Weight Of Ice And Snow On Roof

While snow which is a crystalline form of ice is lighter in weight than solid ice each cubic foot of snow adds 17 pounds per square inch to the roof.

Weight of ice and snow on roof.

This down bearing pressure can cause the roof to bow and result in ponding under the roof structure. On average two feet of snow can equal up to 19 tons of weight on your roof which can significantly weaken the structure. The weight of ice and snow on a roof has the potential to cause winter disasters. Ian towers a montreal home inspector says there are plenty of warning signs to be on the lookout for before a roof will collapse under the weight of ice and snow.

As snow falls it can accumulate on your flat roof putting unnecessary weight on the structure. Since snow falls at slow steady speeds large quantities of snow can fall on the roof resulting in bowing. Homes in areas prone to heavy snowfall require special engineering to support the load. And when snow inevitably melts it can cause major flooding and problems with home septic systems.

Our snow load calculator helps you to make the decision when to remove the snow from your roof by comparing the weight of snow with the load carrying capacity of the roof. Roof collapse can happen when a roof can t bear the weight of ice and snow. Consider removing accumulated snow from your roof to avoid collapse. In the event that your roof caves in from the weight of ice snow or sleet your homeowners policy will cover the cost of repairing your roof and replacing any damaged belongings up to the policy s stipulated limits less the amount of your policy s deductible.

For an average size roof about 2000 square feet covered in heavy wet snow a good rule of thumb is the weight of one compact suv 3 470 lbs on your roof for every 1 inch of snow. Please remember that the numbers given by this calculator are just an approximation and are by no means 100 accurate. If your house is uninhabitable after a roof collapse the additional living expense coverage in a homeowners insurance policy may help cover increased living. However there are conditions and limitations.

It is also important to remember that that math doesn t take into account any ice you have on your roof which weighs much more than heavy wet snow weighs. The major problems with ice from a homeowner s legal perspective include slip and falls and frozen pipelines. The weight of snow can collapse a roof or damage an automobile.