Patternfor Ice Dams On A Metal Roof

Metal roofing can help but is not an ice dam panacea.

Patternfor ice dams on a metal roof.

Many folks give out false information about this fact. Ice dams are most often the result of inadequate ventilation and insulation in the. Its smooth surface can help and the way that the panels interlock can reduce damage from ice dams but there is nothing magical about metal that eliminates ice dams. Metal roofing does not eliminate ice dams.

A metal roof will generally shed snow better but snow running down the roof will still freeze on the unheated overhangs creating an ice dam. Yes the reflectivity and slickness of a metal roof will encourage ice and snow to slide but ice damming is generally caused by hot spots over the heated areas of the home. An ice dam forms when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the bottom layer of snow. Ice dams can be frustrating.

The snow melts into water and t. Heat rising from the home s interior melts the snow which then runs down the roof freezing on the home s unheated roof overhangs creating damaging ice dams. By installing a metal roof that has a special coating designed to shed snow and ice causing it to fall off the roof before it has a chance to form into an ice dam you can completely eliminate ice dam formations on your roof in the first place. To take a more pro active approach in preventing ice dams you can install ice belt metal panels which are installed along the eaves to block water.

An ice belt a band of metal roofing installed at the eaves helps prevent the formation of ices dams by placing a low friction surface where ice dams are likely to form.