I’m skeptical they’d hold up to freeze/thaw cycles any better than a proper layered build.
That’s exactly what I keep wondering. I mean, trays sound easy, but my roof’s got a decent pitch and I just picture water sneaking under them and freezing—then what? Has anyone actually seen these “improved” trays survive a Midwest winter? I’m not convinced extra mats would help much either... seems like more stuff to go wrong. Layers might be old school, but at least you know what you’re dealing with.
I’ve seen a few tray systems go in around here (central Illinois) and honestly, the freeze/thaw is brutal. One neighbor had a section pop up after a rough winter—water got underneath, froze, and the whole thing shifted. They ended up pulling the trays and going back to a layered setup. I get why trays are tempting, but unless you’ve got a super flat roof and perfect drainage, I’d be wary. Layers might take more work up front, but at least you’re not gambling with hidden ice damage.
I get the concern about tray systems in our climate, but I’m not convinced they’re always a bad call. We put in a modular tray setup on our garage roof (low slope, not totally flat) about three years ago. Yeah, we had to obsess over drainage—added an extra layer of protection membrane and made sure there was a slight pitch so nothing pooled. Knock on wood, it’s handled the last couple winters without shifting or popping trays.
I think a lot of the issues folks have are from skipping the prep or trying to cut corners on drainage. The trays themselves aren’t magic, but they’re not inherently doomed around here either. The big upside for us is flexibility—if we need to fix a section or check the membrane, it’s way easier to pop out a few trays than rip up layers of soil and fabric.
Not saying everyone should go modular, but if you’re detail-oriented and willing to spend some time on setup, trays can work, even with our freeze/thaw cycles. Just gotta be realistic about the prep work.
Did you have to get any special permits or inspections for the tray setup? I’m a little worried about how picky the city might get, especially since my garage roof is older and not perfectly level. Wondering if you ran into any red tape or surprises with local codes.
That’s something I was nervous about too. My city wanted a structural inspection before I could even start, since my garage roof is kind of old and has a slight dip in one corner. The inspector was more focused on weight limits than the trays themselves, honestly. Did you get any pushback about drainage or waterproofing? I had to show them the specs for the trays and prove the extra load wouldn’t be an issue. It felt like overkill, but once I got through that, the rest went pretty smoothly. Definitely worth double-checking with your local office, though—some seem way pickier than others.
