Too Much Snow On Flat Roof

This image depicts another benefit of flat roofs.

Too much snow on flat roof.

So how do you know when it s time to clear the snow off your roof. They can be extremely low. It also helps if the roof is in a sheltered area. So a risky roof is flat or slightly.

As snow falls it can accumulate on your flat roof putting unnecessary weight on the structure. There are a few common misconceptions regarding flat roofs that are stubbornly persistent. In addition steeper roofs don t often collect as much snow in the first place. But they also come with a reputation for leaks cracks and collapse.

Two feet or more of old. Excessive rain heavy snow and built up ice all pose extra challenges for flat roofed homes. Packed snow however weighs more. Flat roofs known for being stylish modern and efficient hit a lot of items on your home bucket list.

A 10 12 or 12 12 pitch roof handles more snow than a flat roof. Combined with the snow catching ability low and flat roofs are able to blend in with their natural surroundings quite seamlessly. When you ve got a flat roof it s important to clear off snow after a storm. Here at pro roofers we specialize in flat roof installation and maintenance and over the years we have gathered a wealth of expertise concerning flat roofs so let s set the record straight.

While not frequent per se the low slope of a flat roof does make it more prone to certain problems particularly when it interacts with the elements. Generally speaking steep and smooth roofs shed snow more easily than flat or only slightly pitched roofs. That means 12 inches of snow on a flat roof creates an additional r 12 of insulation that arrives at a time of year when you most need it. A flat roof is often times more susceptible to collapse than a sloped roof simply because a sloped roof disperses weight whereas a flat roof cannot.

Ten inches of fresh snow equates to about five pounds per square foot which means your roof likely can support four feet of fresh snow. The snow settles on it evenly rather than being blown into large drifts which can cause a roof to fail. Generally the steeper your roof angle the more snow it can hold e g. One of them is that flat roofs leak more easily than pitched ones.

This down bearing pressure can cause the roof to bow and result in ponding under the roof structure. Another is that they cannot handle as much snow weight as pitched roofs because the snow sits directly on the roof. This image depicts another benefit of flat roofs. Since snow falls at slow steady speeds large quantities of snow can fall on the roof resulting in bowing.

The r value or resistance to heat flow for snow is about r 1 per inch. They can be extremely low. When it doesn t slide off it can get blown away by the wind. Choose a strong durable set of shingles like asphalt or slate.

Too much snow can lead to a lot of issues like ice dams water leaking into your home and even a full or partial collapse of your roof.