BEST ROOFS FOR COLD  – FAMILY ROOFING

Posted on by David Reid

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BEST ROOFS FOR COLD

For homeowners who live in cold climates, winter offers ample opportunity for cozying up indoors.  But it can also bring piles of snow, cold and wind.  Naturally, you want to trust your roof to stand up firm against those nasty weather conditions.  If you’re planning to hire a local professional to install a new roof, you may wonder which type is best in the cold—metal, slate, shingles, or something else.

Different roofing materials come with unique pros and cons when it comes to snow, wind, ice, and other types of inclement weather.  Below are the most common roofing types and how they brave winters.

Best Roofing Materials for Climate Resistance

Metal Roofing

Climate Resistance

Metal roofing materials stand up exceptionally well in harsh winter climates.  Snow and ice should slide right off a residential metal roof, preventing the formation of ice dams.  They also do a great job at resisting damage due to windstorms, thanks to the increased durability of most metals.  It’s worth mentioning that they can last up to 60 years.

Metal roofs are highly durable and can withstand heavy snowfall. They’re typically made of galvanized steel or tin, which provides excellent protection against harsh weather conditions.

Additionally, metal roofs are fire-resistant, making them a safe choice in areas prone to wildfires. Some advantages of metal roofing include:

  • Long lifespan (upwards of 50 years)

  • Resistant to wind, rain, and snow

  • Low maintenance and repair costs

However, metal roofs can be more expensive than other materials, so it’s essential to weigh the benefits against the initial investment.

Metal roofs also tend to be good for colder climates and areas with a lot of hail, rain, snow, and ice.  With a metal roof, much of the snow and ice is going to slide off, which helps reduce your risk of ice dams forming.  The metal is also very durable, so it can handle the extra weight of the snow and hailstorms.  While it isn’t impenetrable, it tends to handle more hail without damage than asphalt and wood roofs.  While it can rust if it isn’t taken care of properly, metal doesn’t experience mold and mildew from excess rain like wood can.

Common Problems

Be sure to install a snow guard if you opt for a metal roof to prevent ice from pooling on walkways beneath it.  Rust is also a common problem with metal roofs, depending on the materials used during construction.  Also, metal roofs require additional insulation for colder-than-average climates.  Otherwise, your home’s heating system will work harder, and you’ll find an unpleasant surprise when you open your utility bill.  Silver lining—the reverse is true in the summer, when metal roofs keep your home cool.

Slate Roofing

Climate Resistance

Slate is an excellent roofing material for winters.  Slate roofs offer superior insulation, are strong enough to withstand blizzard-like conditions, and offer decent durability.  Slate tiles excel on sloped roofs, making them a popular option in colder states that get plenty of snow.

Slate is a natural stone roofing material known for its durability and resistance to harsh climates.  This heavy material can handle the weight of snow and withstand strong winds. Some benefits of slate roofing include:

  • Exceptional longevity (100+ years)

  • Low maintenance requirements

  • Fire and water-resistant

Although slate roofing offers excellent protection against snow and cold temperatures, it can be more costly than other materials and may require professional installation.

One of the best roofing materials you can get is slate tile.  Slate tile is manufactured from natural stone, which makes it very hard and durable.  It can last a long time without cracking and getting damage from ice and snow.  It holds up very well in even the coldest of climates.  If you frequently get sub-zero temperatures, slate tile will not contract and expand like some other roofing materials.  It also doesn’t experience rot, mildew, or rust due to heavy and frequent rains.  However, because it is such a heavy material, you might need to add reinforcements to your roofing structure before having it installed.  It should be considered an investment since while it lasts a long time, it also costs a bit more than other roofing materials.

Common Problems

Many homes simply can’t handle the extra weight of a slate roof without extensive retrofitting, which drives the material’s already high price upward.  Also, slate will last an impressive 50 to 100 years, however, individual pieces of the stone are fragile and prone to breaking under foot if you ever need to address a problem on your roof.  Broken slate roofing tiles are expensive to repair.

Asphalt Shingles

Climate Resistance

Asphalt is light and comes in a near-universal 3-tab design, which has a lower-end wind rating of 60 mph.  A dimensional asphalt shingle costs a bit more, but has a wind rating of between 110 and 130 mph. One bonus—these types of shingles tend to be more aesthetically appealing.

Shingles are not waterproof and are prone to ice dams.  Ice dams trap moisture and force water to run uphill, which it was not meant to do.  When using shingles in cold climates, it is code to install ice and water shield along the eaves and in the valleys, where ice dams are most prone to form. This lowers the risk of water penetrating the structure.

Fiberglass asphalt shingles are a popular choice for cold climates due to their affordability and versatility.  These architectural shingles can provide adequate insulation and protection from snow and harsh weather.

Some benefits of fiberglass asphalt shingles include:

  • Can last 20-30 years with proper maintenance

  • Class 4 impact rating for better protection

  • Affordable and easy to install

To ensure the best performance, we recommend selecting high-quality shingles and investing in professional installation.

Common Problems

One downside to asphalt shingles is that they wear out over time and often require frequent repairs.  Additionally, asphalt may not do well with heavy winds from a blizzard, as the shingles could blow off the roof (though many shingles come with warranties).

In summary, while there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, the roofing materials discussed above all possess qualities that make them ideal for snowy climates.

The roofing materials used also affect your roof’s ability to shed snow.  By far the best roofing material for shedding snow is metal. It has very little resistance.  The sun warms up the entire sheet allowing it to slide right off.  Other materials usually come in small sections that cascade down the roof.  This provides resistance slowing down the melting process.  The longer it takes for snow and water to run off the roof, the higher the chance that it will refreeze and create an ice dam. However, metal roofing comes with a high price-tag.  Alternatively, asphalt shingles are the second-best snowy weather roofing material.  Though not as smooth and conductive as a metal roof, asphalt shingles still allow melting and sliding from the roof. They also cost much less than metal. Choosing darker colors also increases the melting of snow.