Preventing Roof Collapse Due to Snow Buildup

Snow is the number one enemy of roofs for any structure during winter. Incidences such as the collapse of Minneapolis Metro Dome because of heavy snow buildup prove the damage that snow can bring to any type of roof – no matter how strong it is – if not attended to properly. Snowfall does not have definite magnitude over time and can build up on the roof fast. When unattended, the snow buildup can harden and create adherent spaces for more snow that can rapidly add to its mass.

However, there are ways to avoid collapse or any other snow-related incidences on the roof. The type of roofing may not beat the downward pressure of accumulating snow, but the kind of support underneath the substrate can be designed as strong enough to carry an identified maximum weight. The underlying braces and props are the keys to keeping the roofing system stable.

Many roofing companies obtain records of the maximum weight a roof can carry per period of snowfall to determine the necessary support to be geared on the roofing system. Some interstate roofing companies in tropical cities such as Miami, Florida obtain this information from their clients from the north upon observations and design requests. Even without actual experience of heavy snowfall, these companies come up with strong roofing designs for their clients in other states.

Some of their designs include increase in slope. Slope is the ratio of the vertical and horizontal axes of the roofing. The vertical axis, which is called “pitch” in layman, can be increased to improve the slope of the roof. Increased slope means increased surface runoff coefficient. A professional roofer Miami has designs roof with high surface runoff coefficient for snow sliding facility.

Roofing companies in Miami would also suggest brick-type roofing with natural concrete slab substrate which is thicker and responds well with cold temperature. Metal roofing can also be effective considering its natural endurance to pressures but its shrinkage limit to low temperature is stumpy, creating significant margin of detachment from the flashings.

For roofing system that is already designed with low slope and non-brick materials, most roofing companies in Miami would suggest that snow buildup must be shoveled regularly to prevent massive accumulation that can lead to collapse. The hardened snow must be cut and the gutters must be free of clogs to facilitate the runoff.