Ice Dams And Metal Roofs

Metal roofing is sometimes sold as the smart alternative to heat tape.

Ice dams and metal roofs.

Even on a metal roof keeping valleys eaves and gutters clear can only be achieved by keeping the refreeze from occurring by keeping the melt liquefied and allowing it to get off the roof and then too the ground. This is called ice belt metal panels. 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. All of these methods treat the symptoms not the underlying problem which is the warm roof caused by poor insulation and venting of the space under the roof.

The snow melts into water and t. An ice dam forms when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the bottom layer of snow. 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. This scenario is often the result of a warm attic.

If you do not want to install an entire new metal roof you can put metal only where it is really needed to prevent ice dams along the eaves. Stop ice dams with a cold roof. Ice belt metal panels many roofs are made of shingles which work well to remove water until it starts to travel upward. You will still want to have an adequate.

Ice dams and icicles form when the snow melts runs down your roof and refreezes near the edge. Another option to consider is a metal roof. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter. This only occurs when part of your roof warms to above 32 degrees f warm enough to melt the snow while the roof edge remains below freezing.

If necessary use a long handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position. There are products out on the market that can prevent ice dams and keep them from forming. Ice belt metal panels are typically short 3 4 and wide 2 5 3 and are made of thin gauge aluminum. Typically we experience ice dams on our roofs because of heat loss solar gain or temperature fluctuations creating conditions where snow is melted on the roof and refreezes in the gutters or at the roof edge.

If your roof is not very steep an ice dam can still form on metal roofing and drip edges. The calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof. Ice dams can be frustrating. 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.