Schroeder Roofing, Inc, a family owned and locally operated Fort Collins roofing business has been serving the Front Range since 1977. Providing roof repair and services for all seasons, our goal is to provide quality roofing services to everyone that needs them. With winter in full swing in in Northern Colorado and our first snow of the season under our belt, we wanted to talk about the impact of snow on roofs. Just how much snow is too much snow for a roof to handle? We’ll discuss that today.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer because there are different types of roofs. You can look for signs of an overloaded roof, though, and we’ll tell you about that, too.
Whether a roof can sustain a big load of snow without damage or collapse depends not only on the depth and density of the snow but also the depth and spacing of the rafters and trusses in your roof. You also have to factor in surface slope, texture, shape, and the location of the snow drift. Ideally, a roof will be pitched, smooth, and steep, while framed with closely spaced rafters. This helps the snow slide off the roof while giving it strength from the rafter placement. A risky roof is flat or slightly pitched in a location that’s exposed to the wind. The rafters will also likely be spaced farther apart.
After a heavy snow, go up into your attic or crawl space and look at the rafters. If they’re cracked or bowing, you need to call us right away so we can come out and help.