Man, you nailed it with “damage control.” I swear, after last year’s hail, my roof looked like it had a run-in with a golf ball machine. Tried those so-called impact-resistant shingles on the shed—honestly, they held up a bit better, but still got dinged. At this point, I just cross my fingers every spring and hope the insurance folks don’t recognize my number. It’s like picking between soggy toast and burnt toast... neither is great, but you gotta eat something.
- Totally get the soggy vs burnt toast thing... hail just wrecked my roof last spring too.
- I tried patching with leftover shingles—looked like a patchwork quilt, but at least it kept the rain out.
- Those “impact-resistant” ones are better, but yeah, still not magic.
- Insurance gave me the runaround for weeks. Ended up just fixing the worst spots myself.
- Midwest weather’s brutal—sometimes I wonder if metal would be worth the noise and cost.
- Anyone else notice the fish scale pattern actually helps water run off faster? Didn’t realize till I had to replace a few rows.
- That “patchwork quilt” look is too real... My first repair job ended up looking like a bad Tetris game, but hey, no leaks so far.
-
Noticed the same thing! Didn’t expect it to make such a big difference till I was up there.“fish scale pattern actually helps water run off faster?”
- Midwest storms are wild. I researched metal roofs—seems quieter with attic insulation, but price tag made me pause.
- Impact-resistant shingles are decent, but after one hailstorm, I’m not convinced they’re worth the extra cost. Maybe for peace of mind?
That “bad Tetris game” look is basically my signature move at this point. I swear, every time I patch a spot, it’s like I’m inventing a new shingle shape. But hey, as long as the water stays outside, I call it a win.
“fish scale pattern actually helps water run off faster?”
It’s wild how much that matters. I used to think it was just for looks until I watched rain hit my neighbor’s roof (he went with the straight-line method—don’t ask). Water pooled up in weird spots and he ended up with a leak right over his kitchen table. Meanwhile, my “scales” kept things flowing like a slip-n-slide.
Midwest storms are no joke either. Metal roofs sound great until you see the price tag and remember you still need groceries. Impact-resistant shingles… eh, mixed feelings. After last spring’s hail, mine looked like they’d been through a cheese grater but didn’t leak. Peace of mind? Maybe. Wallet pain? Definitely.
If anyone figures out how to make repairs look less like abstract art, let me know. Until then, I’ll be up there playing shingle Tetris every summer.
I gotta admit, I tried the “fish scale” thing when I replaced a few shingles last fall and… well, maybe I just don’t have the knack. Water still found its way under a couple spots, and I ended up with a soggy attic corner. Maybe it’s my roof pitch or just bad luck, but I swear, straight lines were actually easier for me to line up. Midwest weather is brutal either way—hail turned my new shingles into confetti in one afternoon. At this point, I’m debating if a blue tarp is just a lifestyle choice.
