It is critical that a designer specify enough snow retention devices based on the slope and snow load.
Steep pitch roof for snow.
A flat roof would have a 2 12 pitch while the average roof pitch would be between 4 12 and 9 12.
But without designing the snow retention based on accurate testing you could be wishing you had that steep slope and metal roof which was always intended to shed snow.
Pitched roofs are there for a reason they help the flow of rainwater and even snow to move away from the roof.
Otherwise it would settle in a puddle.
They encourage snow to slide off before it builds up too high.
If every roof was flat there d be a lot more leaks and water damage.
Pitched roofs begin with with slopes greater than 3 in 12.
This gets rid of moisture quicker and avoids weight issues with piled up snow and ice especially in areas with a lot of precipitation.
Be sure to keep the climate in mind when picking out the perfect roof pitch for your home.
Any pitch higher than 9 12 is considered a steep pitch.
Suitable materials for pitched roofs.
How to work on a steep roof the benefits of pitched roofs.
The 45 degree roofs seen on a frame houses are 12 in 12 but roofs can be even steeper consider the mansard roofs introduced by french second empire architects in the middle of the 1800s.
Pitched roofs including gabled and hipped roofs are the most common types in the united states.
Over time these puddles can cause rot mildew and other issues.