Patternfor Ice Dams On A Metal Roof

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.

Patternfor ice dams on a metal roof.

Ice belt metal panels many roofs are made of shingles which work well to remove water until it starts to travel upward. Ice dams can be frustrating. 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. 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.

Many folks give out false information about this fact. 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. Ice dams are most often the result of inadequate ventilation and insulation in the. Metal roofing can help but is not an ice dam panacea.

If an ice dam does form an ice belt will reduce the penetration of standing water. Another option to consider is a metal roof. An ice dam forms when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the bottom layer of snow. 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.

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.