Minimum Slope For Snow Slide On Metal Roof

Standing seam is the metal roof profile that has been gaining more popularity nowadays due to its clean and modern looks.

Minimum slope for snow slide on metal roof.

A minimum slope of 1 inch per foot is recommended in snow country. With regards to metal roofing the profile refers to the shape adopted by the metal sheets when they are bent to form the panels. The minimum roof slope allowed by code for any type of roof is in 12 applicable only to coal tar pitch roof systems. That means there is at least 3 of vertical rise to the roof slope for every 12 it goes back horizontally.

To get the minimum pitch for a metal roof the vertical rise per foot is divided by the horizontal slope. Profile in the context of metal roofing means the shape that the sheet of metal is bent into to form the panels. The key factors are usually snow loading requirements adequate slope and the use of snow guards when needed. Metal roofing systems have a good track record of performance in harsh winter environments as long as they are properly designed.

The minimum slope for lapped non soldered seam metal roofs with applied lap sealant shall be one half unit vertical in 12 units horizontal 4 percent slope. Most residential metal roofs require at least a 3 12 roof pitch and have no maximum roof pitch. The slope that works best seems to be 5 12. They then have the option of putting dormers on the roof without damage to the valleys penetrations lower roofs and property below due to sliding snow and ice.

There are some opinions that standing seam metal roof minimum slope is 12 but it increases the possibility of leaking on the few first days of snow arrival. The following table provides the minimum required allowable roof slope for each type of roofing material mentioned in the code. That is a 14 degree angle. The pitch is measured in inches of vertical rise per foot of horizontal run and the 5v crimp profile shown above requires a minimum slope of three in twelve or 3 12 3 inches vertically per 12 inches horizontally.

This allows the snow to stay on while venting the roof system. The minimum roof slope for metal roofs is dependent upon the roof profile.