Use a Roof Shovel or Roof Rake to Get 'er Down

by Roofer911.com - 2 Comments

Those who live in snow intensive areas know that when the big storms come through, it may be necessary to resort to using a roof shovel to eliminate the snow load on the roof. Architects who design homes need to know the local area to build properly for the weather. More than just good design, they learn about structure and materials. Structural engineers focus even more in depth on properly designing buildings so they can withstand the forces of nature.

Wind pressures, earthquake and fire preparedness are some of the things that govern materials choices. Proper distribution of weight load is another consideration. If an architect or engineer knows the builder will use 5/8 inch instead of 3/4 inch plywood for roof decking, then they know roof trusses will need to be closer together. In this way, they can prepare for future winters when the roofers may have installed a third layer of roofing instead of doing a roof replacement.

Along comes Mother Nature to drop two, three, or four feet of snow on top of the shingles. Snow weighs anywhere from five to twenty-five pounds per square foot, depending on wetness. If you hear creaks coming from the direction of the attic, it isn’t ghosts, your house is complaining of the load. It’s time to get that load off the roof to protect your home. So head to the hardware store to get a roof shovel and tackle snow removal safely or hire a contractor to do it for you.

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Comments

2 Responses to "Use a Roof Shovel or Roof Rake to Get 'er Down"

Roof Snow Removal In Ottawa says:
January 16, 2012 at 8:44 PM

I personally refuse to load material on any roof if i notice any obvious signs of weakness due to heavy snow load or weak plywood. I will advise the customer about the condition of the roof to inspect it from the attic before material is loaded and laborers are walking on it. Better safe than sorry

Ottawa Snow Removal says:
August 26, 2013 at 9:19 PM

Out here in Ontario, most of the new roof decks are 3/8 OSB. Can you imagine how all these roofs perform during winter months with all that snow. When you look from the street you can see and count all the roof trusses because of the dips. To avoid similar problems, remove snow off your roof with a roof-rake.