To help minimize the risk of your roof collapsing grab a low cost roof rake and safely remove accumulated snow.
Is it necessary to remove snow from your roof.
An ice dam is a ridge of ice near the roof s edge that prevents melting snow from draining into gutters.
The water melts then it will take the path of least resistance.
Removing snow from your roof is a preventative measure that you can take to protect your roof against winter damage.
Heavy snow that melts and refreezes causes the most damage to a roof.
Here are thoughts from both sides.
Ice and snow on your roof.
Removing snow from your roof after every 6 inches of snow is a good standard to follow.
If your roof is prone to ice dams pros recommend removing snow at least from the roof s overhang when 6 inches or more accumulates to avert one.
This means that if you live in a region that gets high amounts of dense snow you should look into the benefits of roof snow removal.
Honestly there is little risk of your roof caving in.
Some believe that roof shoveling is not necessary.
Others urge people to remove the roof snow to prevent damage later from melting snow and ice dams.
Roof snow removal should never occur during the storm.
If snow continues to melt and your gutters are blocked the runoff will have nowhere to go but under your roof shingles.
You need to get it off or your ice dam will continue to grow larger and become a greater hazard.
This will leak to ice damming and water damage.
Rake your roof first so you don t end up shoveling your driveway twice.
Now it doesn t much matter how much snow is on your roof.
It is just too perilous.
While some snow is normal and expected too much snow on your roof can lead to damage.
It takes a lot of time effort and precaution to safely remove snow from a roof.
If 6 inches of snow falls on your roof but the nighttime and daytime low temperatures are forecast to stay above freezing for a couple of days you probably don t need to get the snow removed because it will likely melt soon enough or at least decrease significantly in weight and never become an ice dam.
But what is cause for concern are ice dams.
Every topic issue and argument has two sides.
Snow removal is always a good idea because as the warm air in your house rises it will melt the snow.
You ll want to call someone to remove all the snow and ice or there s a good chance the ice dam will cause a leak in your home.
If you have any poor flashing seams or an aging roof it can lead to leaks.