Patternfor Ice Dams On A Metal Roof

Metal roofs ward off ice dams pretty well to begin with but a steeply pitched metal roof is kryptonite to an ice dam.

Patternfor ice dams on a metal roof.

This is called ice belt metal panels. Why ice dams are dangerous. The snow melts into water and t. However on a building with a deep overhang it likely will not transfer heat high enough up the roof.

Ice dams can be frustrating. The major issue with ice dams on the roof is that they trap the melting water running down from the top of the roof and thereby cause it the melted water to rise up underneath the roofing shingles and eventually seep through the boards and walls inside our homes. Improper attic ventilation should also be assessed and taken into account. It s possible the ice can get a grip on the raised metal screws commonly used to attach the metal sheets to the roof deck.

The hot edge systems i am familiar with do not retrofit well onto an existing metal roof. Metal roofing can help but is not an ice dam panacea. Ice belt metal panels are typically short 3 4 and wide 2 5 3 and are made of thin gauge aluminum. An ice dam forms when the roof over the attic gets warm enough to melt the bottom layer of snow.

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. 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. On a metal roof there s almost nothing for an ice dam to adhere to. Heat tape installed at the eaves melts channels for the water to flow through.

In regards to the idea of a hot edge system on a metal roof it can be helpful. So the ice dams still build just higher on the roof.