Cool roofs are definitely worth considering, especially if attic heat is a big issue after storms. I’ve seen a few folks retrofit older homes with reflective shingles or coatings, and it does help drop the attic temps—sometimes by 10-15 degrees, which is nothing to sneeze at. The catch is, with older houses, you’re often dealing with weird rooflines, old decking, and sometimes questionable ventilation. That can make installation trickier and, yeah, pricier.
Green roofs are a whole different animal. They look great and insulate well, but honestly, unless your structure is beefed up for the extra weight and you’re ready for ongoing maintenance, it’s a tough sell for most older homes. I’ve only seen it work on flat or very low-slope roofs, and even then, you’re talking a pretty big investment up front.
You’re not wrong to wonder if it’s worth the hassle. Sometimes just improving attic ventilation or adding a radiant barrier gets you most of the way there without the headaches. But if you’re already re-roofing after storm damage, it can be a good time to weigh your options. At least you’re not dealing with leaks anymore—that’s half the battle.
After the last hailstorm, I had to replace about a third of my asphalt shingles. Between materials and labor, it ran me close to $6,000, and that’s with a basic roof—no fancy upgrades. Insurance covered some, but the deductible still stung. I looked into cool roof coatings, but honestly, the extra cost didn’t seem worth it for my place since the attic’s already got decent ventilation. If you’re already re-roofing, though, might be the time to consider upgrades, but costs add up fast.
Between materials and labor, it ran me close to $6,000, and that’s with a basic roof—no fancy upgrades. Insurance covered some, but the deductible still stung.
That $6k sounds about right for partial shingle replacement, especially after a hailstorm. One thing I always suggest is to check for hidden damage—sometimes the decking or flashing gets overlooked. Even with good attic ventilation, I’ve seen folks regret skipping an underlayment upgrade when they’re already tearing things up. Costs do add up, but sometimes a small extra now saves a headache later.
I’ve been on a few jobs where folks thought just swapping out the shingles would do it, but after we pulled them up, the decking had soft spots from water sneaking in. That’s when costs start creeping up, especially if you need new plywood. I get wanting to keep it basic, but I always wonder—if you’re already paying for labor, is it worth skimping on underlayment? Sometimes that extra layer makes a huge difference if another storm rolls through. Just my two cents…
Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen folks try to save a few bucks by skipping the underlayment, only to regret it after the next big rain. Once you’re already paying for labor, it’s usually smarter to do it right the first time. I’ve managed a few properties where we had to go back and fix what could’ve been prevented with a better barrier. It’s not the flashiest upgrade, but it saves headaches down the road.
