Too Much Snow On My Roof

Noises coming from the roof like creaks or pops that are often continuous and are not associated with winds or other factors.

Too much snow on my roof.

Refer to the international business for home and safety s guidelines to determine when the weight on the roof is in the danger zone. If you notice a tighter feel when you swing the doors or difficulty in closing them you may be seeing the first signs of too much snow on the roof. Not only that but moisture evaporates from snow over time making it lighter and lighter as time goes on. Cracks may occur before changes in the swing and closing of doors become evident so pay particular attention to these signs of structural duress.

Ten inches of fresh snow equates to about five pounds per square foot which means your roof likely can support four feet of fresh snow. Look for new cracks around doors and windows another sign of stress resulting from a heavy snow accumulation on the roof will be cracks in the walls around doors and windows. In snow country that number might be anywhere from 30 or 35 pounds per square foot psf to more than 70 psf. You have probably heard of or seen the difference between wet snow and fluffy snow.

Roof collapse can happen to new and old buildings alike and can cause extensive damage to the building and contents. There are some instances where the snow load on the roof becomes so heavy that roof collapse becomes a concern. Take care not to damage flashing or shingles. And finally 35 pounds per square foot is a minimum requirement.

Not heavy wet snow. Low pitched and flat roofs are most susceptible to collapses. Two feet or more of old. Not only that but snow drifts are the result of light fluffy snow blowing around.

Armed with that number a builder can frame the roof appropriately. The municipal official that issues building permits can tell you what the design snow load is in your area. How much snow can your roof support. Should you need to remove snow to prevent potential collapse it s important to call a professional roofing contractor to safely remove the load.

Regardless of your roof s condition remove drifts using a roof rake with an extension pole or hire a pro for the job. Wet snow weighs considerably more than dry or fluffy snow because as you can probably guess water weighs more than air. Most roof designs can handle snow loads of 20 40 lbs per square foot. Visible sagging in the roof that can be seen from inside the home or in the attic as well as being seen from outside on the ground.

Packed snow however weighs more. The goal isn t to clear every.