How To Handle Roof Damage Due To Heavy Snowfall
Posted on: 7 February 2022
While it isn't pleasant to think about, it's possible a heavy snowfall could cause your roof to fail. The amount of snow needed for this catastrophe depends on whether the snow is dry or wet. The strength of your roof is also important to consider since a roof with a lot of structural support can handle a large load of snow. Here's some advice on how to handle snow and your roof.
Watch For Signs Of Roof Trouble
If snow puts a lot of pressure on your roof, you might hear creaking sounds or you might notice your doors and windows stick. When this happens, call a roofing contractor to take a look. Remember that a person on the roof adds to the weight, so you don't want to go on a roof that's already stressed with the weight of snow.
Let a professional offer advice on what to do, which may be to rake the snow off of the roof while you stand on the ground. In some cases, this may not be possible, and a roofing contractor, or even a handyman, might rake the snow off for you. If you rake snow off yourself, be sure to use a snow rake and avoid scraping your shingles as you rake.
Leave The House If The Roof Caves In
If you can keep snow raked off the roof, your roof might survive even unusually heavy snowfall. However, if your roof can't hold the weight and snow comes crashing into your house, the best thing to do is leave your home. If the roof fails, the structure of your home could be at risk and the walls might fail next. Call a roofing contractor to check your roof and determine what to do. You might need to call in a structural engineer to make sure the roof is stable enough for the roofing crew to go to work.
Have Your Roof Covered With A Tarp
If the deck of your roof collapses, you might need to leave your home for quite a while since it will be cold in your house with no roof. At the very least, you'll want to cover the roof with a roof tarp to keep out rain, snow, and animal pests. A roofing contractor can probably provide this service for you.
Have Your New Roof Put On
Your insurance company might pay for your new roof, so be sure to contact them when the storm is over. You'll also want to get an estimate from the roofing company so they can order supplies and be ready to start work on your roof as soon as the snow clears. You can have a new roof put on in the winter, but the roofing contractor might need to wait until the temperatures warm up some so the shingles don't crack and so the adhesive sticks.
Snowfall is often a beautiful sight, but when snow accumulates fast, it can be a hazard. There's not a lot you can do to prevent roof problems due to heavy snow, but you can be ready to take quick action for repairs once the storm is over.
For more information, contact a roofing contractor near you.
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