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How Much Snow Is Too Much Snow For Your Roof?

How Much Snow Is Too Much Snow For Your Roof?

Snowing can be a spectacular phenomenon. One that we love to see every year. Snow comes in and brings all the excitement of celebrations and festivals to us. It sets the vibe for all the fun and excitement. While snow can be exciting, too much of it can be overwhelming. Just like any other thing in the world, we only tend to enjoy stuff within certain bounds. The rule also applies to snow, and a lot of it can cause unusual and uncomfortable situations. These unusual activities range from minor inconveniences like stalled cars, snowball fights, to major inconveniences like blocked roads and closed airports.
What about our homes?
The same goes for us and our homes. Snow can not only bring our lives to a halt but also affect the roofs of our homes. The most usual concern that pops up in homeowners’ minds is, ‘Will my roof survive the winter snow?’ The question is pretty valid. We often hear reports of roofs collapsing or succumbing while it snows. It’s mainly due to the weight of the snow that accumulates on the roofs. Dry snow weighs one-third of wet snow. Now imagine the pressure the roof has to withstand as the snow sediments gradually dissolve to form wet snow. This partially dampens the roof and weakens it, along with the weight that adds to the pressure over the roof. The overburdening snow can lead to water leakages, internal cracks, ice dams, and can worsen to the point of the roof internally collapsing.

How strong is my roof?
The roof strength majorly depends on the quality of materials as well as the structural strength of the roof. All in all, this contributes towards the strength and endurance of the roof to withstand the snow. It is crucial to know and understand these aspects when you get your roof inspected. It is also important to get it inspected before the damage is done. You will need to get a professional to review your roof for determining the exact amount of snow that it can withstand. While some roofs are made to endure any load put on them, some suffer irreparable damage. 

When it comes to roof strength, the standard metrics for a typical roof is about 20 pounds per square foot. The first thought is, how practical is the calculation taking practicality into consideration. An easy metric would be looking at the height of the snow. Note that flat roofs are more vulnerable to collapsing than tilted or inclined roofs. The texture of the snow plays a role on the weight it carries. Dry and soft snow can stretch to a height of 4 feet to weigh somewhere around 20 pounds per square foot. Wet snow weighs the same amount with a height of 2 feet, whereas a mix of dry and wet snow takes up to 3 feet to weigh the same.

When should I clear snow from my roof?
Removing snow is more advisable for flat roofs as they suffer from lower dissipation in comparison to inclined roofs. Shoveling snow can be a great option to relieve this pressure, but you must be careful with yourself as well as your roof while you do so. There are a lot of chances for you to injure yourself while you clear the snow on your roofs. Be careful and use high quality gear and proper equipment so you don’t end up injured. The roof is often already in a vulnerable position from carrying the weight of the snow. It is advisable to make sure it doesn’t take any major hits to the roof structure. Also, the shingles might have faced considerable damage from the snow. Climbing on the roof in such circumstances should not be done unless absolutely necessary. It is always advised to seek the help of trained professionals to keep your roof and your family safe.

What are the recommended snow-clearing tools?
Instead of shoveling, there are specialized rakes that can help slide the ice down. This can be used for incline roofs that are no more than single-story buildings. It is always better and safer to avail professionals who do the same with expertise. But, if you plan to do it all alone, please keep in mind to never do it alone. It is extremely risky and can lead to a series of unfortunate events that involve fatal injuries. 

The next steps are important. Note and plan your execution stages before you start digging in the snow. You always need to harness yourself to a firm point so that you don’t risk falling. This is often overlooked, leaving people with serious injuries. The next point of focus should be the quality of the ladders. Avoid piles of wet snow and try to fix it to something so that it is left undisturbed throughout your course of action. Use plastic shovels so that it does not severely damage the roof structure and always start from the edges. Sometimes, it is just the ice dams that need to be cleared, opening a pathway for the rest of the snow to be cleared off.

All of this might come in handy when dealing with existing roofs that require maintenance. We are just one click away from helping you with the same. Right from roof inspection, roof repair and roof insulation to de-icing and complete snow removal services for your, you can trust Basswood Roofing. 

Contact Basswood Roofing with your queries. We will be reverting back shortly with a plan for your roof to be ready for the snow. We operate all year round in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois. 


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