Should I Shovel My Roof

Its snowing outside and you are probably wondering should i shovel snow off my flat roof.

Should i shovel my roof.

Older homes may have varying requirements for snow. If you have an older home you might want to consider clearing it at about 1 6 to 2 0. The roofing materials used. Snow tends to hold onto singled roofs more.

Others urge people to remove the roof snow to prevent damage later from melting snow and ice dams. With your best interest in mind we would wager to say no. Should i shovel my roof to remove snow. Here are thoughts from both sides.

If you want to play it safe do not let the snow exceed a foot or a foot and a half. Check that any areas where drifting snow might accumulate have adequate structure. Consider shoveling your roof after the snow gets to 2 0 to 2 6 of accumulation so that the next time it snows you don t get in trouble. It also informs you whether you should immediately remove some of the snow or you can wait a little bit longer.

Here is a simple rule of thumb you can use to help if you are concerned. Shovel snow off your roof if it exceeds two feet in depth. Winters in the greater fredericksburg virginia area rarely come with substantial snowfall and trying to tidy up your roofing doesn t just put you at risk for slips and falls but exposes you to crisp and frigid temperatures that can affect your body a lot worse if you re standing hip deep in snow. Metal roofs tend to shed snow and ice better.

Make sure to not wait for too long though. Basing on the roof parameters you specified in the first section our snow load calculator displays the maximum allowable snow cover thickness and snow weight. Even if our calculator claims that the current snow cover isn t dangerous for the structure a sudden snowfall at night can change the situation. Two feet of snow weighs about 30 lbs per square foot more details below which is about how much the average house s roof can withstand.

So should you shovel.