For Homeowners, When Push Comes To Shove, Snow On The Roof Should Go

By Nancy K. Crevier

Since the beginning of the year, six antique barns, the roof of an industrial building, and the gazebo at The Pleasance have collapsed under the weight of snow and ice. Hardware stores have seen a flurry of activity for bags of deicer and precious roof rakes, and contractors’ phones have been ringing off the hook as residents, made anxious by these events, rush to relieve homes of the snow and ice piled high on rooftops.

The cost of snow removal can be as intimidating as the snow itself, and climbing on rooftops is a dangerous feat for the average homeowner. While experts agree that the likelihood of a residence suddenly collapsing is remote, “better safe, than sorry,” for a number of reasons, is the overall feeling of some area builders and engineers.

John Poeltl, chief building official for the Newtown Building Department, has been receiving 20 calls a day from residents nervous about roofs falling in, he said. “Most are worried for nothing, and are just noticing cracks that have always been there, because there is so much in the news about buildings falling down,” said Mr Poeltl. “Not one single-family home in Newtown has caved in from the snow this winter,” he pointed out, although an abandoned home on Wasserman Way gave way Tuesday, February 8.

That said, there are obviously some homes that do have a lot of snow weight on them, and those homeowners should be concerned, he added. The risks for a house from snow causing a cave-in depends on how the home is built, and the great majority of homes are engineered to withstand a winter like this one. “If you feel uncomfortable [about the amount of snow and ice on the roof], get it shoveled,” he recommended.

Structural engineer Ed Silva has advised the town on projects over the years, said Mr Poeltl. Mr Silva, of Silva Associates Consulting Engineers in New Fairfield, said that ice and snow removal from roofs is a good idea, primarily because of water problems caused by ice dams, rather than fear of homes collapsing.

“Structurally,” said Mr Silva, “unless a home is not designed properly, [the snow load] is not a tremendous danger now. But, if we continue to get more [snow and ice], it might approach the design limit.”

Homes with flat roofs are more at risk for stress from snow than a traditionally pitched roof, Mr Silva said, but the biggest danger may be on additions. “Rooms like kitchen bump-outs, for example, may have a roof lower than the rest of the house. Snow can drop from the upper roof onto the lower roof, adding additional weight,” he said. In those situations, it may be time to consider getting the snow off of that roof.

Water Damage

“Most residential homes are suffering from water damage from the ice buildup on roofs, though,” said Mr Silva. Ice and rain on top of the snow on roofs changes the quality of snow into a slushy mixture. “Homeowners should be more concerned if the gutters are frozen. Hire someone to at least clear the eaves and gutters,” he recommended. Snow should be removed three to four feet from the eaves, so that the snow and ice underneath can melt and go into the gutter.

Newtown architect Michael Lubuglio agreed that there is good reason to remove the accumulating snow on roofs. “If you get three feet of snow in an area, it can weigh a great deal,” he said. How much weight a roof can hold varies from home to home, though. “The beam size and the spacing of the posts determines the amount of support a roof has,” said Mr Lubuglio. He listened to the sound of snow being shoveled off of the roof of his own home as he spoke, and added, “It’s not a bad thing [for homeowners] to be alarmed.”

How well a home is built and the age of the house are factors to consider when concerns about snow load buildup, said structural engineer Tom DiBlasi of DiBlasi Associates, PC, in Monroe. “A well constructed and well maintained home is generally pretty safe [from collapsing under the weight of snow],” he said, and eschewing shoveling the roof is not going to court disaster. Because most homes are constructed of wood, that is the saving grace, Mr DiBlasi said. Wood is a resilient material.

Mr DiBlasi opted to have the roof of his home cleaned, “Not because of the snow load, but because of ice dams causing water leakage in my house,” he said.

Unheated garages or unheated structures attached to the home can be a source of problems, more than roofs over the main living section of a home. “Look for signs of leaking in the unheated garage,” he suggested, and if there is a problem, removing the snow load would be a good idea.

What To Look For

“We haven’t seen any residential homes collapsing,” said Newtown builder Kim Danziger, and that is an unlikely scenario. “It is very unusual for a residence to have a catastrophic situation,” he said, as a house will have dramatic signs of imminent danger long before it becomes a pile of scrap wood.

“You would see some deformation of the house, things like a lot for cracks in the plaster or drywall, or bowing of exterior walls. You will know if you have a problem,” he said. Nonetheless, the amount of snow on top of roofs this winter is a little scary, he said.

“Theoretically, a roof holds about 30 pounds per square foot,” Mr Danziger explained. “Snow weights about five pounds per cubic foot, so at 30 inches of snow, a roof has about 15 pounds per square foot on it.”

That is within the zone of safety. But when that snow is wet, the numbers change drastically. “Wet snow nearly quadruples in weight,” Mr Danziger said, “and from a technical standpoint, at 30 inches of wet snow, you have a heavy load on the roof. I am very concerned about the rain on top of the snow that we’ve been having. People are not overreacting this winter by jumping to get the snow off of their homes.”

Flat-roofed homes and contemporaries with lower pitched roofs are more problematic in this kind of winter, Mr Danziger said, and roofs over cathedral ceilings are more at risk of collapsing. Ceilings provide structural support across a room, and a high “ceilingless” room does not have that kind of support.

As Mr Silva suggested, Mr Danziger agreed that the bigger problem is from ice dams and the water damage that can occur. “That is the main reason for shoveling,” Mr Danziger said, and also recommended relieving roofs of snow and ice at the most critical junctions, the gutter line to three feet back on the roof.

Newer home building codes require a special membrane underneath the first three tiers of shingles, he said, making those home less likely to develop ice dams (when snow melts and build ups beneath roofs, causing leaks). “That is no guarantee, though,” cautioned Mr Danziger. “This year has stretched it way beyond the usual.”

Snow On Siding Also A Concern

He is also concerned about an additional problem that can develop when snow piles up — or is pushed off of roofs — against the siding of homes. “Siding has no water protection behind it,” pointed out Mr Danziger, leaving homeowners mystified when water starts leaking in, not from the roof, but from the walls.

“Get rid of the ice dams, and get the snow and ice away from the siding,” Mr Danziger urged. “Don’t overly worry, but don’t be concerned that you might be throwing away money by getting your roof cleared. We are definitely exceeding codes for weight load on some roofs,” he said, “and there is nothing wrong with taking action to have peace of mind. It is a very frustrating and unusual winter.”

Removing snow and ice from gutters and roofs is best left to professionals, said all of the building experts. The Better Business Bureau (BBB), however, warned in a press release dated February 4 that homeowners need to be careful when hiring a contractor to remove snow from roofs.

“Fly-by-night contractors are offering roof snow removal service by fax, in flyers, and on notices posted on neighborhood bulletin boards and telephone poles,” said the BBB. “Unscrupulous neighborhood contractors offer an estimate and subsequently bill for double or triple that amount when the work is completed.”

The Bureau release also cautioned that these untrained contractors can damage or destroy a roof, and that consumers must demand proof of up-to-date insurance or workers’ compensation from a contractor, in order that the consumer not be held liable should a worker be injured on the job.

The Better Business Bureau press release offered these tips for hiring a contractor to remove ice and snow buildup:

*Check out the company’s record at www.bbb.org or by calling 203-269-2700.

*Make sure the company has insurance and that its workers are covered.

*Obtain estimates from two or more companies.

*Ask about each company’s experience working on roofs and ice dams.

*Ask about additional charges.

*Find out exactly what is included in the estimate.

*Ask for references and check them out.

The contractor should provide a written agreement. A representative should come out to examine your property. Before you sign an agreement, ask who will be responsible for damages.

Avoid contractors who pull up in a truck and offer to do work for you at a discount. A roof is not an area where you should cut corners.