Roof Snow Removal & Roof Snow Shoveling

Why Snow Accumulation On A Roof Tends To Be A Problem

When a roof becomes stressed due to snow accumulation, ceiling tiles may begin to sag. The home occupants may notice creaking and popping sounds, which are signs the roof is in danger of failing, or doors and windows could jam. Cracked walls are a sign the roof is accumulating too much snow, and the same is true if the roof begins to leak. In the event any of these problems are detected, call in the professionals to determine what steps need to be taken to resolve the problem.

Why do I need to get the snow removed from my roof?

The main reason you should keep your roof as snow-free as possible is that it’s crucial for preventing ice dams from forming on your roof.

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Ice dams can’t form without snow.  If you’re able to prevent ice dams, you’re far more likely to prevent your roof from leaking and damaging the inside of your home.

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Another reason roof snow removal is so important is that it’s a good idea to keep all that excess weight off your roof.  As a rule of thumb, one square-foot of snow that’s one-inch in depth weighs about a pound.  If your roof has 12 inches of snow on it, that could easily amount to thousands of pounds of stress on your roof.  That’s not even counting the weight of any ice dams that may form as a result of leaving the snow on your roof; just one cubic foot of ice weighs 57 pounds, and a typical ice dam can weigh thousands of pounds.  Minimizing the stress placed on your roof is a great way to minimize the risk of leaking and cave-ins (the latter of which occur more frequently than you might think).

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What Is An Ice Dam?

Snow accumulation on a roof melts and freezes as the temperatures change throughout the day. The sun striking the snow helps to boost this process and often leads to the formation of an ice dam. Many homeowners believe the water formed by the melting snow enters the gutters before being carried away from the home. This usually isn't the case.

The temperature within the attic plays a role in this process. A warm attic leads to more snow melting from the roof, but if the outside temperature is too low, the water may refreeze when it reaches the roof's edge. This is due to the lack of heat from the attic reaching this area. As the ice builds, the dam is formed, and this blocks any melting water from reaching the gutter. If the dam becomes high enough, the melting water may begin to enter the home.

Damage Related To An Ice Dam

Homeowners frequently don't realize they have a problem until significant damage has been done to the home. Often, this damage is seen in the form of water marks on the interior walls or ceilings of the home. The damage tends to extend much further, however. In many cases, wood framing within the walls becomes wet in this situation and may begin to rot. Insulation tends to become soaked, making it inefficient in its purpose, and mold and mildew begin to grow. A smell may be noticed in the home, and health problems can develop in the home's inhabitants. When these problems aren't corrected in a timely manner, the home may suffer severe structural damage.

The roof is an essential structural component of the home, thus homeowners must ensure they monitor and maintain it at all times. When a problem does develop, in the form of an ice dam or excessive snow accumulation, homeowners need to take action. Unfortunately, many individuals try to resolve the problem on their own, and this often leads to further damage or the individual being harmed, as they aren't trained to deal with conditions on the roof. The roof is slippery and slick thanks to the weather conditions, thus it's best to leave this job to trained professionals.

How do I know when roof snow removal is necessary?

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A good rule of thumb is to get your roof cleared after every 6-12 inches of snowfall.  If you prevent too much snow from piling up on your roof, it’s much harder for ice dams to form and you can certainly stop worrying about any sort of roof cave-in.

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Of course, it all depends: I’ve seen ice dams form with only a dusting of snow on the roof.  I’ve also seen roofs with mountains of snow remain free of ice dams.

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Generally speaking, even though every roof is different, you’ll especially want to consider this “6-12-inch” rule of thumb if you’ve repeatedly had problems with ice dams in the past.

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On the other hand, if you’ve never had an ice dam and your only concern is avoiding a roof collapse, then you might want to consider holding off on any roof snow removal until you’ve accumulated a foot or more of snow.

When deciding the right time to get roof snow removal, it’s also important to take into account how heavy the snow is.  Wet, heavy snow can weigh 6 or more times as much as lighter dryer snow.  One cubic foot of snow can typically range in weight from as little as 0.26lbs (light, dry snow) to as much as 1.66lbs. (heavy, wet snow).  If you step outside and pick up the snow and it seems heavy and wet, that’s one factor that might indicate you should get your roof cleared sooner rather than later.

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How often you need to get your roof cleared also depends partly on the weather forecast.

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If 6 inches of snow falls on your roof but the nighttime and daytime low temperatures are forecast to stay above freezing for a couple of days, you probably don’t need to get the snow removed—because it will likely melt soon enough (or at least decrease significantly in weight) and never become an ice dam.  However, if 6 inches of snow falls one night and another 6 inches of snowfall is forecast for later in the week, or if the low temperatures remain below freezing, you may want to remove the snow ASAP.  Or better yet, call a roof snow removal service right away and schedule your roof snow removal in advance – for shortly after the second storm is forecast to arrive.  This way, you’ll get both snowfalls removed from your roof with one phone call, and you’ll be first in line during a particularly busy time for local roof snow removal companies.