Snow is one of the best things about the winter season. After all, few things are better than waking up to a blanket of pearly white fluff.
Having said that, as beautiful as winter is, it can also be a hazard to your roof’s health. In fact, according to Roofing Today, “extreme weather conditions” are one of the leading causes of roof damage in the US.
Sometimes, the weight of multiple feet of snow can simply be too much for your roof to hold.
How Much Snow Can A Roof Hold?
According to Angi, most roofs can hold about “ 20 pounds per cubic foot of snow”. This estimate can vary a lot, however, depending on your roof and the type of snowfall.
The State Of Your Roof
Pre-existing damage to your roof can decrease the amount of weight that it can hold. That’s why it’s imperative to fix roof damage as soon as you notice it. Missing shingles, damaged beams, and broken flashing can lead to your roof collapsing.
Even without a total roof collapse, however, missing shingles can be detrimental to your home’s health. Snow can melt into water and trickle through crevices in your roof, making its way into the home. These water leaks can damage walls, ceilings, and floors, causing physical damage and increased mold growth.
Type Of Snowfall
Although it probably doesn’t need saying, wet packed snow is significantly heavier than fresh light fluff. In fact, according to Angi, old packed snow is about twice as heavy as fresh snowfall.
Roof Snow Removal
The best way to prevent roof damage due to snowfall is by doing regular roof inspections and snow removal. Here are a few ways to get the snow from your roof removed.
Professional Snow Removal
The best and safest way to remove snow is by hiring a professional. This way, not only are you getting a high-quality and thorough job – you’re also preventing unnecessary risk. Climbing onto your roof to shovel snow can be a very dangerous task, so it’s best to let an experienced professional handle it.
In addition, licensed roofing contractors are required by law to have insurance to work. Although this may not seem like a big deal, it really is. By hiring a professional with insurance, you’re making sure that you’re covered in case of any injuries or damage to your property.
DIY Snow Removal
The second option for snow removal is the DIY approach. This option is cheaper, but it also comes with a variety of trade-offs. For example, you’re unlikely to do as good of a job as a professional. Even more importantly, however, many roofs are simply impossible to clean from a safe distance.
Roof Rake
The safest way to remove snow from your roof is always from the ground. Try to avoid climbing onto your roof if at all possible.
Roof rakes are one great way to remove roof snow from the ground. Easy to find at your local Home Depot, roof rakes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Try to find a sturdier one designed specifically for snow removal.
You’ll find that many roof rakes are extendable and can be twisted to create just the right angle for your roof.Do some research to figure out what kind of roof rake is right for your roof type. This tool might also be called a “roof snow removal tool” or a “shovel roof rake.”
Shoveling
The other option for DIY snow removal is the most hazardous one. Although shoveling snow from the roof itself is possible, we do not recommend it unless you are an experienced professional.
If, however, you happen to hire a roofing contractor for the snow removal, they may climb onto your roof to do the shoveling. In this case, make sure the contractors use equipment that won’t cause damage to your roof.
Answers To Common Questions
We hope this guide has helped you with your roofing needs. Just in case, however, we’ve also included some answers to common questions below.
How To Get Snow Off Roof?
As we mentioned above, there are two primary ways to remove unwanted snow from your roof – hiring a professional or DIY’ing it.
The easiest, most sure-fire way to remove snow from your roof is to hire a professional. If, however, you’re looking for a more budget-friendly approach, doing it yourself is a good option as well.
Most major hardware stores will carry roof snow removal tools of some kind. These tools will typically look like a long pole with an adjustable shovel attached to the other end. Use the rake to carefully remove snow from all around your roof. Be careful not to scrape your shingles too much since this can damage your roof.
Another important thing to keep an eye out for if you’re removing snow yourself is ice dams. These build-ups of ice can be detrimental to your roof’s health. If you notice an ice dam on your roof, make sure to take steps to de-ice the dams or hire a professional to do so.
How To Remove Snow From Solar Panels On Roof?
First of all, decide whether or not you actually need to take steps to remove snow from your solar panels. Due to the nature of their surface and the way they’re installed, snow typically either slides or melts off very quickly.
Following that, contact the company that supplied or installed your solar panels. They can probably tell you the best method for cleaning your solar panels without causing damage.
How Long Does A Roof Last?
A roof can generally last anywhere from 20 to 50 years. This heavily depends on the material your roof is made of and how well you take care of it. Annual roof inspections are particularly vital to extending the lifespan of your roof.
How To Find A Roof Leak?
The easiest way to locate a roof leak is to look for water stains or mold spots in your attic. Another option is to simply hire a professional. A roofing contractor can look at your shingles and the inside of your attic to locate all possible sources of leaks. In addition to this, a roofing contractor can provide you with a repair estimate. Feel free to reach out to us here at Austermiller Roofing for help with leak detection.
How To Fix A Leaking Roof?
The best way to repair a leak in your roof is to call a professional. Here at Austermiller Roofing, we can repair almost any leak, whether it’s commercial or residential. Furthermore, we also offer water damage repair services such as mold removal and ceiling/wall restorations.
Simply call or fill out our online form to get in touch with us. We’d be more than happy to talk to you about all of your roofing repair needs.
What Does Hail Damage Look Like On A Roof?
If the hail is big enough to cause damage to shingles, you’ll be able to see small dings or dents in the shingles. If the hail is too small to cause significant damage, you may still be able to see hail damage by looking for minor dents in flashing.
Looking For A Roofing Expert In Tennessee?
If you notice any roof damage due to recent snowfall, don’t hesitate to reach out to a roofing expert. Ignoring leaks, missing shingles, or broken flashing can be detrimental to your roof’s health. It’s always better to fix things earlier on before they become more extensive (and costlier) problems.
Here at Austermiller Roofing, we offer all kinds of services for residential and commercial buildings alike. Our team handles everything from shingle replacements to water damage repairs.
Not sure what service you need? No problem! We can come to do a roof inspection and identify what parts of your roof need repairs – if any at all. In addition to this, we also offer FREE estimates for services where the repair area has already been determined and no inspection is needed.
Don’t wait to call if you have damage to your roof! Austermiller Roofing services homes and businesses all over the Tennessee area. Whether you live in Nashville, Mt Juliet, or Franklin, we’re the roofing experts for you!