Heavy snow and ice have the potential to cause issues with your metal roofing system. But how do you know what to look for, and what should you do if you identify damage?
Your roof is one of the first things you should check after a winter storm, as it’s the primary structure acting as a shield from the outside world to the interior of your home or building.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common issues on metal roofs after heavy snow and ice storms. Plus, we’ll give you some extra tips for keeping your metal roof structurally sound and strategies for keeping it protected from winter weather – before the weather hits.
Keep safety in mind when looking for these problems. We do not recommend getting onto your roof yourself to check for damage. Instead, contact a professional.
Ice Dams

Ice dams are a common winter issue on all types of roofs, and, when severe enough, can cause serious harm to the roofing system. Ice dams are buildups of ice and snow that typically form on the lower sections of the roof, either above the gutters, in valleys or at the eaves of a roof. Snow melts on the higher portions of the roof where heat from the home emanates, then slides down the roof and freezes at the colder portions of the roof. Here it enters a process of freezing, melting, and refreezing, creating a wall of ice that blocks other snow from properly draining.
If you see ice and snow accumulating at the lower edges of your roof, it’s likely an ice dam. If severe, ice dams can pose problems to your roof and your home. Ice is heavy and can exert an extreme amount of pressure, and if enough of it accumulates it can cause your entire gutter to fall, stripping away paint and fascia in the process.
Ice dams can also create vulnerabilities in your roofing system by getting underneath panels and pulling them up, which could cause leaking eventually black mold growth inside your home.

So what should you do if you spot an ice dam on your home or building?
The best thing to do is call a roofing professional who can inspect the ice dam and lay out the options you have going forward. A professional will help you break up the ice dam and propose preventative options for the future, including:
- Oversized gutters: New, larger gutters will be able to better handle drainage, offering larger pathways for melted snow to exit off the roof. If you’re in an area that sees a lot of snow, this could be an effective option.
- Heating options: Heating cables designed to turn on when the roof reaches a certain temperature can help eliminate ice dams by melting snow and promote proper drainage on your roof.
- Insulation: Ice dams start forming as a result of heat escaping the interior of the home. Adding extra insulation underneath your roof will help keep heat inside and prevent ice dam formation.
Ice dams are one of the easier issues to spot, especially if they’ve become severe. Other types of damage might be harder to identify.
General Damage (Penetrations, Flashing Zones, Denting)

Every metal roof is a little different, and, based on your roof’s unique design, it may be prone to different issues after a snowstorm. Some of the most common areas and types of damage include:
- Penetrations: Look at areas where attachments penetrate your roof – these could be additions such as solar panels. Penetrations are common areas where ice can embed itself and pull panels up.
- Sealant and flashing zones: Likewise, places on your roof where panels meet and areas around chimneys or in valleys can be areas of vulnerability in cold weather conditions. If ice gets into these parts of your roof, it can expand and create damage, which can lead to leaking.
- Impacts: Winter storms can bring heavy winds. Debris and branches from trees can swirl around and land on your roof. Metal roof designs with varying roof planes that allow for cascading water may also face issues in cold-weather climates. Ice can break off and fall onto the lower sections of the roof, leading to denting or more severe damage to the panels.
In some cases, certain damage may not be visible at all.
Leaking

Sometimes leaks can be obvious – if you have water dripping through your roof into your home, this is a clear sign of a leak, and you should call a roofing professional immediately.
Other times, however, spotting a leak can be more challenging. Even if you can’t spot a leak with the naked eye, there might still be a failure somewhere in the system. Checking your attic for signs of moisture intrusion can help identify leaks.
After a particularly heavy snow or ice storm, a professional inspection can help find those more hidden leaks and keep your roof operating as it should.
How Can You Keep Your Metal Roof Safe from Snow and Ice?

In certain climates, snow, ice, and extreme cold are inevitable. If you take steps to protect your metal roof before the weather hits, you can put yourself in a better spot to avoid complications such as ice dams and leaking. Standing seam metal roofs perform extremely well in all weather conditions including snow, but there are still steps you should take to maintain their functionality.
Regular Maintenance and Inspections
Keep your metal roof regularly maintenance and inspected, typically twice a year. It’s a good idea to get your roof inspected before winter so that you know it’s ready to handle harsh weather. Additionally, an inspection in the spring will help identify any issues that occurred during the winter. A professional inspector can identify damage and offer potential solutions.
These solutions will vary based on your roof’s unique design. As mentioned earlier, adding heating cables or enlarging the size of your gutters can help prevent future ice dams from forming.
In some cases, snow retention systems may be recommended. Snow retention systems are attachments that often run horizontally across a roof and are designed to keep snow on a roof. These attachments help keep those walking underneath from falling snow and also hold snow on a roof so that it can melt more gradually, defending against the rapid melting and refreezing process that leads to ice dams.

Proper Design
In many cases, snow and ice damage amplifies issues that are already present in a metal roof design. If there’s a problematic area that is not suited for cold weather, whether it be an inefficient drainage system or a shallow slope, snow and ice will expose those areas and highlight issues in the design.
Metal roofs with steeper slopes are able to dispose of ice and snow easier, which deters the buildup of ice dams. For homes or buildings in cold-weather climates, a steep slope can be a huge advantage that can eliminate a lot of common issues for metal roofs. As mentioned earlier, wider gutters and downspouts can promote proper drainage too.
One of the most important design considerations to pay attention to is the flow of water off your roof. If multiple valleys of a roof all lead to one area, then this could be a problem when snow and ice hits, as runoff can get clogged and start to build up. In an efficient design, drainage will be spaced evenly throughout the roof and allow for constant flow into gutters and downspouts.
Looking for More Information on Cold-Weather Metal Roof Maintenance?
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to protecting metal roofs in cold-weather climates. If you’ve just received a heavy snowfall, you can use this article to help identify any damage to your roof. But remember the best way to figure out if you have a serious issue with your roof is if you have an inspection conducted by a professional roofer.
And before the next snowstorm, be sure you’re taking preventative actions so that when the snow does come, your roof will be ready. Feel free to check out our related content on this topic below:
What Are Ice Dams? Causes, Prevention, and Solutions for Metal Roofs – Sheffield Metals
Metal Roofing & Weather: Best Warm & Cold Climate Roof Considerations
