Metal Roof Runoff and Gutters
Metal roofs shed water and snow fast, so runoff hits gutters harder than on shingle. Learn about overshoot, snow slides, snow guards, and sturdier attachment.
Category
Roof Runoff
Before water reaches a gutter it is shaped by roof area, slope and valleys. This section explains how runoff concentrates, why water sometimes runs behind the gutter, and the role of drip edge, fascia and soffit.
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Roof Runoff articles
How Rainfall Intensity Affects Runoff
Peak rainfall intensity, not annual total, is what overwhelms gutters. Learn why the worst few minutes size your system and how pros use intensity data.
Roof Overhang and Eaves Explained
The roof overhang, or eave, decides how far runoff lands from your walls. Here is what it does and why short overhangs lean harder on gutters.
Dormers, Valleys and Roof Transition Leaks
Dormers, valleys and roof-to-roof transitions concentrate runoff over seams, which is why they leak. Here is what to watch and how the fixes work.
Gutter Placement Along the Roof Edge
Gutter placement is a balance: low enough to catch water, high enough to sit under the roofline. Here is how position decides catch versus spill.
Draining Porch and Addition Roofs
Porch and addition roofs often dump runoff at the foundation or onto a walkway. Here is why add-on roofs cause trouble and how to route their water.
Chimneys, Skylights and Roof Penetration Water
Chimneys, skylights and vents interrupt roof runoff and depend on flashing to send water around them. Here is why penetrations leak and what a cricket does.
How to Stop Water Getting Behind Gutters
Water behind the gutter rots fascia and soffit even when the trough looks fine. Learn why it happens and how to stop it at the roof edge, not the gutter.
Do You Need Gutters With a Metal Roof?
A metal roof sheds water fast but does not carry it away from the house. Learn when you still need gutters, and how metal changes sizing, overshoot and snow.