Snow Buildup On Metal Roof

To use the rake pull the snow toward the edge of your roof.

Snow buildup on metal roof.

Metal roofs leak under these circumstances. Ask a friend or family member to hold the ladder on the ground to make sure it s stable. Roof slopes lower than 4 12 tend to perform well with metal roofs which are less prone to leakage and ice dam formation. At these slopes snow creeps rather than slides and is easy to manage.

Some metal building manufacturers will not warranty a roof with a 1 4 inch slope. When the snow piled up on the roof melting occurred and ice dams resulted in water ponding 3 inches deep. 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. On roof slopes between 4 12 and 6 12 rough textured roofing materials work best.

If you push the snow across the roof you could end up damaging the shingles. Homeowners of asphalt roofs are vulnerable to ice dams. However on the high end it could be over 40 pounds per square foot. At the low end that might be on the order of 10 20 pounds per square foot psf.

Others allow a 1 4 inch slope. Purchase a long handled aluminum roof rake preferably with wheels or a non stick graphite blade. Snow and ice buildup can slide off a metal roof causing a dangerous avalanche effect. Repeat the process after every snowfall to keep the roof clear of ice dams.

This avalanche effect is why most homeowners should consider installing snow guards on their metal roof.