Clearing Snow from Your Roof:
Is clearing snow from your roof a good idea? The short answer, as always, tends to be vague. The answer: It depends. Many people will advocate for a clear roof throughout the winter season, and I will agree to an extent. However these advocates usually work for a company that offers a roof snow removal service. So do you really need to remove snow from your roof? Let’s take a look at some factors that will play into your decision.
How old is your house? Typically an older home is subject to less than ideal insulation. In other words heat loss. Loosing heat from your house will make its way up to your roof causing melting and freezing which lead to ice damming (the main reason for keeping a clean top). Those pretty icicles are a good sign that you’re losing heat and money.
What is the pitch of your roof? A flatter roof means more snow will accumulate and can lead to the problems above. If your roof is steep the debris has a better chance of clearing itself, especially during a melt.
The weather plays a big roll too. If you have a small amount of snow that has undergone continuous changes (melting, freezing, melting, freezing) you are far worse off than having a large amount under steady cold conditions. It’s not just a factor of how much accumulation is present.
So how much snow is too much? An average cubic foot of airy snow weighs about 15 pounds. All modern homes are built with the structural integrity to take this weight and then some! Consider your own weight added to this one square foot on top of your roof and the structural stress it can cause if you decide to get up there to clear it off.
Also consider the danger of clearing your roof. It’s a far cry from removing snow in your driveway. You risk damaging yourself and your house. There is the obvious slip and fall hazard while you’re clearing. But even using the popular roof rakes can cause the snow/ice to plummet down onto you.
In other words make sure that it is necessary before plunging into it. I am all for preventative maintenance, but if you’re likely to cause more damage than you are preventing, something is wrong. Safety first.