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TOPIC: Ice Buildup

Snow in valleys

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We have a Swedish made 24 gauge tile style galvanized steel roof since 2000. We are very happy with it after suffering with shingles for many years, but we have a problem with snow build up in the valleys. The tile structure makes the snow come down in a 90° angle from two sides and it hits the valley which becomes a funnel and it creates a glacier effect. This in turn makes ice of the snow. The attached picture shows the result of ice. Is there a solution to this? Other than building without valleys. Thankful for your answer. Edward Genberg
Guest User

4/4/2007
Adding heat tape or snowguards may help. Have you contacted the roofing manufacturer? Todd Miller
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

4/4/2007
Thanks, I do have heat cords on during the winter and they create a big tunnel in the packed snow/ice. This helps so that water, when the it melts, at least runs out in and from the valley. The first winter that water forced itself in under the metal sheets and we had a few leaks. As you can tell from the picture to stop that I have used foam to fill the open space under the "Tiles" and it works just fine. That was a recommendation I got from a building supplier in Sweden who had experienced the same problem. He didn't, however have a solution to how to stop the snow from sliding the way it does, and my question might have been dumb to start with. I took a chance after finding your web site. Thaks anyway Edward Genberg
Guest User

4/4/2007
I am not sure what type of snowguard would be best for a tile profile but I think that snowguards could somewhat help prevent such violent convergence of snow at the valleys. Todd Miller
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.

4/5/2007