Metal Roof in Snow Country?

Regular inspections are required for all roofs. Twice a year say and after any major weather event (high wind, hail, prolonged downpours). Especially After winter and after summer. The dramatic change in temperatures will cause all fasteners to back out. Screws, nails etc. The roof and all south facing walls take the most beating. I've seen nails in our south wall back totally out.

Regular maintenance will prolong your roof. Retightening of fasteners, caulk etc. It's far cheaper to do this than suffer damage from major and unannounced leaks.

www.metalroofing.com

The snow will slide off and tear the gutters off in the right conditions. Walking on a wet or slightly frosted metal roof is about impossible so as others said if you have to clean a chimney it's a problem.

__________________
"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self confidence"
Robert Frost

We have a metal roof. We like it.

__________________
http://www.mofga.org/

http://www.mofga.org/Programs/FarmAp...2/Default.aspx

Thanks, everyone, for your responses! The one thing I didn't consider was the chimney situation- there is no chimney now, but we were considering putting in a woodstove at some point in the future. I assume that if we put the woodstove against an exterior wall (chimney near the eaves rather than the peak) that would probably make it reasonably accessible for cleaning? Or is it OK as long as you don't have someone up there when it is wet/snowy?
Thanks,
Sarah

Our stove-pipe goes straight up and through the metal roof. We have not had any problems with it.

Just clean the chimney when there is no snow on the roof. We typically clean it in the fall and sometime mid-winter when we've had a thaw or thesnow has all slid off. It's not that hard-- I can even do it.

I do disagree with Scrounger-- I've never seen a home with a properly installed metal roof suffer structural damage.

Michelle

I clean our stove-pipe in mid-summer.

I take it all down, and outside. Each section comes apart and gets washed out with a garden hose. It all fits back together and goes back into place, then I use 'stove black' and I re-coat the entire stove. So it is picture pretty.

If you are going to be installing a stove and plan to run the chimney out and then up (that is what we have done) it is very simple to install a clean out that can be done without climbing onto the roof. I have had one like that for over 20 years and one that we installed in the addition for the wood cookstove when we built it. We put a steel roof on the main house about 6 years ago and at construction on the addition. I love it and we have a lot of snow here.

I did, however, change the main door I use to the side of the house that was less inclined to have the big snow slides. There is nothing like going out the door first thing in the morning to go to the barn and having a bunch of snow land on you and down your neck!!

A metal roof is popular in high altitude areas because the sun ages asphalt singles quickly, but only fades the paint on a metal roof.

A straight vertical stove pipe guarantees strong drafting every time. Exhaust gasses are not spending much time inside wandering up either so hopefully they can not deposit as much creosote.

Metal is the only way to go. I would never have shingles again.