Snow fall is a beautiful sight to behold. However, too much snow can cause your roof to sag. Keep this from happening by following these tips:
Photo by Håkon Sataøen on Unsplash
Observe Interior Doors
Your interior doors are a really good clue. If they begin to stick, that signals there’s enough weight on the center structure of the house to distort the door frame (yikes!).
Ignore doors on exterior walls but check interior doors leading to second-floor bedrooms, closets, and attics in the center of your home. Also, examine the drywall or plaster around the frames of these doors for visible cracks.
Homes that are most susceptible to roof cave-ins are those that underwent sloppy renovations. Improper removal of interior load-bearing walls is often responsible for catastrophic roof collapses from snow. Source: HouseLogic
Be Careful When Working on the Roof
Clearing the snow off your roof from the gutters or eaves upwards of three to four feet after each winter storm can help prevent ice dams from forming. Remember to avoid using a ladder in snowy and icy conditions. This can be extremely dangerous and is best left to professionals. Source: Travelers
Use a Roof Rake
Each raking technique is specific to the rake design, but in general, the idea is to remove the bulk of the snow—not all of it. No need to scrape down to the shingles like you do with your front walkway. It’s very common for homeowners to damage their roofing and gutters by striking and scraping snow and ice buildup with any variety of tools, including roof rakes.
The other general rule to follow is to remove the snow in a fairly systematic fashion. If the snow depth or weight is significant, be careful to remove the snow a little bit at a time from opposing roof planes. You don’t want to unload one side entirely while the other side remains full of snow, creating a serious weight imbalance. Source: Networx
Climbing your roof during the winter can be dangerous – you’re prone to falling because of the slippery ice. Avoid injuries by calling us today:
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains Ltd.
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
