You wake up after a nor’easter to find a foot and a half of snow sitting on your roof, and it isn’t going anywhere fast. Is that just a normal Maine winter, or is your roof carrying more weight than it should?

It’s a fair question, and one our team at Just Roofing hears from homeowners across the greater Portland area every winter. The material on your roof affects how it handles that weight, and metal roofs and asphalt shingles behave differently once snow starts piling up.

Keep reading to learn whether metal or shingles handle heavy snow loads better.

How Much Weight Does Snow Actually Add to a Roof?

Fresh powder is deceptively light, often just a few pounds per cubic foot. However, Maine winters rarely stay that simple. 

Snow that partially melts in the afternoon sun and refreezes overnight packs down into something much denser, and a few feet of that compacted, ice-laden snow can add thousands of pounds of load across an average roof. Most homes are built to code for typical snow loads, but repeated storms without any snow shedding in between are what push a roof toward its limit.

Do Metal Roofs Really Shed Snow Better Than Shingles?

Asphalt shingles have a rough, granulated surface that grips snow and holds it in place. Metal roofing, including the Union Corrugating panels our crews install, has a smooth, low-friction surface that lets snow slide off once it warms slightly or shifts under its own weight. 

That difference matters over a full winter. A shingle roof tends to hold onto each storm’s snow until the next thaw, while a metal roof is shedding weight throughout the season instead of stacking it up.

How Do Ice Dams Factor Into Snow Load?

Snow load isn’t the only concern. Heat escaping from an attic melts snow near the ridge, and that water runs down and refreezes at the colder eaves, forming a dam that backs up under the roofing material. 

This can happen on any roof if attic insulation or ventilation isn’t doing its job, but shingles are more prone to holding that trapped water in place because they don’t shed it as quickly. Whichever material sits on top, a properly installed ice and water shield underneath keeps meltwater from working its way under the roof deck.

Does Better Snow-Shedding Mean a Longer-Lasting Roof?

Snow performance and long-term durability go hand in hand. Every freeze-thaw cycle a roof survives without water intrusion is one less chance for granule loss, flashing damage, or a slow leak that shows up in March. 

A metal roof lasts three to four times longer than a shingle roof, so the snow season it handles well this year is one of many it’s built to handle. That kind of staying power is part of why more Maine homeowners are asking about metal when it’s time to replace an aging roof.

Considering a metal roof to handle Maine’s next snowy winter? Call us at 207-856-ROOF for a free estimate, or reach out through our website.