In Virginia, we’ve been getting snowfall that we haven’t experienced in seasons prior. While winter 2021 was so mild that even trees got confused about what season it was, there is no doubt that 2022’s winter is iconic of Jack Frost himself. When so many inches of snow fall at once, homeowners can be concerned about how much snow their roofs can handle. This article is meant to give you some information (and perhaps some peace of mind) about how your home is built and what it’s meant to withstand.
Snow Load: What is it?
A snow load is the downward force that presses upon the roof by the weight of accumulated snow and/or ice. Each roof has a snow load rating, which is the maximum amount of pressure it can take before it collapses. Roof snow loads are affected by various factors such as your roof’s quality, age, your home’s elevation, roof slope direction, roof configuration, wind direction, and much more.
How much snow load can my home handle?
While every home is different, most roofs can stay intact with 20 pounds per square foot of snow on it. In short, it takes a lot for your roof to cave in. For perspective, ten inches of fresh snow = five lbs/square foot. This means that it tkaes about four feet of fresh snow before you need to worry. However, the situation gets more complicated if you figure in a wintry mix or freezing rain. A one-inch layer of water or ice weighs around five pounds per square foot. This means that anything beyond four inches of ice on your roof spells trouble. You can also combine these figures and assume that two inches of ice and then two feet of snow can equal 20 pounds of snow load.
What happens if the snow exceeds my home’s snow load?
If snow or ice accumulates beyond your roof’s snow load, your roof or the entire structure of your home can fail. If your home or roof was poorly constructed, it will also collapse in certain places. Snow load damage can also cause cracks and leaks in your roof that need to be fixed as soon as conditions allow your roofer to do it safely. The best way to make sure that this doesn’t happen to you is to stay on top of your annual roof inspections. A roof that is well constructed and new is more likely to hold snow loads compared to a roof that is in need of a replacement.
The Bottom Line
It’s going to take a lot of snow and ice for any typical roof to fail. Unless snow comes down torrentially for consecutive days or if a massive ice storm hits, you can rest assured that your home’s roof won’t collapse on you, especially if you’ve been taking care of it. You do have to be more vigilant about ice storms, so it’s important to not fully let up your guard. Getting a roof inspection is your best defense against unexpected repairs. Your roofer can spot areas of weakness that can be fixed before another snow storm heads your way. For such a small investment, you can get great peace of mind.
Trust Your Roof Replacement to Noble Roofing
Whether you’re looking for better form or function, or simply feel that a new roof is in order, trust Noble Roofing, the preferred choice for roof replacement in Centreville VA and surrounding cities. Give us a call at (703) 404-0505 to speak with our roofing experts. You can also request a free estimate through our online request form today.
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