Your roof helps insulate your home and protect your family from violent rainstorms and heavy snow. However, you shouldn’t let your roof do all the heavy lifting on its own. Two important factors in extending the lifespan of your roof are:
- Finding out how much weight your roof can hold
- Learning what you can do to ensure that the load on your roof isn’t too heavy
Another important factor in prolonging the life of your roof is knowing when to call for repairs or replacements when you have snow damage on your roof.
Our team at PRS Roofing, Orlando’s trustworthy roofing company, has gathered some tips below to walk you through how to strengthen your roof. If you have any roofing needs, we can take care of them. Call us today if you need us!
Get to Know Your Roof
Flat Roofs vs. Slanted Roofs
If you live in an area where you expect a lot of snow yearly, you probably have a slanted rooftop. The slanted roof design allows snow to blow off and water to run off easily. In contrast, flat roofs allow melted snow to sit until it hardens into ice.
The slope of your roof angle can also make a difference. Low slopes limit the amount of water that trickles off. A lack of runoff can increase the chance of snow, water, or ice buildup, which can strain the structure of your roof. If your roof slopes less than three inches per horizontal rooftop foot, snow accumulation will occur faster than on roofs with higher slopes.
How Much Snow Can Your Roof Hold?
Most roofs can hold up to 20 pounds per square foot of snow and ice before beginning to weaken.
Higher-sloping roofs have a better chance of warding off a buildup in a blizzard since the snow will often drop or slide off as it becomes heavy. For a better understanding of your roof’s snow resistance levels, contact your county or city building department.
How to Prevent Snow Damage
Fresh snow as light as seven pounds per square foot can become an unexpected problem when it starts to melt and then refreezes, becoming compact. The now-solid ice can weigh up to 20 pounds per square foot. To keep this excess weight from overloading your roof, consider shoveling off the snow while fresh and soft, before it turns into ice, for easier removal.
Removal can also prevent water leaks through the roof, which could cause water damage and attic condensation.
However, it’s not just your roof that should be the source of your worry. If snow seeps into your gutters, or if runoff water freezes inside your gutter system, it will expand, causing your gutters to separate or crack. As a result, your gutters won’t drain water from your roof effectively, and the water will back up.
If ice is obstructing your gutters, be sure to call our roofers at PRS Roofing to get your gutters clean year-round.
Call On Us at PRS Roofing When You Have Snow Damage to Your Roof
It’s easy to fail to consider how stable your roof may be. However, snow damage to your roof can cost hundreds or thousands to fix, so be sure to stay aware of how to maintain your rooftop properly.
Whether you’re looking for tips on how to protect your roof this winter or you need a roof repair or maintenance check, choosing the best roofing options is vital. Call us at PRS Roofing in Orlando, FL, at 800-750-9198 for a free quote today!
