Do metal roofs need ice guards?
Why ice slides off metal
Metal is smooth, and when the sun or attic heat warms the panels, a thin layer of water forms under snow or ice. The whole mass can let go at once and slide off the eave. On a shingle roof the rough surface holds it; on metal it moves.
What sliding ice can damage
- Gutters torn off the fascia.
- Lower roofs, especially shingle porch roofs below a metal main roof.
- Cars, deck railings, plants and air conditioners below the eave.
- People walking under the roof edge.
When Georgia homes need them
- Mountain homes in North Georgia, where snow and ice can linger for days.
- Any metal roof over an entry, walkway, driveway or parking area.
- Metal roofs above a lower roof or a deck.
Freezing rain is more common than deep snow in much of the state, and ice-coated metal can shed sheets of ice when the sun comes out.
Not the same as ice and water shield
Ice and water shield is a membrane under the roof that stops leaks. Ice guards are hardware on top of the roof that stops sliding. A metal roof may need both.
Placement
Guards are usually installed in rows near the eave and sometimes higher up, with layout depending on roof length, pitch and expected snow. Gutters below should be sized and fastened well. More in metal roofing in Georgia and gutter sizing and guards.