Gutters Torn Off By Snow

March 8, 2017 | Filed under: Metal Roofing, Roof Repair, Roofing Answers

A nice homeowner named Lisa emailed me the following about her recent issues with the gutters on her home being torn off by sliding snow.

Q: I came across an old posting of yours in which you were giving advice to a homeowner like me who had a metal roof and problems with cascading snow ripping the gutter off. I just had the identical problem. Very sorry to bother you, but I am in desperate need of advice and there seems to be an endless litany of different suggestions to a problem that appears to be very reoccurring and should have a simple solution. Your posting sounded very knowledgeable and you offered the person additional advice if they emailed you. So here goes…

We have a very low pitched metal roof over our kitchen (just installed one year ago). The roofer originally installed a 5″ gutter, but I complained that the gutter was not catching the rain enough (it was pouring over the gutter) so he installed a 6″ commercial grade gutter. One large snow storm and the snow avalanched off our roof and ripped the gutter right off. Now, what should we do? My roofer suggests that the 6″ gutter is too big and part of the problem. He wants to put back the original 5″ gutter and install snow rails.

I just want a functioning gutter that won’t get pried off next winter and that will work when it is raining. What size gutter and gutter placement do you suggest? Do I need a snow rail (will it cause more problems (we initially had ice dams which is why we paid for the metal roof)? Do the adhesive snow brakes work and do I even need them if the gutter is installed correctly? It is clear that we will have snow avalanches in the future (we had them last winter when we did not have a gutter yet).

Again, I know you may not answer me, but I would so appreciate your thoughts. I did extensive research when we put on the seamless metal roof in the first place. No one ever talked about gutters or snow brakes/rails in my initial research.

Here was my response:

A: Thanks Lisa. I am happy to share my thoughts. Unfortunately, this side of things is more art than science.

I would not mind taking a look at an overhead view of your home, if you wish to send me the address. I’d like to get some idea of the rafter lengths and other geometry of the roof.

That said, here is my normal gutter recommendation: 6” gutters produced from minimal .032” thick aluminum, mounted as high as possible, with proper slope. They should be mounted with hidden brackets secured into every rafter tail.

Yes, the adhesive mounted snow guards can work … the adhesive requires 30 days at 60 degrees or above for proper curing. Snow fences on standing seam can allow the snow to just slide underneath.

That said, if you have had ice dams, I would shy away from using any sort of snow guard. Have your ice dams been better?

Like I said, if you wish, send me your address and I will look for satellite images and let you know my additional thoughts.

todd Miller

has spent his entire career in the metal building products manufacturing industry. He is president of Isaiah Industries, an organization recognized as one of the world’s leading metal roofing manufacturers. Todd is currently Vice President of the MRA (Metal Roofing Association) and a Past Chair of MCA (Metal Construction Association). Through his website, he strives to raise the bar on standards and practices to provide property owners with the best possible products for successful roofing projects.

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