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The leaves are turning, and it’s that time of year when you start thinking about how much snow can a roof hold. Will your roof be able to take on the snow that’s coming, or is now the time to get things sorted before the big first snow hits.
Well, there are a few things you need to consider, such as how your roof is designed, where you’re based, and even what to do if you have solar panels on your roof. Don’t worry; we’ve got the 11 things to consider about how much snow can a roof hold for you to prepare this winter.
11 Things To Consider About How Much Snow Can A Roof Hold
- Your Region
- Your Roof’s Structural Design
- What Is Your Roof Made From
- Your Insurance Cover
- Icicles On Your Roof
- Keeping Snow Off Your Roof
- Melting Snow On A Roof
- Calculating Snow Load On Your Roof
- What To Do With Solar Panels
- Revitalizing Your Roof Shingles
- Warning Signs Of A Weak Roof
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1. Your Region
The first thing to consider about how much snow can a roof hold is where you’re based. If you’re in sunny Florida, you probably won’t have to worry as much about thick snowfall weighing down your roof. Minnesota, on the other hand, that’s a different story.
If you’re based in the Midwest, East Coast, or Mountain West regions, you’ll be bracing for heavy snow this winter, especially as winters get longer.
New York, America’s snowiest city, gets an average of 123.8 inches annually. So if you’re wondering whether your roof can hold the upcoming snow, check your local weather report. You’ll be able to see how much snowfall your area had last winter, and that will be a good gauge for how many inches your roof will be seeing over the next few months.
2. Your Roof’s Structural Design
How steep your roof is, even if it is at all, will impact how much snow a roof can hold. If you have a steep or smooth roof, the snow will fall off more quickly than on a flat or a roof with a slight pitch.
3. What Is Your Roof Made From
The other thing to consider is what your roof is made of. A roof made of a strong, durable set of shingles like asphalt or slate will support the weight of the snow. Also, consider which is easy to replace should you need to after many years. This will help you think through the long-term plan for your roof versus just thinking about solving the problem for one season.
4. Your Insurance Cover
Most insurance policies cover damage from weather-related events, but you’ll want to ensure that that includes damage from snow and whether there is a clause on how much snow damage is required to be covered.
The other thing you need to check to understand how much snow can a roof hold is whether your insurance policy covers the wear and tear that’s common with an ageing roof. This is because even if your insurance policy covers the snow on your roof, they may find that it was old, and that’s what caused the damage. So make sure you check this, so you don’t get any unwanted surprises in the middle of a cold snap.
5. Icicles On Your Roof
Though it may sound like a good thing that the snow melts off your roof, this may mean that if it’s still really cold out, the water may freeze, forming icicles (or ice dams) around the edge of your roof. Knocking these down may seem like a good idea, but this could break or cause damage to your gutters, downspouts, or other elements of the roof.
If you have large icicles, the weight can put immense pressure on your roof and cause damage to your shingles. Call a professional to help you remove these safely to avoid unnecessary further costs.
6. Keeping Snow Off Your Roof
This shouldn’t be too worrying if you’ve got a few small inches of fresh snow on your roof. The thick layer of snow build-up can cause problems over time. Freshly fallen snow is light, but once it’s packed down, this can be dangerous as it’s much heavier, which then causes damage to your roof. Damage can include sagging ceilings, leaks, creating icicles, and the worst being the roof collapsing.
7. Melting Snow On A Roof
Scraping the snow off your roof shouldn’t even cross your mind. It is highly dangerous. Here are other methods to try if you want to melt the snow on your roof.
- Cool your attic down.
- Install snow guards.
- Install heat cables on the edge of the roof.
- Fill a long roof snow sock with ice and leave it at the edge of your roof. This stops the icicles from forming.
- Pour hot water on the roof.
- Install snow guards.
Ultimately if you need more clarification, call a professional roofer like us.
8. Calculating Snow Load On Your Roof
Ultimately, how do you figure out how much snow can a roof hold? You could either try a snow load calculator or this equation: Density (lb by cubic ft) x Depth of snow (ft). For either of these options, you’ll need to grab all of these details (to the pounds by cubic foot).
- Fresh snow
- Damp fresh snow
- Settled snow
- Wind-packed snow
- Very wet snow
- Ice
9. What To Do With Solar Panels
Solar panels are a great idea on those summer days when you know that you’re doing so much good for the environment. But what happens when your roof and solar panels are loaded with heavy, dense snow?
Don’t worry. It’s pretty easy. Gently remove the snow using a soft brush. This is obviously where the snow is light. Again, call in the professionals if it’s dense or there’s ice on the panels.
10. Revitalizing Your Roof Shingles
After all this load on your roof, your roof shingles may look a little worse for wear. Use a treatment on your roof to prolong the life of your shingles, which will help their longevity and protect them from harsh hot and cold weather.
11. Warning Signs Of A Weak Roof
By looking at how much snow can a roof hold, you may be able to figure out if your roof is weak from the outside. But it would help if you headed inside as this is where you’ll find the clues that may highlight a more significant issue. Here are some signs to look out for.
- Check your rafters for any bends or cracks. Call a licensed structural engineer to evaluate things if there’s anything even mildly out of the ordinary.
- In the middle of your house, check for any new cracks in the drywall or plaster, especially around interior door frames. Again, if you notice anything, don’t panic. It’s just time to call in a professional to help.
What Is The Maximum Snow Load On A Roof?
The average roof can support 20 pounds of snow per square inch. As we’ve discussed, the snow load of your roof depends on several factors, and in some parts of the U.S., some roofs can support heavier snow because the region sees more snow than other areas.
If you need clarification on the snow load in your region, check the building codes. Each state has its build code that will tell you how much snow can a roof hold in that area. They will also be able to provide ways to calculate the maximum snow load on the house.
What Type Of Roof Is Best For Heavy Snow?
The best roof material for heavy snow is metal. It has very little resistance, and the entire metal sheet will heat up when the winter sun hits, allowing the snow to slide off.
How Much Snow Can A Roof Hold?
Most roofs can support about 40-45 inches of fresh snow. Packed snow is dense than fresh, fluffy snow. Therefore, a roof can support about 20 inches of packed snow. One inch of ice is the equivalent of one foot of snow.
Now that you know how much snow can a roof hold, we’ve also equipped you with what you need to do with the snow on your roof if you’re getting too much. If you’re in a region that sees heavy snowfall, you’ll want to check your roof before the first snow falls to make sure that there aren’t any unwanted incidents at the height of winter.
You’ll also need to ensure that your roof is solid enough to handle the winter to ensure that your insurance policy will cover you. Ultimately, making sure that you’ve done all the right preparation before winter will mean that even if your roof since thick, dense snow, you’ll be ready for it, and your roof will stand the test of time for years to come.
