Speaking of attic exploration...have you checked if your attic ventilation is adequate? Sometimes condensation sneaks in because the airflow isn't quite right, especially after switching roofing materials. Could that be a factor here?
Ventilation is definitely important, but condensation issues after switching roofing materials aren't always about airflow. When I switched from shingles to metal, I noticed more condensation initially, despite having adequate ventilation. Turned out the metal roof cooled faster at night, causing moisture buildup underneath. Adding a vapor barrier made a noticeable difference. So, while ventilation matters, sometimes the material itself and temperature differences play a bigger role than we realize...might be worth considering before diving into attic modifications.
Had a similar experience when I switched to metal roofing a few years back. Thought I'd nailed the ventilation, but nope—still had that pesky condensation. Turns out, metal roofs are like cold soda cans on a hot day... moisture just loves 'em. Ended up adding insulation under the metal panels, and that did the trick. Vapor barriers definitely help, but sometimes a bit of extra insulation can save you from attic gymnastics later on.
Glad I'm not the only one who's had to deal with attic gymnastics, haha. Just moved into my first place last year, and the roof's been giving me a crash course in homeownership. Thought metal roofing would be the easy, low-maintenance option, but after reading this thread, I'm starting to second-guess myself.
I haven't had condensation issues yet (knock on wood), but I did notice the attic gets pretty warm and stuffy after heavy rain. Makes me wonder if my ventilation setup is actually doing its job or if I'm just blissfully unaware of a moisture party happening up there. The soda can analogy makes way too much sense—now I'm picturing my roof dripping like a cold Coke on a hot day... great.
Did you find that adding insulation noticeably changed your home's temperature overall? I've heard mixed things about insulation under metal roofs—some say it helps keep things cooler in summer, others say it traps heat. Curious if anyone else noticed a difference in comfort levels after beefing up insulation. Or am I just overthinking this whole thing?
I totally get the attic gymnastics struggle—been there myself. When we first moved in, our attic was like a sauna after rainstorms, and I had the same worries about hidden moisture issues. We ended up adding some extra insulation, and honestly, it made a noticeable difference. Not a miracle fix or anything, but definitely more comfortable overall.
One thing I'd suggest is checking your ventilation setup closely. We found out ours wasn't quite right—too few soffit vents and not enough airflow to balance things out. After tweaking that (and adding insulation), the attic felt less stuffy and the upstairs rooms stayed cooler in summer. I haven't noticed any heat trapping from insulation personally; if anything, it seems to stabilize temperatures better.
You're probably not overthinking it—roofing and ventilation are weirdly complicated once you dive in. But from my experience, getting ventilation dialed in properly is just as important as insulation itself... maybe even more so.
