Yeah, Midwest weather is brutal on roofs—hail, ice, all of it. I’ve seen green roof membranes hold up, but only when they’re seriously overbuilt and professionally installed. The DIY kits just don’t cut it here. If you’re set on durability, stick with tried-and-true materials for now. Maybe in a few years the tech will actually match the hype.
Yeah, the Midwest doesn’t mess around when it comes to roofs. I learned that the hard way—my first winter here and I was up on a ladder knocking ice dams off the gutters. I actually looked into one of those “eco” green roof kits, but the warranty was basically useless if you didn’t pay for pro installation. Ended up going with basic asphalt shingles for now. Not glamorous, but at least I know they can take a beating from hail. Maybe I’ll revisit the fancy stuff when I’m not worried about my ceiling caving in every spring.
Can’t blame you for sticking with asphalt shingles, especially in the Midwest. I’ve seen a lot of those “eco” kits, but like you said, the warranties get tricky if you don’t use their installers. Plus, green roofs can be a pain with all the freeze-thaw cycles here—roots and ice don’t mix well. Asphalt might not win any style points, but it’s tough and way easier to patch up after hail or wind. Maybe down the road when things settle, you could look at metal or even synthetic options—they’re getting better at handling our weather, just not always cheap.
Asphalt might not win any style points, but it’s tough and way easier to patch up after hail or wind.
Honestly, that’s been my experience too. I’ve helped swap out more blown-off shingles than I can count, but at least you can do it with a hammer and some patience. Tried patching a green roof once—let’s just say mud and plant roots don’t make for a quick fix, especially after a Midwest freeze. Metal’s tempting for the durability, but yeah, sticker shock is real. For now, I’ll take easy repairs over fancy looks.
I’m with you on the easy repairs. Last spring, a windstorm took out a chunk of my old asphalt shingles. I just grabbed a bundle from the hardware store, pried up the nails, slid the new ones in, and tapped them down. Took maybe an hour, tops. I looked into metal too, but the price tag made me wince. Asphalt might not be the prettiest, but when you’re on a budget and need to fix things fast, it’s hard to beat.
