How much snow....

AKBill

AKBill

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AKBill
Wondering how much snow a roof will hold before it is damaged? We probably have 18 to 24 inches on the roof now. 2 story house no way for me to get up and shovel it off.
 
AKBill said:
Wondering how much snow a roof will hold before it is damaged? We probably have 18 to 24 inches on the roof now. 2 story house no way for me to get up and shovel it off.
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normally, local building codes take into account snow loads for the area (e.g., areas with higher snow falls will require stronger roof construction)

In massachusetts, there is 780 CMR: STATE BOARD OF BUILDING REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS, which modifies the requirements/standards of "THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE 2009"

I liked the part that says "1607.9.1.6 Hangers. Live load shall not be reduced for hangers."
 
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In my county in Colorado your roof needs to support 90 psf or 100 psf of snow load depending on your elevation, regardless of roof pitch. So it really depends on the snow -- is it wet heavy snow or champagne powder?

I do know our condo association pays to have our roof shoveled when we get about 24" of snow on it. They use long rakes from the ground for a lot of it, then climb up and shovel. Be careful, 2 years ago, a worker in Colorado shoveling a roof died when the snow buried him. Strangely, it counted as an avalanche death in that winter's statistics.
 
You can use an online calculator like this to swag the snow load. Obviously things like rafter spacing and such come into play which can greatly affect the accuracy. You can always try to put a space heater or similar in an attic or place that could heat the roof from below to help accelerate snow melt.

https://www.omnicalculator.com/construction/snow-load
 
Last winter we had a few snows that dumped on us. At about ~2+ feet I got worried and bought a roof rake (it’s a backwards shovel that allows you to scrape snow off). They’re 40-60$ but we’ll worth piece of mind.
 
ColoPilot said:
I do know our condo association pays to have our roof shoveled when we get about 24" of snow on it. They use long rakes from the ground for a lot of it, then climb up and shovel. Be careful, 2 years ago, a worker in Colorado shoveling a roof died when the snow buried him. Strangely, it counted as an avalanche death in that winter's statistics.
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Oddly enough, its an avalanche death. This happened while I lived in Fargo, a city where the highest mountain is a highway overpass:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=311536973

On January 3, 2008, Employee #1 was chipping ice from the eave of the roof of an office complex. Employee #1 was sitting with his legs hanging over the eave, when a large snow drift began sliding from the peak towards him. In an attempt to escape, Employee #1 jumped from the roof to a large pile of snow, approximately 3 ft to 4 ft below him. The sliding drift overtook Employee #1, and he was buried beneath approximately 7 ft of snow. Employee #1 was asphyxiated, and he died.


The term in OSHA-speak is 'engulfment hazard', and as an employer you are supposed to put up a sign or something.
 
weilke said:
Oddly enough, its an avalanche death. This happened while I lived in Fargo, a city where the highest mountain is a highway overpass:

https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=311536973

On January 3, 2008, Employee #1 was chipping ice from the eave of the roof of an office complex. Employee #1 was sitting with his legs hanging over the eave, when a large snow drift began sliding from the peak towards him. In an attempt to escape, Employee #1 jumped from the roof to a large pile of snow, approximately 3 ft to 4 ft below him. The sliding drift overtook Employee #1, and he was buried beneath approximately 7 ft of snow. Employee #1 was asphyxiated, and he died.


The term in OSHA-speak is 'engulfment hazard', and as an employer you are supposed to put up a sign or something.
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That must be North Dakota's single avalanche death shown in this chart:
Slides2021-4-770x578.png
 
ColoPilot said:
That must be North Dakota's single avalanche death shown in this chart:
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Could be. You do get some impressive snow drifts, but the state is otherwise pretty short on geographic features that would allow snow to slide.
 
Bob Noel said:
normally, local building codes take into account snow loads for the area
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I used to know what the code was in Yakutat…I know they required metal roofs and a certain pitch, but that was 40 years ago. ;)

truss spacing & size of the truss members also play into it…I know we got away with 4’ spacing because we used full dimension lumber…we cut our 2x12s the full 2” x 12”.

Of course, I’ve since learned that the sawmill Grandpa had originally came with guards. ;)
Not what you were looking for, I know. Sorry…just started reminiscing. :D
 
MauleSkinner said:
I used to know what the code was in Yakutat…I know they required metal roofs and a certain pitch, but that was 40 years ago. ;)

truss spacing & size of the truss members also play into it…I know we got away with 4’ spacing because we used full dimension lumber…we cut our 2x12s the full 2” x 12”.

Of course, I’ve since learned that the sawmill Grandpa had originally came with guards. ;)
Not what you were looking for, I know. Sorry…just started reminiscing. :D
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Had a call from a gentlemen who wanted “full size 2x4’s” - he was tired of being ‘cheated’ by the lumber yard. I asked if he’d ever used a “full size 2x4” and he hadn’t. But that’s what wanted, so I sawed it for him, oak ‘full sized 2x4’. He actually measured them as they were bigger and heavier than he expected. Would have loved to watch him drive the nails. ;)
 
Back in the winter of 1995-1996 the Mid-Hudson area had 126 inches of snow.
Normal snowfall is about 26 inches.
The snow had gotten so deep I had no place to shovel it.
I added some additional support in the attic crawl space and a number of steel screw jacks, vertically aligned with each other in the basement and first floor.
It looked like hell, and some of my neighbors had a field day ridiculing me.
Until their roofs started to cave in.
I still have all the steel columns and 2x10s stored in my shed, just in case it ever happens again.
 
The danger with 2’ of standing snow is the day a coastal storm comes in bringing drizzle and rain. That 2’ of snow can hold a great deal of water. That’s when things collapse.
 
LOL you people and your snow.

Of course, I have hurricanes….:(
 
Snow? What is Snow? Denver area not know what snow is this year! Mountains not getting the regular load of snow, either….
 
Well the neighbor shoveled about 40 inches off their roof yesterday. We are expecting another 12 to 24 inches of snow starting tonight. Then rain and snow mix next week. I called around and found it would cost $300 to rent a man lift to reach my 2 story roof. Can't get the lift till next week sometime, rental house is booked.

Talked to a contractor about snow removal from roof, estimated cost is $300. Scheduled them show up at 9am this morning. Hopefully things go smoothly and they don't fall off the roof. Crossing my fingers. At least I will not be on the roof shoveling for 3 hours in single digit temps.
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And just to mess with your mind... while the crew is removing the snow, what is the point load of each of those guys stomping around on the roof?
 
Snow load in Colorado is determined mostly by elevation, but there are some areas with higher load ratings because of local weather conditions. Where I built my last house it was 90psf. The highest I have seen is 120psf. I have seen as much as 5 feet on my roof. We do not see roof collapses around here, at least I have not heard of one. Most often a roof is shoveled due to ice damming, not overloading.
I would guess that any house built in the last 30 years or more in an area that is known to get snow has an appropriately designed and built roof.
 
Isn’t there a snow rake you can use to pull snow off from the ground? Basically a wide rake with screw in extension handles.
 
AKBill said:
At least I will not be on the roof shoveling for 3 hours in single digit temps.
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There's a reason I don't stay in Juneau through the winter. It was a balmy 76 degrees while out in the RZR yesterday in the California desert.
 

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Htaylor said:
There's a reason I don't stay in Juneau through the winter. It was a balmy 76 degrees while out in the RZR yesterday in the California desert.
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Nice, you will have to look me up when you get back up North. We can burn a chicken or steak on the grill over a beer..
 
Where I grew up in Texas, the town hired a new city manager. He was aghast to discover that there was no ordinance stating how deep the snow could accumulate on the roof of a house before it needed to be cleared.

Somehow he came up with more than 23 inches snow accumulation on the roof needed to be removed ASAP.

Never mind the fact that that part of Texas had not received a running total of 23 inches of snow in the previous 100 years.!!
 
bflynn said:
Isn’t there a snow rake you can use to pull snow off from the ground? Basically a wide rake with screw in extension handles.
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2 stories up 25 feet or so, most snow rakes will not reach. Tried to buy one today none in town....:(
 
Long rope. Two people. Watch out.

 
AKBill said:
Well the neighbor shoveled about 40 inches off their roof yesterday. We are expecting another 12 to 24 inches of snow starting tonight. Then rain and snow mix next week. I called around and found it would cost $300 to rent a man lift to reach my 2 story roof. Can't get the lift till next week sometime, rental house is booked.

Talked to a contractor about snow removal from roof, estimated cost is $300. Scheduled them show up at 9am this morning. Hopefully things go smoothly and they don't fall off the roof. Crossing my fingers. At least I will not be on the roof shoveling for 3 hours in single digit temps.
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https://www.homedepot.com/p/Avalanc...dle-Roof-Snow-Removal-System-AVA750/318626704
 
Currently over 4 feet on my roof, not the first time. Never even thought about clearing it off. My only concern is that it doesn’t cover the chimney.
 
Where are you located?

That is a TON of snow.

NoBShere said:
Currently over 4 feet on my roof, not the first time. Never even thought about clearing it off. My only concern is that it doesn’t cover the chimney.
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NoBShere said:
Currently over 4 feet on my roof, not the first time. Never even thought about clearing it off. My only concern is that it doesn’t cover the chimney.
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We got another foot last night, and expect another foot today. That would put total snow on the roof at 6 feet or so. It's going to warm up and rain this week. That is what made concerned. Who knows it may have been fine, I just did not want to have to call Jake from State Farm about an avalanche in my living room...:rolleyes:

edit: and to beat all the worm drive for the snow blower locked up last night...:(
 
I would come help ya shovel snow, but I have been advised by my personal nurse that heart attack survivors should never shovel snow.....

At least my wife believes that...:lol::lol:
 
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