When choosing the right roof for your home, it’s important to think about how well it will hold up in bad weather. In areas prone to heavy snowfall, metal roofs are the best option for many reasons.
For one, they are highly durable and can easily withstand heavy snow and the extreme weight that comes with the accumulation.
To help you understand why you should invest in a metal roof, this blog post will explore why they are the best choice for areas that experience heavy winter seasons.
They are Energy-Efficient
Metal reflects sunlight, so your home stays cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather. It means you won’t have to use as much energy to heat and cool your home, resulting in lower energy bills. They have a higher R-value per inch of thickness because they are made of steel. Because it acts as an insulator against outside temperatures, you’ll feel less cold seeping through your ceiling during the winter.
They Prevent Ice Dams and Water Infiltration
Metal roofs are also much less likely to suffer from ice dams and water infiltration, which can be significant problems in snowy climates. When heat from your home escapes through your roof and melts the snow on top of it, ice dams form, causing water to back up and flow into your home.
Ice dams will not be an issue with a metal roof because heat transfer is much less of an issue. Furthermore, metal roofs can be coated with acrylic paint, which reduces heat transfer and keeps melting snow from leaking into your home.
Metal Roofs Are Less Prone to Hail Damage
Metal roofs are less vulnerable to hail damage than most other types of roofing. A hail storm can severely damage any roof, but a strong metal roof is specifically designed to withstand these natural disasters. It can typically withstand even large hailstones without sustaining significant damage.
Maintenance Is Much Easier
The material is resistant to rust, algae growth, and insect infestations; all you have to do every few years or so is scrape off some of the loose surface paint, re-coat it with a fresh layer of acrylic paint, then seal everything back up again. There are no leaky shingles or gutters, so you won’t have to worry about them.
Metal roofs are also long-lasting and can withstand heavy snow accumulation and the extreme weight that it brings.
Can You Heat a Metal Roof to Melt Snow?
There are many metal roof ice melt systems on the market today that are designed to assist people who live in areas that get a lot of snow. Others prefer infrared heating cables, while others prefer radiant heating panels.
The market is rife with options, so you can be confident that there is a system out there that will work perfectly for your budget.
Do You Need A Snow Retention System For Your Roof?
If you live in an area that gets exceptionally high amounts of snowfall during the winter months, it might be worth investing in a retention system to help prevent damage from happening. The following roof snow stoppers can be used:
Attach Anti-Snow Bars Along the Edge of Your Roof
These snow guards serve as rails, catching falling snow before it lands on anything below, such as your driveway, garage door, or plants. They’re also lightweight and simple to install. Metal roof snow bars are designed to handle the extra load of accumulating snow, keeping it off your deck or patio.
Use Metal Roof Ice Breakers
Use two stacked gutters to redirect snow toward a corner. This setup creates a lower, angled roof that doesn’t need as much slope to shed excess water, making it easier to walk on. Install gutters beneath the lower roof to allow rainwater to drain away from where you want it (your house) rather than collecting and running into your basement.
Below-ground pipe insulation connects both sections and pipes into buried PVC pipes for simple installation.
What Is the Biggest Problem With Metal Roofs in a Snowy Environment?
Even though metal roofs are durable, they still require regular maintenance to look their best. Other challenges include:
Ice Dam
When water melts on your roof, it will run back down to your house and freeze at the edge of your roofline, forming ice dams. If an ice dam on your metal roof becomes too large or too wide, you may experience leakage into your home.
Roof Collapse Due to Ice Expansion
With winter storms come heavy snows that sometimes create too much weight for your roof system, which can lead to collapse if proper measures aren’t taken (e.g., snow removal).
Avalanche
If there is not enough slope to the roofline, heavy snow can slide off onto other parts of your house. This is usually not the case with metal roofs because the drainage channels allow for easy removal of all precipitation from the building surface.
How Do You Remove Ice From a Roof?
You have several options for removing ice from a metal roof. Snow rakes with extension poles can be used to gently remove snow and ice from the roof. Heated cables can also be used to melt ice and keep it from refreezing.
Before attempting these methods, it is critical to take appropriate safety precautions and follow manufacturer guidelines. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can hire a professional who has experience working with snowy metal roofs.
Prevent Ice Dams With HotEdge Roof Ice Melt
Purchasing a HotEdge roof ice melt system is an excellent way to safeguard your home or business against the damaging effects of winter weather. With this roof ice melt system, you can keep your roof in good condition and avoid costly repairs in the future.
It will also help keep your family or employees safe and warm during the winter months.
Our systems are designed to detect and respond to ice accumulation and snow accumulation in order to protect your roof and gutters. We provide a long-term solution that can save you time, money, and hassle in the long run.
So, if you’re looking for a reliable way to protect your home or business from winter weather, a HotEdge roof ice melt system is definitely worth considering.
Call us at +1 (877) 220-5066 for a free quotation.
