These Are The Best Roofing Materials for Cold Climates

what are the best roofing materials for cold climates?

When we’re kids, snow is the best. After all, what’s better than snow days, snow ball fights, and trips to the mountain for snowy weekends? As adults, snow still has its charms, but it also leads us to more adult conversations, like what are the best roofing materials for cold climates.

As homeowners, we want a home that provides our family a safe place to stay for years to come. Part of keeping a roof over our heads is making sure that the roof is made for cold climates.

With so many styles of roofs available, including wood, clay, slate, and metal, the choice is not as obvious as it may seem. To help guide your decision, we’re sharing six of the best roofing materials for colder climates and inclement weather.

Breaking Down The Best Cold Weather Roofing Materials

The key elements of a cold-weather roofing material are that it should provide good insulation and be weather-resistant. Good insulation will keep your home warm as the temperatures drop (and help you save money on heating bills!). Weather-resistance ensures your roof will stand up to wind, rains, snow, and more for years.

Below are six of the best roofing materials you can choose from to winterproof your roof.

Metal Roofing

Metal makes for one of the strongest winter roofing materials as it stands up well to harsh winter climates. Since snow and ice tend to slide off, it’s rare that ice dams will form. Metal roofs can also resist windstorm damage. Even in extreme weather conditions, metal roofs may last up to 60 years.

Some small issues do exist with metal roofs, however. You’ll need to keep an eye out for rust, which can become a problem depending on the materials used during installation. If you live in a truly cold area, your metal roof may also require a bit more insulation. 

Slate Roofing

Another excellent roofing material for cold climates is slate. With its strong insulating properties, it's ideal for resisting blizzards, windstorms, and more. They’re a great option for sloped roofs, too, so they should be considered if your area experiences a lot of snowfall. Impressively, slate roofs can last between 50 and 100 years.

Slate’s downsides are mostly connected with its weight. If you’re installing a new roof on an old home, the extra weight may require retrofitting. While the roof itself may last decades, the pieces themselves can be fragile, breaking under foot if you’re walking around your roof to fix a problem. 

Synthetic Slate Shingles

A relatively new roofing material for cold climates is the synthetic slate shingle. Like the perks we mentioned above for slate shingles, synthetic slate is ideal for a wide range of temperatures, windstorms, and blizzards. It’s also an energy efficient material that ends up being more durable than real slate.

Part of the issue with synthetic slate shingles is just how new to the market they are. Though manufacturers are confident these roofs will live up to its 50-year warranties, only time will tell. The other issue lies with its synthetic look. Depending on the price, this imitation roofing material can look like just that – an imitation. Finally, given its uniqueness and newness to the market, synthetic slate can be difficult to find in some areas. 

Asphalt Shingles

A more ideal roofing material for older homes could be asphalt, as it is much lighter than a material like slate. Depending on the quality, asphalt shingles may have a wind rating of just 60mph, though a costlier version can be found with wind ratings of up to 130mph. The other perk? Asphalt shingles are one of the more attractive roofing materials – and they’re a bit easier on the wallet, too.

Those savings do come at a cost, though. Asphalt shingles wear out faster and may require more regular repairs. They’re also not ideal for a blizzard’s heavy winds, which could result in shingles being blown off your roof. 

Clay Tiles

Clay is a great roofing material for cold climates that have a specific type of extreme weather. As a great insulator that stands up well to ice and snow, clay roofs do well in regions with calmer winter storms. Extreme winds and hailstorms, however, can cause problems since clay is fragile. Its other perks include its charming aesthetic – ideal for Mediterranean-style homes – and its affordability.

In addition to clay’s fragility, it’s also heavier. That weight may lead to the need to retrofit your home’s roof. It can also be a more complicated material if your roof has a lot of angles and valleys to protect. Like slate, repairs can be tough, too, as walking on them could lead to damage.

Concrete Roofs

Out of the box, concrete roofs may not be the ideal roofing material for cold climates, especially those in higher elevations that have more extreme winters. That said, there are indeed specialized concrete roofing products you can seek out that work well in colder climates. That high-end concrete can be costly, though.

Since concrete tends to absorb water, ice and snow can end up making these already heavy tiles even heavier. More than just cracking the roofing tiles themselves, they could lead to structural damage. In milder climates, though, they can be a serviceable solution.

Roof Supplements When Replacing Your Roof

Are you looking for roofing materials for cold climates because you’re replacing your roof? If you’re doing this through an insurance company because your roof was damaged during a storm, we may be able to help. 

At US Home Supplements, we help homeowners and roofing contractors submit roof supplements and get paid quickly and fairly. For more information on how we can help you, get in touch with our expert team today.