Metal Roof in Snow Country?

Sarah K. · #1 03/16/08, 07:03 PM

DH and I are about to buy our first home, and from the looks of things it will need a new roof in the near future. We are leaning towards a metal roof since we hear they last longer and we are concerned about snow buildup and needing to shovel the roof. However, my dad's GF (who is a large animal vet and gets to talk to a lot of rural homeowners) says that most of the people she has talked to who have had metal roofs installed, would not do it again. I haven't had a chance to talk to her about the particulars, but she's mentioned people losing large chunks of their roof to high winds, etc. This seems at odds with most of what I've heard on this forum and elsewhere- most people seem happy with metal roofs, except a few who have had them poorly installed. I'd be interested to hear from others with metal roofs, especially in Central NY.
Particulars of the house: 30 year old ranch house in Mexico, NY (around 150" avg snowfall). The previous owners say they never shovelled the roof and never had a problem, but I worry (a lady at work just lost her garage in the heavy snows last year, so it does happen!) The most frequently used entrance is in the walkout basement, so does have a 2-story drop for falling snow, but also has a little roof over the door. The current roof is asphalt shingles.
Thanks in advance!
-Sarah

DaleK · #2 03/16/08, 07:25 PM

Experience here is that if it's bad enough to start pulling up a steel roof, the asphalt shingles would have been long gone. I'd take a steel roof anytime.

painterswife · #3 03/16/08, 07:48 PM

We have a steel roof in snow country.

Lots of valleys with a steel roof is the problem the problem. The ice can tear the roof right off. The other problem would be if the slopes end above doors and walkways, lots of shoveling and falling snow.

That said a well designed metal roof is far better for shedding heavy snow loads.

agmantoo · #4 03/16/08, 08:55 PM

The small island homes that are in the path of incoming hurricanes get hit year after year. These homes predominantly have metal roofs. The 2 roofs that hold up best are the heavy terra cotta and the metal roofs. If you have any doubt about the performance specify the heavier gauge metal and use the long screws. If I did not use the standing rib style of metal I would be certain that the standard corrugated design had the over lapping side joints and the end joints caulked with continuous roll caulking.

naturewoman · #5 03/16/08, 09:02 PM

I have strong seasonal winds, and a metal roof, and have never had it torn off. It also sheds snow well. Depending on the pitch of the roof, the snow may still build up pretty deep. You need to make sure your structure is built for appropriate snow load (regardless of the type of roofing), but it shouldn't matter if it's metal or shingle..except the metal will shed the snow faster...which is good in deep snow.

Bonnie L · #6 03/16/08, 09:15 PM

We have metal roofs & lots of snow. The only sections that hold too much snow are the porch roof that's asphalt shingles (haven't gotten around to replacing it) & another porch that dh put in with too shallow of a pitch. At least he made it strong so it won't collapse! We have high winds only on rare occasions, but have never had a problem with the metal roofs.

The majority of the country people in our area have metal roofs.

rambler · #7 03/16/08, 09:44 PM

Metal the snow will slide off - sometimes with great speed & crashing - dangerous to those below.

Asphault or wood the snow stays up there all winter, those are the ones you need to shovel off....

A roof with many angles & valleys would have issues with snow building up in the valleys, or ripping it off when it started moving.

A shallow roof would have problems either way.

Rain gutters can easily be torn off on a metal roof, that takes very careful design.

Wind shouldn't be a problem - use screws, not nails, with metal. Poor materials are a problem either way, use quality design & the metal will be as good or better than asphault.

I would not use metal on _every_ roof because of valleys; or snow & ice falling off the roof onto sidewalks & door areas. But it's a good oprion for many cases.

--->Paul

longshadowfarms · #8 03/16/08, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleK

Experience here is that if it's bad enough to start pulling up a steel roof, the asphalt shingles would have been long gone. I'd take a steel roof anytime.

I would think that would certainly be true. We are in central NY near Canandaigua and we have all metal roofs (barns and house), some for 20 yrs. I LOVE them! That said, Mexico is in the snow belt and we are not. Snow will slide off a metal roof a lot better than an asphalt unless you have REALLY good snow hooks and lots of them. You probably don't want to stand on a metal roof shoveling because they are rather slippery when wet. The greater the pitch, the more likely the snow would be to slide right off. Watch door placement or you might be tunneling out through rather deep drifts if the snow slides off (distinctly remembers one such snow event when I was a kid). If they use enough screws that are long enough and have enough to screw into, a metal roof shouldn't blow off. We are not in a high wind area but there are a lot of barns around with metal roofs and I've never seen one blown off.

Runestone · #9 03/16/08, 09:48 PM

We have a metal roof on our outbuilding and asphalt shingles on our house. I can't wait to replace the shingles with a metal roof. The roof is screwed down and we get some very high winds. Our shingles have lifted but the roof doesn't budge.
As for the snow falling off - my DD lives in Finland. All the metal roofs have barriers that break up the snow so it can't fall in great quantity. I'll try to find a picture.

Pamela · #10 03/16/08, 10:30 PM

We also have a metal roof. Handles the snow well, and high winds. We also have gutters without having any trouble with them getting caught by the snow load coming off the roof. The biggest draw back for me, I no longer will go up on the roof! Depending on weather conditions, it can be very slippery! Freaks me out! That being said, I would choose a metal roof over shingles.

mwhit · #11 03/17/08, 06:28 AM

I'm a few hours north of you and I have a metal roof. It handles the snow/wind better than shingles IMO. We do have one of those long poles with a shovel on the end to pull snow off the roof and DH has went up a few times to shovel when we've gotten a lot of snow, but I'm pretty sure it would be fine if he didn't. Fortunatel,y my house is single story with a mild pitch-- I wouldn't climb around on metal roof that was steep in the winter, but it if was steep the snow would slide off better.

Michelle

Randy Rooster · #12 03/17/08, 06:35 AM

Used to be that all metal roofs in snow areas had "snow birds" that prevented the snow from coming off in large amounts all at once. Dont know why they dont now.

blufford · #13 03/17/08, 07:05 AM

Here is a link with several different brands of snow guards.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

Hoop · #14 03/17/08, 07:31 AM

I wouldn't dream of EVER replacing my metal roof with a shingle type roof.

I have seen countless shingle roofs with ice dam problems. NEVER on a metal roof.

Are metal roofs completely without their problems? NO. Snow will slide off the roofs......and may freeze in a pile while you're at work.

But the benefits of NEVER having any ice dam problems FAR outweigh these problems.

Properly install a metal roof and your roofing worries are over........for 50 years.

anniew · #15 03/17/08, 07:40 AM

I had a metal roof put on 3 years ago...I live about 30 miles below Binghamton. My home is a gambrel style so the angle is very steep.
I agree with what most others said, but if you are building new, remember that if you have a wood stove that needs the chimney cleaned from the roof that you may have a problem. Luckily I can clean mine from the ground.
I do not have gutters because the snow coming down from the steep roof would smash the gutters. The other problem is the door that I use to bring in wood is on the snow-slide side of the house, so when it snows, I have to wait until the snow comes down, or else I'd be buried in an avalanche. However, it usually comes down within 24 hours if not sooner, and I always have a 3 day supply of wood inside when I know there will be a storm...or I could go in the other door that is not on a snow-slide side of the house.
JUst some extra things to think about...Ann

Scrounger · #16 03/17/08, 07:56 AM

I dunno. I used to inspect (for warranty) windows, doors, and metal roofs. I can honestly say that I have NEVER found a metal roof - on an "inhabited" structure" (not barns or sheds) - that did not have unseen damage to the structure underneath.
They are also not "no maintainence" either.

Some people swear by them. I know I will never willingly put one on my house.

Use Less · #17 03/17/08, 08:14 AM

Metal roofs have been the roof of choice in the Adirondacks for many years, which should be its own recommendation for somebody in Mexico, NY. We are near Hemlock, and plan a metal roof in a couple of years. There surely are better and worse installations and installers, so look seriously into how the sections are to be joined and how all is attached to what is below. Ask for "snowbirds" or deflectors above doors, over expensive shrub areas, etc., to avoid damage & injuries if a sheet of snow avalanches off. Sue

clawmute · #18 03/17/08, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah K.

DH and I are about to buy our first home, and from the looks of things it will need a new roof in the near future. We are leaning towards a metal roof since we hear they last longer and we are concerned about snow buildup and needing to shovel the roof. However, my dad's GF (who is a large animal vet and gets to talk to a lot of rural homeowners) says that most of the people she has talked to who have had metal roofs installed, would not do it again. I haven't had a chance to talk to her about the particulars, but she's mentioned people losing large chunks of their roof to high winds, etc. This seems at odds with most of what I've heard on this forum and elsewhere- most people seem happy with metal roofs, except a few who have had them poorly installed. I'd be interested to hear from others with metal roofs, especially in Central NY.
Particulars of the house: 30 year old ranch house in Mexico, NY (around 150" avg snowfall). The previous owners say they never shovelled the roof and never had a problem, but I worry (a lady at work just lost her garage in the heavy snows last year, so it does happen!) The most frequently used entrance is in the walkout basement, so does have a 2-story drop for falling snow, but also has a little roof over the door. The current roof is asphalt shingles.
Thanks in advance!
-Sarah

I'm in the process of putting a steel roof on our house. I'm doing the work by myself. 28squares total. Have 16 completed.

After observing for years the steel roofs that I put on our outbuildings I am convinced that they are equal to or superior to shingles. In recent storms this past winter the steel stayed intact and the shingles left.

You need to get a good contractor to do the work. No matter how good the materials of construction, if they are not applied with expertise they will not last. I go the extra mile and make sure it is well attached.

My opinion? Go with steel.

catahoula · #19 03/17/08, 09:40 AM

Don't hold back on the screws, the only ones I've seen fail in high winds, and we have no shortage of wind here, is from nails slowly backing out.

I think ring shank nails used to be the norm, but for whatever reason, they don't seem to want to stay put for more than twenty years.

MN Gardener · #20 03/17/08, 09:46 AM

I think you need to make sure you are insulated correctly too. I have heard if you aren't insulated enough you will hear every acorn and raindrop that hits the roof.