Can Your Roof Handle The Snow This Winter?

Can your roof handle the snow this winter?

Snow-laden roofs, frozen gutters, and icicles are common for Iredell County, NC, in winter. The region receives an average of 5 inches of snow per year. It might not seem much compared to other states. Yet, continuous snowstorms and bad weather can lead to structural risks.

It all depends on your roofing material, the roof’s size, and construction.

Our home restoration experts strongly advise you to start inspecting your roof before the first snowstorm hits your area.

Here’s a quick guide on understanding how much snow your roof can support and ways to prevent a roof collapse.

The Inspection: Can Your Roof Handle the Snow this Winter?

Most modern roofs can withstand at least twenty pounds of snow per square foot at a time. We can’t say the same for old homes. Weather-beaten roofing material, improper construction, and poor quality can pose a threat to the structural integrity of your homes.

These factors increase the chances of a roof collapse during bad weather.

You can prevent the worst-case scenario from playing out by inspecting the roof beforehand.

Here are some questions to ask yourself during roof inspection:

Is Your Roof Structure Design Safe?

Smooth roofs with steep slopes are your best defense against snowy weather. That’s because the structural design allows most of the fallen snow to slide off its surface. If your roof features pitches or a flat design, then the snow can accumulate.

In such cases, you need to maintain a strict snow removal schedule to clear away snow when it crosses the 20 pounds per square foot threshold.

Moreover, look for signs of wear and tear beforehand. Progressive deterioration can make your rooftops more vulnerable than last season. Ask home restoration experts for assistance if you observe evident signs of weather damage.

Is Your Roofing Material Durable?

If you’re contemplating a new roof installation, we recommend investing in asphalt or slate shingles. Unlike wooden roofs, these roofing materials can tolerate snowfall dissimilarities longer by holding their own against the pressure of excessive snow accumulation.

Alternatively, you can replace and fix water-damaged shingles more easily than weather-beaten wooden panels. This quality makes such a roofing material a durable and cost-effective investment.

How Much Snow Can Your Roof Support?

As mentioned earlier, your area receives an estimated five inches of snow each year. Yet, you can’t rely on this number to assess the weight of the snow collected on your roof.  That’s because its weight varies depending on the type of storm you receive and the duration of accumulation on the rooftop.

For instance, dry and fluffy snow isn’t as heavy as wet snow when it collects on rooftops. The powdery snow will also be a less likely cause of residential roof water damage.

The situation becomes riskier if you allow old and new snow to collect on your roof for days. Icicle formation and frozen gutters can exert more pressure on the snowy rooftops. Any combination of these environmental factors can exceed load capacity within a shorter time frame.

You can reduce risks by clearing out your rooftops more often.

Overall, snow thresholds differ from one home to another. That means your home might be in more danger than your neighbors’ place because of the structural design and roofing material.

Roof Repairs and Restoration: When Should You Call Home Restoration Experts?

911 Restoration of Iredell County provides disaster recovery and emergency response services for local residential and commercial property owners. Even though most people call us for immediate water damage restoration services, we can come over for risk assessments too.

Asking certified home restoration experts for a risk assessment before winter can save you from costly repairs. Our sharp observational skills and specialized training allows us to detect hidden problems you might miss during your roof inspection.

Here are evident signs of roof damage you should worry about:

• A sagging ceiling
• Cracks in the wall
• Roof leaks
• Missing or broken shingles
• Roofs that make creaking/popping sounds when you’re on it
• Excess water pooling near the foundation of your house when the snow melts

Distressed roofs are easily collapsible when they’re exposed to heavy snowfall. It’s why we recommend that you consider roof restoration (or replacement) sooner rather than later. If the snow has already begun to settle in, you might need to call in an expert for assistance.

Lastly, avoid cleaning overstressed roofs by yourself. You might cause more harm with your inexperienced snow removal practices.

Final Words 

In the end, snowy weather can take the turn for the worst when your roof structure has a low load capacity.  Looking for signs of roof damage in fall and addressing structural issues today can prevent disasters in winter.  Our home restoration experts can lend a hand in by identifying the threat before it’s too late.

Moreover, you can call us for water damage restoration services and snow-related damage whenever required.

Can your roof handle the snow in the coming months? Contact 911 Restoration of Iredell County for a professional roof inspection to minimize risks.