We might not realize it with the dry roofs in Denver, but the roofs in the high-country have been getting pummelled with snow massive amounts of snow this year.
Most of the time we don’t need to worry about the snow on our roofs because they are generally built to withstands the conditions around them, but occasionally we get a storm that brings much more than the typical amount. When that happens, here is a handy guide from RoofersCoffeeShop to see how much snow is too much.
Ice dams: An ice dam is a layer of ice that forms at the edge of a roof when heat from an attic can cause snow on the roof to melt. When the melted snow reaches the cold overhang at the eave and re-freezes, an ice dam is formed. Large, prevalent icicles can be one indicator that an ice dam has formed. The key concern with ice dams is that water from melting snow can back up behind the dam and find its way under shingles, then leak into your home. Proper ventilation and attic insulation can prevent ice damming.
Roof Avalanches: In high snowfall areas, some steep sloped roofs could experience avalanches, where snow packed onto a roof releases all at once. The weight and sudden release can be very dangerous to ground areas directly below the eaves. Consider cordoning off the area to prevent injury.
Extreme weight: There are some instances where the snow load on the roof becomes so heavy that roof collapse becomes a concern. Refer to The International Business for Home and Safety’s guidelines to determine when the weight on the roof is in the danger zone. Should you need to remove snow to prevent potential collapse it’s important to call a professional roofing contractor to safely remove the load. Via rooferscoffeeshop.com
If you any issues with recent snowfall contact our Denver roofing contractors. With many years of experience Interstate Roofing Inc. can help.