When installing a metal roof on your house, you should know what type of protection you’re getting. Luckily, metal roofing is a very durable, long-lasting type of roofing that can stand up to quite a few hazards, including hail, high winds, and fire. Even with all these benefits, there is still the question of whether a metal roof will prevent ice dams. If you’re a residential homeowner, you probably know about the dangers of ice dams, so this is a fair question to ask. This guide to the subject will help you learn more about the type of protection metal roofing can provide you in the winter.
If you have yet to experience an ice dam on your roof, then you’re very lucky. This wintertime hazard occurs on residential rooftops when heat from within the home causes the snow on the roof to melt. Once the melting snow freezes again, it traps snow and ice, resulting in leaks and other structural damage. Ice dams will typically form in valleys on the roof or along the overhangs. Improving both the insulation and ventilation in your attic can help minimize the chances of ice dams in the winter.
Luckily, one of the attributes of metal roofing is that it can easily shed materials such as debris, rain, and snow. This means that metal roofing will help your home avoid winter hazards like ice dams. That said, is it possible for ice dams to form on your metal roof? In some cases, yes. However, during heavy snowfall, ice dams can still form on top of a metal roof, especially if there’s a lack of sunlight during that time or for several days after.
This is where the ventilation and insulation we mentioned earlier can come in handy. Improving these factors in your attic can add an extra layer of ice dam protection to your metal roofing in Madison, WI. The area is certainly no stranger to snowfall, so if you want to have the best protection against ice dams during winter, consider taking these steps.
Let’s address the titular question once more, will a metal roof prevent ice dams? Unfortunately, a metal roof cannot prevent ice dams entirely. However, metal roofing has a much lower chance of falling victim to this wintertime hazard than many other roofing materials.