Ice melts more easily on a steep slope preventing the build up of ice patches or dams that can force.
Steep pitch roof for snow.
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.
A flat roof would have a 2 12 pitch while the average roof pitch would be between 4 12 and 9 12.
Thanks to gravity rain and snow will fall off a steep pitched roof more easily than a low pitched roof.
Be sure to keep the climate in mind when picking out the perfect roof pitch for your home.
Otherwise it would settle in a puddle.
Any pitch higher than 9 12 is considered a steep pitch.
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 begin with with slopes greater than 3 in 12.
Suitable materials for pitched roofs.
Pitched roofs are there for a reason they help the flow of rainwater and even snow to move away from the roof.
It is critical that a designer specify enough snow retention devices based on the slope and snow load.
Even without a cold roof system a steep roof is generally better in a snowy environment which is why you see those dramatic a frame homes in colder areas.
Pitched roofs including gabled and hipped roofs are the most common types in the united states.
They encourage snow to slide off before it builds up too high.
This gets rid of moisture quicker and avoids weight issues with piled up snow and ice especially in areas with a lot of precipitation.