"Metal roofs aren't perfect either, though. If you live somewhere with heavy snow, you get those mini avalanches sliding off your roof unexpectedly."
Haha, been there! But honestly, have you considered green roofs? My buddy installed one—no avalanches, helps insulation, and bonus points for looking like a hobbit house...just sayin'.
Green roofs, huh? Aren't those a bit of a hassle maintenance-wise though? I mean, sure, no surprise snow slides (which are definitely a thing—ask my dog who learned the hard way last winter 😂), but don't you have to worry about weeds or drainage issues? I've seen some pretty cool setups, but I'm curious how practical they really are for everyday folks. Also, do they hold up well in extreme weather? Like heavy rain or hail... seems like that could get messy fast. Don't get me wrong, the hobbit house vibe sounds awesome, but I'm wondering if it's worth the extra effort and cost compared to something more traditional.
"but don't you have to worry about weeds or drainage issues?"
Yeah, that's definitely something to consider. A friend of mine installed a green roof on his garage a few years back—he was super excited about the whole eco-friendly angle and the aesthetics. Looked amazing at first, really lush and vibrant. But after a while, he had some trouble with weeds popping up and drainage getting clogged after heavy storms. He spent quite a few weekends up there pulling weeds and tweaking the drainage system.
On the flip side though, when we had that crazy hailstorm last summer, his green roof actually held up better than my traditional shingles did. I was out there patching leaks and replacing shingles, while his setup absorbed most of the impact with minimal damage. So, pros and cons I guess... Definitely more upfront effort and maintenance, but it might pay off in durability if you live somewhere with intense weather swings.
Weeds and drainage can be a hassle, sure, but honestly they're pretty manageable if you set things up right from the start. Most weed issues happen because the initial substrate wasn't deep enough or lacked proper weed barriers. If you lay down a solid root barrier and choose drought-tolerant sedums or native grasses, weeds rarely get a foothold. Drainage-wise, regular inspections every season and clearing debris from drains usually keep things flowing smoothly. A bit of upfront planning saves tons of weekend headaches later on...
Totally agree about the upfront planning, but have you noticed if certain sedums or grasses handle drainage issues better than others? I've seen some native grasses struggle a bit after heavy rains...maybe it's just my setup? Curious what your experience has been.
