They just don’t hold up to Texas heat. - Had a job last year where the synthetic shakes looked perfect, but after one bad hailstorm, half were cracked or missing.
- Totally agree with "Nothing’s truly 'set it and forget it.'" Even the so-called “lifetime” stuff just doesn’t stand a chance against Texas weather.
- I’ve seen some folks get lucky with metal roofs, but the upfront cost is rough.
- Curious—has anyone tried those new impact-resistant shingles? Wondering if they actually hold up better after a couple hail seasons.
Metal’s definitely a solid option for Texas, but yeah, the sticker shock is real. I’ve worked with the impact-resistant shingles a couple times...they handled one hail season okay, but after two years, I still saw some cracking. Nothing’s truly bulletproof out here. If you’re leaning green, lighter colors and good attic ventilation help a bit with the heat, even if it doesn’t solve the hail problem. Just my two cents—every material has its tradeoffs.
That’s been my experience too—nothing’s totally hail-proof around here. Metal’s a big upfront hit, but if you plan to stay put for 20+ years, it usually pays off in the long run, especially with all the insurance headaches after big storms. I’ve seen those impact shingles hold up decently, but like you said, after a couple seasons you start seeing cracks or granule loss. One thing folks overlook is how much proper decking and underlayment matter—cheap stuff underneath can wreck even the best roof when hail hits. Lighter colors definitely help with attic temps, but won’t save you from Texas hailstones the size of baseballs…
Metal’s definitely the long game, especially if you’re tired of dealing with insurance adjusters every other spring. I’ve seen folks balk at the price, but after a couple hailstorms and claim headaches, they start wishing they’d just bit the bullet. Impact shingles are a decent compromise, but like you said, they don’t stay pretty for long—granule loss is real, and once those cracks show up, it’s only a matter of time before leaks start.
One thing I think gets overlooked is ventilation. Even with lighter colors, if your attic’s not breathing right, you’re still cooking your shingles from underneath. I’ve seen some roofs where the decking was warped from heat before hail even got a chance to mess things up. And yeah, underlayment matters way more than most people realize. Cheap felt tears so easy when hail hits—synthetic’s worth the extra bucks in my book.
Funny enough, my uncle swears by his old metal roof, dents and all. Says it gives the house “character.” Not sure my insurance company would agree, but hey... it’s still watertight after 25 years.
One thing I think gets overlooked is ventilation. Even with lighter colors, if your attic’s not breathing right, you’re still cooking your shingles from underneath.
Couldn’t agree more on ventilation. I’ve seen so many “roof failures” that were really just attic heat baking the shingles from below. Doesn’t matter if you’ve got the fanciest impact shingle or a basic 3-tab—if the air’s not moving, you’re asking for trouble. I always tell folks, ridge vents and proper soffit intake are just as important as the shingle itself.
On the metal roof front, dents are pretty much inevitable if you’re in hail country, but like your uncle says, they don’t really hurt anything unless you’re super picky about looks. Insurance can get weird about it, though. Some carriers will only pay out for “functional damage,” so as long as it’s not leaking, they call it good.
Synthetic underlayment’s been a game changer for us. It holds up way better during install and after a storm. The upfront cost is higher, but it saves headaches down the line. I’d take that over felt any day, especially here where storms roll through every spring.
