We had a similar issue with maples at our old place—roots cracked the walkway pretty badly. Ended up swapping them out for smaller ornamentals like dogwoods and redbuds. Less shade, sure, but way less hassle down the road...
"Less shade, sure, but way less hassle down the road..."
Ha, sounds like trees and roofs have something in common—sometimes less is more. When we redid our roof a few years back, we debated metal vs asphalt shingles. Ended up going with metal; pricier upfront, yeah, but honestly worth every penny. No leaks, minimal maintenance, and the sound of rain is kinda soothing... unless it's hail. Then it's like living inside a popcorn machine. Still beats buckets on the floor though.
Metal roofs are solid, no doubt, but they're not always the best fit. Had one on a rental property—tenants complained about noise constantly. Good asphalt shingles installed right can last decades without hassle and keep things quieter inside... something to consider.
"Had one on a rental property—tenants complained about noise constantly."
Interesting point about the noise factor, hadn't thought much about that before. Makes sense though... rain and hail probably sound pretty intense on metal. Has anyone here tried adding extra insulation or soundproofing under a metal roof to help with that? Wonder if that could make enough difference or if it'd just end up being more hassle than it's worth.
I've had asphalt shingles myself for years, and they've held up pretty well with minimal fuss, but I'm curious if anyone's found other roofing materials that strike a good balance between durability and noise control. Maybe something like composite or even rubber roofing tiles? Would be great to hear some experiences from folks who've gone down that road.
"Wonder if that could make enough difference or if it'd just end up being more hassle than it's worth."
Yeah, that's a good question about insulation under metal roofs. My brother-in-law did exactly that—added some extra foam insulation panels when he installed his metal roof. It definitely helped tone down the noise from rain, but honestly, hail still sounded pretty loud. Not unbearable, but noticeable enough that you'd probably still hear complaints from tenants who are sensitive to noise.
I've personally had composite shingles for about five years now, and they've been surprisingly solid. They're quieter than metal for sure, and seem to hold up better than standard asphalt in heavy storms. Rubber tiles sound intriguing too... haven't seen them much around here though. Might be worth checking out if you're looking for something durable but quieter than metal.
