Get matched with top roofers in Sherburn, MN

The most common slope range for roofs on houses in snowy areas is between 4/12 and 6/12, or 50%. A roof with a slope of less than 10%, or roughly a 2/12 pitch, won’t be effective at shedding snow. However, roofs that are too steep can allow large amounts of snow to build up and fall all at once, creating a hazard for those on the ground.

The formula for calculating how many squares of roofing you need is pretty easy. Take the total amount of square footage and divide it by 100. With this formula in mind, a 2,000-square-foot roof would require 20 squares of roofing material to adequately cover it.

The number of snow guards you’ll need on your roof depends on factors like the type of roof you have, its slope, the orientation of your home, and the snow load in your area. A local roofing professional or the snow guard manufacturer can help you determine the ideal amount.

Asphalt roofs provide better insulation than metal roofs, but that doesn’t always mean that asphalt roofs are better for reducing heating and cooling bills. In hotter climates, metal roofs will usually be better for home efficiency because the material reflects more sunlight and reduces solar heat gain. In colder climates, asphalt roofs are sometimes superior in terms of efficiency because they introduce more solar heat gain to your home and have greater insulating capabilities. However, metal roofs installed with an air gap can provide similar levels of insulation.