Snow Buildup On Metal Roof

Repeat the process after every snowfall to keep the roof clear of ice dams.

Snow buildup on metal roof.

On roof slopes between 4 12 and 6 12 rough textured roofing materials work best. Have a professional install the snow guards if you re worried about damaging your metal roof. These occur when snow or ice on the roof melts and then refreezes at the roof s lower edge. Purchase a long handled aluminum roof rake preferably with wheels or a non stick graphite blade.

Metal roofs leak under these circumstances. Roof slopes lower than 4 12 tend to perform well with metal roofs which are less prone to leakage and ice dam formation. Homeowners of asphalt roofs are vulnerable to ice dams. This avalanche effect is why most homeowners should consider installing snow guards on their metal roof.

Purchase snow guards from your local hardware or home improvement store. When a metal roof undergoes a structural engineering design it necessarily takes into account the code required levels of snow accumulation for the building location. However on the high end it could be over 40 pounds per square foot. Ask a friend or family member to hold the ladder on the ground to make sure it s stable.

At the low end that might be on the order of 10 20 pounds per square foot psf. At these slopes snow creeps rather than slides and is easy to manage. To use the rake pull the snow toward the edge of your roof. Snow and ice buildup can slide off a metal roof causing a dangerous avalanche effect.

Others allow a 1 4 inch slope.