As if we needed it, the snowfall overnight Tuesday just added to this crazy winter — and more weight on your roof.
Scott Tam is a trained engineer who is director of growth and infrastructure for the City of Timmins.
He says heavy snow on your roof can cause structural damage, right up to the roof collapsing.
A cubic foot of snow can weigh approximately seven pounds – that’s new, dry snow – to 30 pounds of old, compacted snow and then when you add rainfall on existing snow,” Tam quotes. “(That increases) that load even further.”
He urges safety when you clean it off the roof. And be careful not to damage it.
“You may need to hire a professional that knows what they’re doing so they don’t cause any further damage to your eaves or to your roof when doing any type of removal.”
Once snow along the eaves or in valleys of your roof starts to melt, it can cause ice dams that back up water, and damage shingles and some structural features.
