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Grizzlyman
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 06:50am
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Hi all. Looking for input. I put a pro-rib roof on my cabin in N MN. 6/12 pitch. I’m interested in hearing from those of you with a steel roof.
It seems to me that this roof won’t accumulate much snow at all. Seems to me it’ll just slide off between snowfalls… either somewhat quickly or within a few days. but would like to hear if my expectation meets reality. I think prorib would shed better than standing seam since there’s less surface area… but the screws might also act as cleat to give the snow some traction…so who knows… and the more I think about it- I never see farm pole barns with a heavy snow load.
Im not interested in putting snow retention bars on the roof- unless I have to…but am also worried about large glacial snow slides- and damage to the roof, stovepipe,or surrounding area- which the bars prevent.
Does your steel roof shed snow? To what extent? Is it immediate, slowly over a few days, or all at once? What pitch is your roof? Lastly Do you think my 6/12 pro rib roof will perform like I think? Thanks in advance.
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gwindhurst
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 07:44am
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I've got a 12/12 pitch metal roof and sometimes it sheds snow, other times not... It will depend on temperature and type of snowfall. A mix of snow/rain, freezing rain to snow or a heavy wet snow will likely not shed. Also depends on how well roof is insulated and warmth from below. Upon arrival to my place back in February in VT, I had over a foot on the roof. A couple days later with the woodstove going and fluctuating outside temps it finally broke loose.
Upon arrival
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Couple days later
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fiftyfifty
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 08:17am
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I agree with gwindhurst. I am in northern Minnesota. I have a 12/12 pro-snap roof on the bigger cabin and a 12/12 pro-rib on the little cabin. When I arrive, what I find is variable. Sometimes it is a thick coat (more than a foot), sometimes it is pretty clean. But after a few days of heating, it all slides off. You can see that it is starting to inch off, but then it slides all at once unexpectedly. We definitely have taught the kids not to walk right beneath the eaves. We do have snow wedges to protect both chimneys, but even with that I worry about the chimneys. I should positioned them near the peaks of the roofs rather than closer down to the edge like I did. You live, you learn...
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gwindhurst
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 09:11am
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Quoting: fiftyfifty but then it slides all at once unexpectedly.
First time I experienced it I was sound asleep at 2 in the morning. Jolted the entire cabin and me right out of bed! 
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ICC
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 09:30am
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Like has been said it is variable. Wet snow, dryer powdery snow, sleet, Temperatures that fall from above freezing to well below.
We have some 5/12 and 6/12 as well as a 12/12. All ribbed metal. There have been times when they all have a foot or more of snow. Most of the roofs do have pipe snow guards, so no slides there. Even the roofs with no guards sometimes just have the snow sit there without much sliding off. Sometimes the slide happens in slow motion forming some big snow curls along the eve.
If a building is heated there can be greater variability depending on insulaton.
Chimneys and plumbing vents should have diverters and good bracing.
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snobdds
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 11:00am - Edited by: snobdds
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I really don't use my cabin in the winter, but according to neighbors...snow will accumulate all winter during the real cold months until the sun's energy is sufficient to create some melting on top of the meatal to provide a lubricant to break the bond of snow and metal. Then the snow will shead. The first three are of a neighbors place to show the snow loading over the winter.
In my area, when the snow gets above 15 feet, there is nowhere for the snow to go from the roof, so it just stays there...
At my ski house in Steamboat, the underside of the roof is spayed foam and the roof is metal. It again will stay until there is a warm day and then it all comes down. Then I'm shoveling the decks.
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 11:21am
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12:12 Pitch on house and no problem, one catch, because my roof system is a Cool Roof build, it does allow for the snow to build up a bit more that IF it was getting any heat from the building because of the Thermal Break.
I've seen it get about 1-1/2' thick and then all of a sudden it let's go and Holy Macaroni ! Not something to be under when it goes, that would Hurt ! And in the middle of the night, it's Really Noticeable rumble, made worse because of the Thermal Break airspace, it amplifies the sound.
Wood Shed is 6:12 if memory serves, it does build up to about 2-1/2' and then slides off.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 11:33am
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After having two cabins, one with conventional dark asphalt shingles and this current one with metal I really like the metal. The asphalt cabin had a steeper pitch yet held snow deeper and longer.
Dont put anything beneath the eves that you want to save or get at in the winter, you may not find it for a while; the snow berm at our place takes a good while longer to melt down after the ground clears. It is kinda like the snow-plow berm out front.
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Shadyacres
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 01:44pm
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The sun is the key but if is really cold it will hold for a while. I have a 10/12 and it will stick if cold and no sun hitting it.
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toofewweekends
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# Posted: 30 Jul 2021 02:11pm
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12/12 roof, it'll slide a few times each Alaska winter, depending on ice, warm-ups, etc. South side slides more often than the north. When there's a couple feet build-up and it goes, it's a freight train coming down. Don't park snowmachines near the slide zone.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 1 Aug 2021 06:49am
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Quoting: toofewweekends it's a freight train coming down.
Let's just say I learned to Value of Snow Guards & Deflectors ! Most especially over doorways and such.
Attached Snow Guard Deflector info to make them up.
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Grizzlyman
Member
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# Posted: 1 Aug 2021 07:33pm
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Wow. Thanks for the feedback. Looks like I was wrong! I’m surprised to hear that even 12/12 steel roofs will hold snow!
Looks like I have some more to think about!
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