, supposedly because it’s less likely to get damaged in storms or catch fire. Haven’t checked with my own agent yet... anyone else see a difference there?
And on the noise—my cousin swears by adding insulation under the metal panels to cut down on rain sound, but I wonder if that bumps up the cost enough to tip the scales back toward shingles. Anyone tried that route?
