Never tried composite shingles—curious if they actually hold up better in these wild temp swings.
I’ve wondered the same thing about composite. When I bought my place, the inspector said the old asphalt shingles were “serviceable,” but after two winters, I’m not so sure. We get those freeze-thaw cycles here all the time, and I’m seeing some curling and a couple spots where the granules are pretty much gone.
Metal looked great on paper but, yeah, the price killed it for me too. My neighbor’s roof looks awesome and he’s always bragging about how easy it is to clear snow, but he also said it was almost double what he’d budgeted. Not in the cards for me right now.
I did a lot of research on composites (the synthetic ones, not wood) before patching my own roof this fall. From what I read, they’re supposed to handle temperature swings better than asphalt because they’re less likely to crack or get brittle in the cold. But then I talked to a roofer who said it really depends on the brand and install—some of the cheaper composites can still get pretty beat up by hail or heavy sun. Plus, they’re not cheap either, so you’re kind of gambling unless you know you’ll be there a long time.
Adding insulation helped a bit with ice dams for me too, though I still had to get up there with a roof rake after that big storm in January. Not ideal, but better than dealing with leaks. I’m starting to think there’s no perfect solution unless you want to spend a fortune.
If anyone’s actually had composite shingles through a few rough winters, I’d be interested to hear how they’re holding up. For now, I’m just keeping an eye out for splits and patching as needed. It’s not glamorous, but it gets me through another season...
I’m starting to think there’s no perfect solution unless you want to spend a fortune.
I hear you on that. But I’ll toss out another angle—has anyone considered green or “living” roofs? Before you roll your eyes, I know it sounds like a city thing, but I’ve actually seen a couple around here (I’m in Minnesota, so we get those wild temperature swings too).
We put a small green roof on our garage three years ago, mostly as a test. It’s not a full sod roof, just a bunch of sedum and native grasses. The main thing I noticed is the insulation difference—it really cuts down on the ice dams and temp fluctuations underneath. No curling or splitting so far, though I do have to keep an eye out for weeds in the spring.
It’s not cheap up front (and you need beefy rafters), but if you’re patching every year anyway, it might even out. Plus, it’s kind of cool to look at. Not for everyone, but if you’re handy and want something different, it’s worth looking into. Regular shingles just don’t seem to cut it with these winters—at least not for me.
Green roofs are interesting, but I’ve mostly worked with metal and asphalt up here (northern Wisconsin). Metal’s pricey up front, but I’ve seen it handle the freeze-thaw cycles better than shingles—less splitting, fewer leaks. Only downside is the noise when it rains, and you’ve got to watch for ice sliding off. Has anyone tried those composite shingles that are supposed to flex more with temp swings? I’m curious if they’re worth the extra cost or just marketing.
I’ve looked into composite shingles a bit, but I’m still on the fence. They claim to handle temp swings better, but I wonder how they actually perform after a few brutal winters. Green roofs are a whole different animal—insulation’s great, but I’d be worried about snow load up here. Has anyone seen how green roofs hold up in heavy snow and ice? I keep hearing mixed things about root barriers and drainage layers in cold climates...
Green roofs are a whole different animal—insulation’s great, but I’d be worried about snow load up here.
Honestly, that’s my issue too. I looked at green roofs for the energy savings, but up north, the extra weight from snow just seems like a headache waiting to happen. Composite shingles aren’t perfect, but they’re way cheaper to install and replace if something goes wrong. For me, the upfront cost and risk with green roofs just doesn’t add up unless you’re really committed to the look or eco benefits. I’d rather spend less now and keep cash aside for repairs.